Effect of L-amino acid-based biostimulants on nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) in lettuce plants

Abstract

Biostimulants are increasingly integrated into production systems with the goal of modifying physiological processes in plants to optimize productivity. Specifically, L-α-amino acid-based biostimulants enhance plant productivity through improved photosynthesis and increased assimilation of essential nutrients such as nitrogen (N). This element is a major component of fertilizers, which usually are applied in excess. Thus, the inefficient use of N fertilizers has generated a serious situation of environmental pollution issue. The use of biostimulants has the potential to address all the problems related to N fertilization. Therefore, the objective of this study is to analyze whether two biostimulants based on L-α-amino acid (Terra Sorb® radicular and Terramin® Pro) designed by Bioiberica, S.A.U company can compensate deficient N fertilization and test its effect on lettuce plants. Growth, photosynthetic, N accumulation, and N use efficiency (NUE) parameters were analyzed on lettuce leaves.