The Valle Bonaerense del Río Colorado (VBRC) has proven to be agroclimatically suitable of strawberry production (Fragaria x ananassa Duch.). However, pathogenic soil fungi that affect this crop have been detected in the region, causing reductions in fruit production and plant death. The objective of this work was to evaluate alternative methods to methyl bromide (MB) for soil disinfection in strawberry cultivation and determine their effect on fruit production and plant survival in the VBRC. Three chemical methods were evaluated: the mixture 1,3-dichloropropene+chloropicrin (1,3-D:Pic), metam sodium and the mixture 1,3-D:Pic with subsequent applications of Trichoderma harzianumto the soil. The trial included the cultivars San Andreas and Sweet Ann and lasted two years. The fruit was classified as commercial and non-commercial, the number of dead plants was recorded according to treatments, and weekly monitoring of pests and diseases was carried out. In all treatments with chemical disinfection, plant survival in the second year was higher than soil without disinfection; however, no differences in yield were observed between treatments in either year. Inoculation with T. harzianum did not demonstrate beneficial effects on survival and fruit yield. The chemical methods evaluated, which could replace MB, would be appropriate to achieve greater plant survival in the second year of a biennial strawberry crop in the VBRC.

Squash in Argentina is a vegetable of great economic, social and nutritional importance, it is among the vegetables with the highest levels of consumption and it is consumed in every social stratum and at all ages. The objective of the study was to determine the natural growth rate, commercial yield, and quality of commercial fruits for plants that were developed after cover crops and extended fallow periods. The study was conducted in a soil known as Petrocalcic Paleustol, located in the semi-arid region of the rocky plain in southern La Pampa, Argentina. For two consecutive seasons, rye, rye and vicia, and fallow without cover crops were planted as cover treatments in the same plot. Each cover treatment was implemented using two methods: rolling andherbicide growth stoppage.In this way, six management treatments for squash cultivation were performed. The results after two consecutive seasons showed that the plants developed under cover crop treatments prior to cultivation, along with conventional weed control management, presented the highest values of natural growth rate, achieving excellent coverage of the sowing area. The highest commercial yields were obtained with prior rye cover treated with herbicide growth stoppage, and with rolled rye-vicia cover, for the first and second seasons respectively. The shape of the commercial fruits was not affected by any treatment. All crops with prior coverage had a positive effect on small and medium sizes,which are the most preferred fruit sizes by the domestic market.

Spinach is characterized by having a high water content and different vitamins and minerals. However, this vegetable could have high oxalate and nitrate concentrations and can affect human health if consumed.The aim of this study was to evaluate the nitrogen fertilization effect on the yield, nitrate and oxalic acid content of spinach produced in an autumn-winter cycle under different growing systems. Spinach was grown in soil in a greenhouse and in an open field at the experimental field of the Faculty of Agronomy of the University of Buenos Aires. Soil treatments were 0.50 and 100 kg N.ha-1. Another culture was in substrate (perlite) where nitrogen supply restriction was applied 15 days before harvest. Color, leaf area, harvest index, yield, nitrate and oxalic acid levels were determined for each crop at harvest. Leaves were selected and 60 g were packaged in 31 micron polyolefin bags. Bags were stored in a refrigerated chamber at 5 ºC for 9 days. The nitrate and oxalic acid content of spinachwas also determined at the end of the storage period. Yield and leaf area were higher with 100 kg N.ha-1 without differences between greenhouse and open field. Oxalate content was higher in spinach from the open field, showing the highest value in the case of 100 kg N added, without changes at the end of postharvest period. The maximum nitrate content was 2.7 in greenhouse with 100 kg N.ha-1. The nitrogen restriction reduced the commercial yield, oxalic acid and nitrate content at harvest in perlite. The difference was maintained postharvest, except for the nitrate content.

Variation in weather elements affects the production of agricultural crops. Air and soil temperature control plant growth and development, as is the case in garlic (Allium sativum L.). The objective of the study was to evaluate the phenology and productive characteristics of two garlic cultivars according to air and soil temperature during 2022, at the Tilimuqui Experimental Field of INTA EEA Chilecito. The experimental design was Randomized Complete Blocks with three replications. The extended phenological scale of garlic was used. Soil temperature was measured at 5 cm and 15 cm depth and meteorological data recorded by the automatic weather station located at the trial site were used. Height, number of leaves, bulb weight and parameters for calculating the bulbification index were measured. For the same growing conditions, from planting date (both on 11/04/22) they showed different percentages of sprouting, number of leaves and bulb weight. The cv. Morado INTA required a heat summation of 3095 GD and a cycle of 213 days until harvest (09/11/22) and the cv. Nieve INTA required a heat summation of 3397 GD with a cycle of 225 days until harvest (21/11/22). The two cultivars had average photoperiods of 12.2 h in June and 14.5 h in November.

Cassava crop in the northeast of Argentine presents a wide gap between potential and current yields. The aim of the work was to evaluate the behavior of seven cassava cultivars (cv) during the first and second growth cycle of the crop, at 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 15 and 18 months after planting (map).The cultivars evaluated were Amarilla Marcelo, Verde Santa Ana, Palomita, Blanca de Santa Catrina, Rocha, Ramada Paso and Yerutí.The plantation was carried out in 2017, in Corrientes, with a 1 m x 1 m frame in complete random blocks with three repetitions per cultivar. In each harvest, the fresh biomass of the aerial part (BFAT) and its partition to stem (BFt) and leaves (BFh), biomass of total roots (BFRT) and commercial roots (BFRc) and starch concentration in roots were measured. The biomass was obtained by fresh weighing (g plant-1) and root starch content (%) by specific gravity method.The statistical analyses showed that the cultivars with the highest root productivity in some sampling instances were Rocha, Amarilla Marcelo, Verde Santa Ana and Ramada Paso, while those with the lowest productivity were Blanca de Santa Catarina, Yerutí and Palomita. The cv Rocha is a first fruit crop , commercial roots can be harvested 6 map and Blanca de Santa Catarina only 9 map is productive. Those that reached the highest starch concentration were Amarilla Marcelo, Palomita and Yerutí. Although the starch concentration decreased by an average of 13,3% in the second growth cycle, the BFRT increased by an average of 65% between both cycles, which was compensated by productivity. The BFh that was recovered on average in May was 385 g plant-1 (9 map) and in June 783 g plant-1 (18 map) depending on cultivars, usable for human or animal feeding.

In the production of aromatic-condiment seedlings, it is common to use less renewable substrates, such as peat, "black earth" or "mulch". To verify their replacement with a more sustainable substrate, the use of a bioestabilized residue (RB) based on household waste rich in yerba mate (Ilex paraguariensis) was evaluated as substrate in basilicum (Ocimum basilicum) seedlings. RB was obtained by treating mixtures of household waste from yerba mate, in a 70/30 proportion with remains of fruits and vegetables, in aerated containers that were weekly mixed. After 120 days of the process, the RB was sifted and its physicochemical properties and effects on basil seedlings were evaluated. Five treatments (T) were established with different combinations of MB and a commercial substrate (SC): T1: 100% SC; T2: 75% SC+ 25% RB; T3: 50% SC + 50% RB; T4: 25% SC + 75% RB and T5: 100% RB. Each treatment consisted of 3 repetitions with 24 sample plants each. The germinative power, plant height and root length were significantly reduced in T5. The height of plants and number of leaves were significantly higher in T3 and T4. In all the combinations of components (T2, T3, T4) the highest fresh and dry mass of the aerial part, and the fresh mass of the whole plant were found with respect to T1.The T4 presented the highest dry mass of the aerial part. The RB was suitable as a substrate component in basil plantations.

Potato is naturally propagated by tubers, which go into a dormant state after harvesting. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of three doses of gibberellic acid (AG3) (10, 20 and 30 ppm) and three immersion times (5, 10 and 15 min) on sprouting of fresh potato tubers of the Spunta cultivar, under laboratory and field emergency conditions. The experimental design was randomized blocks, with a factorial arrangement plus absolute control (3 x 3 + 1) and three replications. In the laboratory, the following were evaluated: sprouting percentage, number, length and diameter of sprouts per tuber. In the field, the percentage of emergence and the number of stems per tuberswere evaluated. The collected data were subjected to analysis of variance and means compared by Tukey test at 5% probability. The results indicate that there was no interaction between the factors under study. In the laboratory, 43 days after the application of the treatments, with a dose of 30 ppm of AG3, 100% sprouting of the tubers was obtained and with 10 minutes of immersion, 93.89% sprouting. In the field experiment, with a dose of 30 ppm of AG3, the highest percentage of emergence and number of stems per tubers were obtained, while soaking the tubers for 15 minutes promoted the highest number of stems per plant.

In the production of horticultural seedlings, it is common to use less renewable substrates, such as peat and "black earth". To evaluate its possible replacement with a more sustainable one, the quality of home compost and vegetable waste was analyzed, and its subsequent use in lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.), with a completely randomized design, in two stages and with four substrates: 100 % soil (S), 50% compost + 50% soil v v-1 (CS), 100% compost (C) and 70% Sphagnum peat + 30% perlite v v-1 (TP). Lettuce was planted in trays of 30 cm3 per cell. At 25 days, aerial part length (LPA) and number of leaves (NHP) were measured and transplanted into one-litre containers with soil, for the second stage. At 20 days, LPA, NHP, aerial part fresh mass (MFPA), and aerial part dry mass (MSPA) were evaluated. The analyzed compost meets the quality conditions and is suitable for substrate. In the first stage, the growth parameters had significant differences in favor of C treatment with respect to S and CS, and similar with respect to TP. In the second stage, the measured variables were also significantly higher in C compared to S and CS. It is possible to use pure home compost as the one evaluated in lettuce seedlings: it did not present inhibitory effects and had a similar behavior to another widely used substrate (TP). Its use could generate environmental, economic and productive benefits.

The productive lifecycle of asparagus (Asparagus officinalis var. altilis L.) can exceed a decade, admitting the use of entirely male genotypes, with more uniform production than traditionally used dioecious. In order to study the productivity of seven Italian male genotypes of green asparagus (Italo, Zeno. Eros, Ercole, H-668, Marte and Giove) versus the American control (UC-157), a trial started in 2006 was evaluated at Chacra Experimental, Faculty of Agronomy - UNCPBA (36°48', lat.S-59°51', long.W). A total of 27 harvests were carried out in the period 09/18/2019–11/12/2019, quantifying total commercial fresh production (PFCT) and production by shoot length: : long (22 cm, PFC-L) and short (17 cm, PFC-C), in t.ha-1; Total number of shoots ( NTT) including total discard and commercial (NTCT), long and short (NTC-L and NTC-C) and unit weight (PPT-L), size distribution (J: Jumbo; XL: Extra-Large; L: Large; M: Medium; S: Small and A: Asparagine); discard (DE: spiked; MC: very short and OD: other defects) and response to foliar biological fertilizer (Arco-Plus, from Mycophos). Analysis of variance was performed with ANOVA-LSD test (P≥0.05). On average, the set of Italian genotypes exceeded 18% in t.ha-1,and 29% in NT, 13.5% in NTC-L, and 18.3% in NTC-C compared to the UC-157. In harvests, the following stood out: 18 and 19 (941,625a and 813,375a commercial shoots/ha, respectively), and the least productive were: 1-4 (average 729j). In shoots.ha-1, it was achieved, on average: NTT: 722562; NTCT: 403750; NTC-L: 225812 and NTC-C: 177938; while in t.ha-1: PFCT: 5.53; PFC-L: 3.4 and PFC-C: 2.12. The main defect was DE: 253125a shoots.ha-1. In PFCT, the following stood out: Ercole: 6.46ª; Giove: 6.03ab; Mars: 5.87ab; Eros: 5.55abc; H668: 5.47abc; Italian: 5.47abc); UC-157:4.76c and Zeno: 4.65c) t.ha-1. In PFC-L and PFT-C, Ercole stood out (4.02a and 2.43a t.ha-1 respectively). The favorable election of F was expressed in the variables: PFCT: 11%; NTC-L: 15%; NTC-C: 16%; and in the largest calibers (J: 11%; XL: 70% and L: 23%), therefore, the productivity of the Italian genotypes, especially Ercole, is encouraging.

Asparagus is a perennial vegetable, with an extensive productive stage and a progressive yield according to the age of the plantations; being the initial nursery stage determinant for the success of the crop and dependent on the starting system, management and quality of the seedlings. The objective of the study was to determine the effect of biofertilization (BF) on the growth of green asparagus seedlings (PEV) improving quality and implantation. An organic production trial was conducted (28/12/2021), in Tandil (Buenos Aires), using UC-157 genotype F2 and in pots. There were four treatments, a control without fertilization (T1), a fertilization treatment with arbuscular endomycorrhizae (T2-BRE), a fertilization treatment composed of micronutrients and plant hormones (T3-BFMH) and a combined fertilization treatment (T4-BRE+ BFMH). A heated greenhouse was used at the Faculty of Agronomy (UNCPBA) and a randomized block design with 3 replications, with weekly monitoring until the final size. Height (H) and number of stems (NT) were evaluated from 3/21/2022 to 5/31/2022. In the laboratory, fresh and dry weights of roots and stems (PFR-PFT-PSR-PST) were determined. Data were analyzed by ANOVA and LSD test (P≥0.05). The PFT and PFR in T4 were superior, finding no statistically significant differences in the biomass of stems and in PFR, surpassing T1, with T2 standing out with respect to T3 and T4. In summary, PEV BF increases biomass, mainly root biomass, constituting a valuable technique to achieve better plantations.