Dill is used as a condiment in food and has medicinal properties. The objective of this work was to determine the optimum sowing date for growing dill in greenhouses for fresh cutting in San Pedro. The crop was established in an unheated greenhouse, located at the EEA San Pedro, INTA. Three sowing dates were carried out using two container sizes of 54 cm3 and 25 cm3 on days 2nd (T1 and T2) and 30th (T3 and T4) of March and 24th(T5 and T6) of April. Transplanting was carried out at a distance of 15 cm between rows and 20 cm between taps. At harvest, height and number of leaves per plant, number of plants per square meter and fresh weight were measured. Quality was determined based on a subjective scale from one to five, indicating lower to higher quality, respectively. Analysis of variance and Tukey's test (α=0.05) were performed. The highest plant height, number of leaves per plant, plants per square meter and fresh yield was achieved by T 5 (51.75 cm), T2 and T4 (8.48 leaves), T2 (58 plants) and T1 and T2 (4.37 and 4.12 kilograms per square meter), respectively. The optimum planting date was March 2nd with no differences between container sizes. With the management carried out, there were no limiting diseases for the crop.

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.

Onion (Allium cepaL.) is one of the main horticultural species in Argentina. The supply of seeds of this species is mainly from national production. Gibberellic acid (AG3) in onion is effective to induce flower buds when applied before or during the period of low temperatures.Throughout three seasons in La Consulta, Mendoza, Argentina, AG3 was tested to determine its effects on the seed production of onion cv Valcatorce INTA using the seed-to-seed method. The treatments were 0-200-400-600 mg.L-1 of AG3 in the first season and 0-300-600-900 mg.L-1 of AG3 in the other two; the plants were sprayed when they had between 5 and 7 leaves.The design was complete blocks with random plots and five replications. The number of umbels per plant, the seed yield per plant and unit area, and the seed quality, were determined. Gibberellic acid increased the number of umbels per plant.In the first two seasons, the highest seed yield per unit area was achieved with the use of the highest dose of AG3. However, in the third season, the best performance was obtained with 300 mg.L-1. The application of AG3 with the highest doses tested decreased the weight of a thousand seeds in two seasons without impairing germination.

Dill (Anethum graveolens L.) is used as a condiment in food and has medicinal properties. The objective was to determine guidelines for the management of this greenhouse crop for its fresh cut. The crop was installed in an unheated greenhouse, located in EEA San Pedro. Two container sowing dates were carried out (April 24 and May 13), using two sizes of containers (54 cm3 and 25 cm3), and two direct sowing dates in the field (June 4 and 25). Transplant was carried out when the seedlings had three true leaves. The distance between rows was 15 cm and 20 cm between hits. At harvest, the height and number of leaves per plant, the number of plants per hit and the fresh weight were measured. The quality was determined based on a subjective scale from one to five, indicating lower to higher quality, respectively, based on the presence of stains and rots. Analysis of variance and Duncan's test (α = 0.05) were performed. The highest yields were obtained on the first sowing date using the 54 cm3 containers with a fresh weight of 4.24 kg.m-2 and quality five. The number of leaves (9.57 to 4.10) and the height of plants (65.75 to 44.20 cm) corresponded with the bibliography. Future studies should evaluate earlier planting dates and adjust fertilization.

Argentina, one of the main South American strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa) producers, shows an increasing trend to reduce the use of agrochemicals (pesticides and fertilizers), and incorporate bio-inputs. In this context, the objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of MO.14 (a liquid organic amendment, rich in humic and fulvic acids), applied alone or combined with a biological activator (Biomix), on the yield and fruit quality of four strawberry cultivars. A trial was carried out in the 2016 productive season and part of 2017, in Famaillá (Tucumán). Treatments: MO.14 (drench), MO.14 (drench) + Biomix (foliar) and untreated control (T). Cultivars: Benicia, Camino Real, Merced and San Andreas. Yield (total fruit weight/plant, Yld), number of fruits/plant (NF), marketable fruit average weight (MFAW) and percentage of rotten fruits (%RF) were evaluated. Experimental design: CRD with three replications of 30 plants per cultivar and treatment. Data were subjected to ANOVA. Treatments improved Yld and NF, but not %RF and MFAW (genotypic effects prevailed). MO.14 showed Yld and NF values higher than MO.14 + Biomix. Treatment-cultivar interactions were significant for NF. Regarding the cultivars, Merced stood out (Yld, MFAW). In May 2017, when the first harvests of the 2nd year started, biostimulants exceeded T in Yld. Biostimulant treatments could reduce the use of chemical fertilizers in strawberry, contributing to agroecosystem sustainability, although new studies (dose, concentration, number of applications) should validate that.

The intercropping of vegetables is quite common practice among farmers. In this work, kale and cariru intercropping, under two fertilization alternatives in side dressing, as an additive to residual soil fertility in protected cultivation was studied . The trial (30/07/2014 to 17/09/2014) had an experimental design in randomized blocks with three repetitions (2.26 m2) and nine treatments (three systems of cultivation: single kale, single cariru and consortium of kale + cariru; and three managements: test – only water; biofertilizer- 15%, in water; and urea - 1 g L-1 of water).Managements were applied weekly (10 L per plot). The agronomic indexes (fresh mass, kale leaf number and cariru branch number) stood out in single systems, with the performance, excepting kale leaf number, standing out with the use of urea. However, the results of Productive Efficiency, the Efficient Use of Land and Gross Income, keeping consistent with each other, attributed to intercropping better overall utilization of the factors, particularly, with the use of urea.

The cultivation of edible and medicinal mushrooms generates large volumes of substrate degraded by fungi (SDF). Mushroom cultivation implies a solid-state fermentation (SSF) with production of fungal metabolites and the consequent biodegradation of lignocellulosic materials. SSF accelerates organic matter mineralization; therefore, at the end of the cultivation cycle, SDH has greater stability than the original substrate. SDF properties depend largely on whether prior to inoculation of the mushroom species, the starting substrate is composted or just decontaminated. In the first case, the cultivated mushroom species are more substrate-sensitive. In the latter, the mushroom species used are more substrate-adaptable, and are the most widely adopted by small and medium-sized producers as well. After mushroom cultivation, SDF is removed from the production site. Henceforth, depending on its further use, certain storage conditions should be observed, and physical and/or chemical conditioning is usually needed. In horticulture, particle size reduction and dilution of excess salts, by mixing with other materials or leaching, are especially required. The aim of this review is to highlight SDF’s potential as a valuable resource. Particularly, the physical and chemical properties of SDF reported in the literature are summarized, and its different uses evaluated in horticultural systems are described. Among these are: substrate for seedlings, soil amendment and biofertilizer.

Vegetables inoculation with Azospirillum sp. enhances seedling growth and crop productivity. In lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.), inoculation with Az39, Pl64 and Pl3 strains of A. brasilense improved seedlings growth. The aim of this work is to evaluate morphological modifications of seedlings when these strains are combined in a formulation. Three trials were carried out using butterhead lettuce cv. Lores (Vilmorin®), performing the inoculation at sowing with a formulation which consisted of 1 x 107 UFC.ml-1 of a mixture of the strains Az39, Pl64 y Pl3 of A. brasilense, using not inoculated plants as control. It was dispensed 1ml of product per cell (1 x 107 UFC per seed). A completely randomized design with 20 replications was used. When plants showed 4 leaves, it was registered shoots, roots and plant fresh and dry weight, root absorption area and lineal length of root, submitting data to analysis of variance. Inoculated plants performed different depending on crop season. Root absorption area increased significantly in one of the three trials, exceeding the control by 27 %. Leaf, root and plant fresh weight were significantly higher in two trials, reaching values 11 %, 20 % and 12 % higher than control plants, respectively. No significant differences were observed on root length or dry weight.