One of the biggest challenges for the production of bioinputs is that the product is adequately developed. This implies that it contains a sufficient amount of inoculum and that its quality is maintained during storage time. In this sense, the objectives of this work were i) to establish a protocol for the preparation and application of a bioinput based on Trichoderma harzianum and ii) to develop a protocol for family producers on the correct use of the bioinput produced. For the multiplication of T. harzianum, rice grains were used as a solid substrate. Polyethylene bags were prepared with 30 g of rice plus 15 mL of sterile distilled water. The bags were sterilized and seeded with a culture of T. harzianum. The bags were incubated at room temperature for 10 days. Once the rice was colonized, it was dried in an oven at 50° C for 24 h. The quality was evaluated one month, three and six months after the preparation of the solid product. To do this, the concentration of conidia was calculated by counting in the Neubauer chamber and the viability of the product was also calculated by counting colony-forming units of Trichoderma in Trichoderma selective medium culture medium. The results obtained indicate that the concentration of conidia in the solid substrate remains high up to six months of storage. A protocol of use was developed for producers.

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.

Agriculture in arid regions requires physiological and agronomic studies. Phenology was analysed and morphological and productive responses of garlic (cv. Morado INTA) to irrigation strategies were evaluated in an arid region of La Rioja. The trial was carried out in INTA EEA Chilecito in 2022. The design was a randomized complete block design with three replications and three irrigation treatments were applied: T1-100%, T2-120% and T3-75% of crop evapotranspiration (ETc) during 28 days after the 12th visible leaf of the main growth stage 1(main shoot).The extended garlic phenological scale was used. Leaves, plant height, plant pseudostem and neck, basal disc, diameter, height and bulb weight were measured. Phenology results: 97.8% sprouting at 19 dap (days after planting) and 368 growing degree-days (GDD), main shoot development (12th leaf) at 142 dap and 1823 GDD and the 100% bulb diameter at 212 dap and 3095 GDD. Irrigation results: T3 did not affect height, number of leaves or pseudostem length, but modified the basal leaf with respect to T1 and T2. T3 reduced neck diameter and bulb height without affecting final bulb weight, and consequently increased the bulbification index with respect to T2. The application of controlled deficit irrigation (75% of ETc) during the month of September and the return to full irrigation until bulb harvest are strategies that optimize water use and production in the garlic crop (cv. Morado INTA).

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.

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.

Artichoke (Cynara scolymus) is considered a special vegetable due to its nutritional and medicinal qualities. Aphids are one of the major pests on this horticultural crop. The aim of this paper was to identify and characterize the entomopathogenic fungi infecting aphids in artichoke crops in the southwest region of Buenos Aires province. A fungal species identified as Pandora neoaphidis caused natural infections on Capitophorus eleagni between August and October 2021. The infection levels reached up 80 % (n= 184). The high air humidity percentages recorded during the development of this work, added to relatively low air temperatures, would have favored its development. This is the first record of P. neoaphidis on the aphid C. eleagni in the southwest of Buenos Aires. Knowledge of P. neophidis spontaneous presence and infection levels could be a tool to develop alternative management tactics and reduce the use of conventional insecticides in vegetables for direct consumption.

Garlic is a species with nutraceutical properties that is cultivated in Córdoba as a component of the diversity planned by producers in their agrosystems. It is especially important as a component of orchards and family farms, since it is incorporated into the family diet, due to its beneficial effect on human health, and as raw material for bioinputs used to manage potential pests. Society increasingly demands food produced in a more respectful way with the environment. The potential yield of garlic in the province is achieved with nitrogen fertilization with chemical synthesis products. Therefore, the objective of this work is to evaluate the effect of two bio-inputs (bokashi and supermagro) on garlic yield, as a contribution to the transition of the agroecosystems that produce it. The trial was carried out in the Campo Escuela of the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences - National University of Córdoba. In March 2021, three garlic cultivars (Alpa Suquía; Pampeano and Serrano) produced the previous year were implanted in the institution's Germplasm Bank, which were biofertilized, leaving an unfertilized control. In two of the three cultivars used, Serrano and Pampeano, bokashi and supermagro generated higher potential crop yield. The bulbs harvested in the biofertilization treatments showed higher weight in the Serrano and Pampeano cultivars; and a greater proportion of bulbs of caliber 4 and 5. It is necessary to continue analyzing this type of management over time to corroborate other effects that result in the best use of the resources of the productive system.

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.

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.

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.