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Root growth promotion by humic acids from composted and non-composted urban organic wastes

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Abstract

Background and aims

Besides general effect of organic residues on soil quality and plant crop, hormonal direct effect on plant growth by extracted humic acids of organic materials is interesting and profitable theme. In the present work, we studied on direct interaction between humic acid and root growth, depending on different origin of organic materials.

Methods

All extracted humic acids of four organic materials (sewage sludge, compost sewage sludge, municipal solid waste, compost municipal solid waste) were characterized chemically by elemental analyses, ion pair chromatography (ICP), size exclusion chromatography (HPSEC), solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (13C-CPMAS-NMR) and quantification of IAA. Later, different morphological effects on maize (principal root growth, lateral root growth, root area, root mitosic site, root dry weight and H+-ATPase activity of plasma membrane) were analyzed.

Results

All humic acids samples promoted root growth and proton pump activity in maize vesicles, especially those composted samples, which contained more carboxylic groups and had a more hydrophobic character, produced preferentially morphological and biochemical effects.

Conclusion

The conformational dynamics of humic hydrophobic associations in the rhizosphere may release auxin-like plant growth promoters and enhance plant biochemical activities. These organic wastes represent a renewable source of humic acid for use as plant root promoter.

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Acknowledgments

This research was financially supported by CNPq (National Council for Scientific and Technological Development, Brazil), FAPERJ (Rio de Janeiro State Agency for Research) and the Spanish SENECA foundation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Soil and Water Conservation and Organic Waste Management, Centro de Edafología y Biología Aplicada del Segura (CEBAS-CSIC), Campus Universitario de Espinardo, 30100, Murcia, Spain

    Keiji Jindo, Teresa Hernandez & Carlos Garcia

  2. Departamento de Ciências Fisiológicas, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, km7 BR 467, Seropédica, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

    Silvia Aparecida Martim

  3. Department of Plant Nutrition, Centro de Edafología y Biología Aplicada del Segura (CEBAS-CSIC), Campus Universitario de Espinardo, 30100, Murcia, Spain

    Elena Cantero Navarro & Francisco Pérez-Alfocea

  4. Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro (UENF) Núcleo de Desenvolvimento de Insumos Biológicos para Agricultura (NUDIBA), Av. Alberto Lamego 2000, Campos dos Goytacazes, 28602-013, Brazil

    Natália Oliveira Aguiar & Luciano Pasqualoto Canellas

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  1. Keiji Jindo
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  2. Silvia Aparecida Martim
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  3. Elena Cantero Navarro
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  4. Francisco Pérez-Alfocea
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  5. Teresa Hernandez
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  6. Carlos Garcia
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  7. Natália Oliveira Aguiar
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  8. Luciano Pasqualoto Canellas
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Correspondence to Keiji Jindo.

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Responsible Editor: Ingrid Koegel-Knabner.

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Jindo, K., Martim, S.A., Navarro, E.C. et al. Root growth promotion by humic acids from composted and non-composted urban organic wastes. Plant Soil 353, 209–220 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-011-1024-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-011-1024-3

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