In the next phase of the project, the microalgal biomass produced is applied to plants growing under real greenhouse conditions, with the aim of evaluating its effectiveness as a biofertilizer and biostimulant. Tomatoes and lettuce were selected as reference crops, two plant species with widespread agricultural application and high relevance to sustainable farming practices.
The experimental setup includes separate cultivation units to clearly distinguish between the different experimental conditions and treatments. The application of the produced biomass is carried out using two different approaches: through direct application to the soil as a soil amendment, and through foliar spraying to evaluate its biostimulant activity.
At the same time, control plants are used, which are grown without the addition of fertilizers or biostimulants, to enable a comparative evaluation of the effect of microalgal cultures on plant growth and yield.
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B.Figure: (A) Application of microalgae biomass to lettuce cultivation soil as a biofertilizer and soil conditioner, (B) Control lettuce plants without biomass application for a comparative assessment of growth.
