Effect of the product Biofertmex (Glomus sp) on the development and production of a spinach crop (Spinacia oleracea) in Zipaquirá, Cundinamarca

Abstract

Spinach (Spinacia oleracea) is a crop with an approximate 55- to 75-day cycle. It forms an aerial system (leaves and stem) that is used within the marketing chain for various purposes. However, in some cases, this production decreases due to factors such as soil type, poorly planned fertilization programs, pest and disease attacks, and water problems, primarily due to water deficiency or poor quality, due to parameters such as pH and hardness, among others. Therefore, it is important to stimulate the plant to elongate its root system and absorb more nutrients, thus improving leaf area. This leads to a greater number of leaves and, therefore, an increase in the weight of the final product. In this regard, the objective of this article is to present the results of the evaluation of the application of the commercially available mycorrhizal fungus (Biofertmex), considering vegetative development (number and length of leaves and roots) and production yields as variables. Three treatments were established: a control with 0.0 m of mycelium, 3 L/ha (9,900 m of mycelium (Glomus sp.), and a 4 L/ha (13,200 m of fungus). The 4 L/ha application showed the best results and increased the yield of the treated plants.