Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
JOURNAL OF PLANT NUTRITION, sa.1, ss.1-15, 2025 (SCI-Expanded)
The aim of this study was to demonstrate the potential use of biostimulants, based on the hypothesis that the use of biostimulants can be an alternative to ensure sustainability in agricultural production. In the study, red lettuce (Lactuca sativa cv Crispa), which attracts consumer attention due to its color, was used as a model crop and seven biostimulants at different levels were applied to lettuce in two growing seasons. The effects of the biostimulants on yield, quality, vitamin C, macro-micro nutrient content and nitrate accumulation were investigated. In the first season (November–January), the biostimulant containing gamma-aminobutyric acid and L-glutamic acid gave better results than the conventional treatment in terms of marketable leaf number, average head weight and marketable yield, which are important yield criteria. In addition, measurements of root length, root collar diameter and fresh root weight of the biostimulants containing Lactobacillus acidophilus showed that the biostimulants supported plant growth more than the conventional treatment in the first growing season. The dominance of the conventional treatment in the second growing season (January–April) with relatively colder weather conditions showed that the efficacy of biostimulants was related to air temperature. On the other hand, biostimulants containing Lactobacillus acidophilus and Lactobacillus paracasei increased vitamin C content and red color intensity of lettuce. It was concluded that biostimulants will contribute to sustainable agriculture by helping to reduce the use of synthetic chemical fertilizers.