Effects of Two Bio-stimulants and Their Concentrations on the Vegetative Growth of Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.)

In sustainable agriculture, the use of bio-stimulants has gained increasing attention as an alternative or complement to chemical fertilizers. Bio-stimulants can enhance plant growth, nutrient uptake, and stress tolerance, as such opening avenues to improve yields and crop quality and reduce persistent over-use of chemical fertilisers. These positive aspects contribute to less environmental problems and an increase in food quality and quantity. 

Biostimulants are not simple plant nutrients. They are complex mixtures of a multitude of ingredients, and their exact formulation is mostly propriety knowledge. Moreover, the field of biostimulant production and use is relatively new compared to that of standard fertilisers. Therefore, each biostimulant requires professional testing for efficacy and safety before marketing. Regarding the efficacy, the inherent quality of a biostimulant and the rate and methods of application are important, as are the plant species and the testing (environmental) conditions. Tomatoes, being a major horticultural crop with high economic value, offer an excellent model to investigate these effects. For this thesis, we propose to evaluate two bio-stimulants at different concentrations on the vegetative growth and development of tomato. This work will provide insights into the efficacy of the biostimulants to promote growth and it will provide you with hands-on experience in how to conduct a proper experiment and use several tools to assess crop growth parameters.

The aim of this study is to 

1. evaluate the effects of two types of bio-stimulants at two concentrations on the vegetative growth of tomato plants,
2. assess morphological and physiological parameters such as plant height, leaf area, phytosynthesis, chlorophyll content, and dry mass,
3. determine optimal bio-stimulant type and concentration for promoting healthy and sustainable growth.