2026/02/26 by Ashly Ramos, Juan Quijia-Pillajo, W. Garrett Owen +1 · 1 voice
Agricultural and Biological Sciences · #Plant Growth Enhancement Techniques #Composting and Vermicomposting Techniques #Plant-Microbe Interactions and Immunity
paper · doi:10.21273/horttech05831-25
openalex publication_date 2026/02/26 · openalex created_date 2026/02/27 · openalex updated_date 2026/06/26
High fertilizer costs and environmental concerns are driving interest in biostimulants that promote plant growth and stress tolerance. This study evaluated the growth-promoting effects of Lalrise Vita, a commercial biostimulant containing the phosphate-solubilizing bacteria Bacillus velezensis , using French marigolds ( Tagetes patula ‘Durango Yellow’) at different fertilizer rates. A water-soluble fertilizer was applied once per week at 50, 150, 300, or 600 mg·L −1 nitrogen (N) from a 15N–2.2P–12.5K–4Ca–2Mg formulation. Lalrise Vita was applied once at transplant, at 0.25 g/plant, as a substrate drench, with untreated plants as controls. The plants were scanned using the TraitFinder (Phenospex), and digital shoot biomass, normalized pigment chlorophyll ratio index (NPCI), plant senescence reflectance index (PSRI), and canopy hue were used to identify differences in plant growth and quality. Lalrise Vita improved French marigold digital shoot biomass and overall plant quality (e.g., lower NPCI and PSRI) compared with untreated plants, with the greatest differences observed at the lower fertilizer rates of 50 and 150 mg·L −1 N. At 50, 150, and 600 mg·L −1 N, the treated plants had higher shoot tissue nitrogen and phosphorus content than untreated plants. These results support the use of Lalrise Vita to produce high-quality crops with reduced fertilizer inputs.