Irma Graciela Pellejero

Scopus Publications

Agronomic application effects of organic wastes on a squash crop production

Effect of the application of compost as an organic fertilizer on a tomato crop (Solanum lycopersicum l.) produced in the field in the lower valley of the río negro (argentina)

Biological control of soil-borne phytopathogenic fungi through onion waste composting: implications for circular economy perspective
A. Chorolque, G. Pellejero, M. C. Sosa, J. Palacios, G. Aschkar, C. García-Delgado, and R. Jiménez-Ballesta
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
AbstractThe production of onion waste derived mainly from bulbs affected by fungal diseases, during onion classification and storage presents an important agro-environmental issue in onion production regions. Composting is an environmentally friendly strategy to recycle agricultural waste and produce organic fertilizers. Modifications of the microbial community in soil can affect the ability of pathogen propagules to survive, germinate and infect plant roots. Hence, the main objective of this work was to exploring the mechanisms involved on the presence of three soil-borne phytopathogenic fungi during the composting process of onion waste under the hypothesis if that the resulting compost effectively prevents or minimizes the dispersion of phytopathogenic fungi. To this end, three composting piles of 60 tonnes each were built by layering onion waste affected by phytopathogenic fungi and cow dung at 1:1 ratio. Temperature, moisture, pH, electrical conductivity (EC) and Aspergillus niger, Penicillium sp. and Fusarium sp. growth were monitored for 100 days. During the first 28 days of composting, the presence of phytopathogenic fungi increased significantly showing thereafter a downward trend. Final estimations of fungal populations densities indicated a predominance of A. niger and an effective reduction in the abundance of Fusarium sp. This pilot-scale work demonstrates the feasibility of composting onion waste contaminated with phytopathogenic fungi and highlights the positive environmental impact associated with this practice. Therefore, the composting of onion waste and cow dung is a feasible and sustainable procedure to recycle onion waste and to promote circular economy in onion production regions.

Onion waste recycling by vermicomposting: nutrients recovery and agronomical assessment
G. Pellejero, K. Rodriguez, G. Ashchkar, E. Vela, C. García-Delgado, and R. Jiménez-Ballesta
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Vermicomposting is an efficient technology to treat organic wastes and recover nutrients for agricultural purposes. The aim of this work was to assess the feasibility of vermicomposting to treat onion waste and the resulting vermicompost as an agricultural input. Onion waste from the food industry was mixed with cow dump and vermicomposted for 154 days at the pilot scale. The evolution of temperature, moisture, pH, electrical conductivity and total nitrogen was monitored during the vermicomposting process. Finally, the vermicompost was characterized to assess its potential use in agriculture. The vermicomposting process was carried out at moisture around 85% and maximum temperature of 33 °C. The pH decreased throughout the process, while the electrical conductivity increased. Total nitrogen concentration decreased during the first days but then was constant. The final vermicompost was a mature material (C/N = 13), with considerable carbon content (15.7%), lightly basic and with low electrical conductivity. Nutrient equilibria were 1:8:3 with appreciable content of other nutrients such as Ca, Mg and S. Toxic elements were in low concentration and below the legal threshold. The vermicomposting of onion waste with cow dump is a feasible technology to treat this waste and produce a valuable agricultural input to close the nutrient circle.

Incidence of bacterial diseases associated with irrigation methods on onions (Allium cepa)
Amelia Chorolque, Cristina Pozzo Ardizzi, Graciela Pellejero, Gabriela Aschkar, Francisco J García Navarro, and Raimundo Jiménez Ballesta
Wiley
BACKGROUND In the last decade, diseases of bacterial origin in onions have increased and this has led to significant losses in production. These diseases are currently observed in both the Old and New Worlds. The present study aimed to evaluate whether the irrigation method influences the incidence of diseases of bacterial origin. RESULTS In cases where the inoculum was natural, the initial incidence of soft bacterial rot did not manifest in any treatment in the first year, whereas, at the end of the conservation period, all treatments had increased incidences of infection. Sprinkler irrigation (8%) was statistically differentiated from the other treatments, for which the final incidence was similar (4.5%). For all irrigation treatments, the final incidence of bacterial soft rot decreased or remained stable towards the end of the cycle, with the exception of sprinkler irrigation in 2015, which increased. CONCLUSION From the results of the present study, it can be inferred that the irrigation method does have an influence on the incidence of diseases of bacterial origin in the post-harvest stage for onions. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.

Effects of the onion residue compost as an organic fertilizer in a vegetable culture in the Lower Valley of the Rio Negro
G. Pellejero, A. Miglierina, G. Aschkar, M. Turcato, and R. Jiménez-Ballesta
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
PurposeFarming production in the lower part of Río Negro Valley (Argentina) has increased considerably during recent years, causing soil degradation and, specifically, decreasing the organic matter contents. This fact requires recovery measures, as organic amendments for soils, to improve its quality. The marked objectives for the present research is to evaluate compost as organic fertilizer, based on a mix of onion waste and bovine manure.MethodsThe experiment was carried out in a completely randomized design, involving five treatments and one control, with ten copies of each one. Tests were performed in a greenhouse, using flowerpots and experimental plots, in a typical soil of the region (Aridisol), pH 8.3 and 2.2% of organic matter, mixed with different compost dosages (20, 40, 60 and 80 Mg ha−1) and the chemical treatment, Urea (0.26 Mg ha−1). A horticultural farming of 1 lettuce was sowed (Lactuca sativa). A conventional handling was carried out for the whole cultivation period, and at the end was harvested. Ten plants per plot were taken and were determined total fresh weight, aerial part fresh weight, root part fresh eight. In the dry controls total dry weight, aerial dry weight and root dry weight was determined.ResultsResults show, with an error (p < 0.05), significant differences in the fresh weight per plant calculated, between treatments and control; a noticeably greater effect can be observed in the treatments with 6 and 8 kg m−2 compost amending and urea treatment. There is no evidence of the existence of significant differences (p < 0.05) between treatments and control, according to the values obtained for root size as well as aerial dry weight and root dry matter.ConclusionsIt can be concluded that the addition of organic fertilizer to soils, has positive effect on the Fresh weight of the plant, recommending the use of doses of 6 kg m−2 while the dose of 8 kg m−2 could replace the use of chemical fertilizers such as Urea.

Effects of Aspergillus niger in onion bulbs (Allium cepa L.) stored in the post-harvest phase
Cristina Pozzo Ardizzi, Graciela Pellejero, Gabriela Aschkar, and Raimundo Jiménez Ballesta
Inderscience Publishers
Onion bulbs were stored in the field, in piles until its commercialisation but the bulbs may be affected by fungal diseases. The objective was to assess the effects of the temperature (T), relative humidity (RH) within the piles, the water percentage (WP) and soluble solids (SS) of the bulbs over Aspergillus niger incidence. Bulbs of Cobriza INTA, Antartica INTA, Valcatorce INTA, Valuno INTA and Grano de Oro were storage in piles and T, RH, A. niger incidence, WP and SS were determined in bulbs periodically sampled. The incidence increased in the first stage of conservation, and the decreasing temperatures induced the fungal sporulation. When temperatures dropped below 14°C, the pathogen activity diminished because the detachment of affected scales. The WP and the SS were similar in coloured cultivars so they did not explain the incidence differences. The optimal conservation period ranged between two and three and a half months.

Irma Graciela Pellejero

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Scopus Publications