INTEC evaluates sargassum biofertilizer: tomato fruits showed no worrying accumulation of trace elements under the evaluated conditions
The use of this biofertilizer in the Dominican Republic could help mitigate the environmental problem on the coasts, while its potential to improve the fertility of agricultural soils is being evaluated.
The research provides scientific evidence to evaluate the agricultural potential of sargassum under controlled experimental conditions.
SANTO DOMINGO. - The Instituto Tecnológico de Santo Domingo (INTEC), through a multidisciplinary research team and in collaboration with the Banelino Association, analyzed the impact of using sargassum as a biofertilizer in tomato cultivation. The study, part of the doctoral thesis being developed at INTEC by Professor Yaset Rodríguez Rodríguez, determined that after 14 weeks of application, there was no significant accumulation of trace elements of environmental concern in the soil or the edible fruit.
According to the technical data, the arsenic concentration was lower in the final liquid fraction of the biofertilizer, below the levels established by international organizations for its use in agriculture, than in the raw biomass. This comparison should be interpreted considering the differences between the matrices evaluated and the behavior of arsenic during the fermentation and phase separation processes. The results suggest that a significant portion of the arsenic remains associated with the solid sargassum residue, thus reducing its presence in the liquid fraction applied to the plants.
The research by INTEC, published in the scientific journal Plants, It demonstrated that trace elements of concern, such as arsenic, cadmium, and lead, remained below the quantification limits reported in the study in the harvested fruit.
In the specific case of tomatoes, the levels of arsenic and lead were less than 0.01 mg/kg, with no evidence of worrying accumulation in the fruit under the experimental conditions evaluated.
On the other hand, the application of sargassum as a biofertilizer significantly increased the availability of macronutrients in the soil, raising nitrogen to 1,933 mg /kg and potassium at 2,918 mg/kg.
Despite the positive short-term results, the research team recommends conducting long-term field studies to assess the cumulative effects on the soil, crop, and environment, especially with repeated applications and under different agricultural conditions.