Hybrid Percolation–Ultrasound Method for Extracting Bioactive Compounds from Urtica dioica and Salvia officinalis

Ana-Maria Tăbărașu, Florin Nenciu (), Dragoș-Nicolae Anghelache (), Valentin-Nicolae Vlăduț and Iuliana Găgeanu
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Ana-Maria Tăbărașu: International Projects and Relations Department, National Institute of Research-Development for Machines and Installations Designed to Agriculture and Food Industry-INMA, 6 Ion Ionescu de la Brad Avenue, 013813 Bucharest, Romania
Florin Nenciu: Testing Department, National Institute of Research-Development for Machines and Installations Designed to Agriculture and Food Industry-INMA, 6 Ion Ionescu de la Brad Avenue, 013813 Bucharest, Romania
Dragoș-Nicolae Anghelache: Department of Biotechnical Systems, Faculty of Biotechnical Systems Engineering, National University of Science and Technology POLITEHNICA Bucharest, 006042 Bucharest, Romania
Valentin-Nicolae Vlăduț: Testing Department, National Institute of Research-Development for Machines and Installations Designed to Agriculture and Food Industry-INMA, 6 Ion Ionescu de la Brad Avenue, 013813 Bucharest, Romania
Iuliana Găgeanu: International Projects and Relations Department, National Institute of Research-Development for Machines and Installations Designed to Agriculture and Food Industry-INMA, 6 Ion Ionescu de la Brad Avenue, 013813 Bucharest, Romania

Agriculture, 2024, vol. 14, issue 9, 1-15

Abstract: Enhancing the efficacy of biofertilizers and biopesticides for horticultural applications presents numerous challenges, given the need to balance effectiveness with environmental and economic factors. Achieving these goals requires rigorous research into advanced technologies and formulations capable of effectively replacing or complementing traditional chemical inputs, without compromising crop yield or quality. The present study aimed to develop a versatile and yet accessible hybrid percolation–sonication system and method, designed to optimize polyphenol extraction from nettle and sage plants. The resulting extracts were combined and applied on organic tomato crops, to evaluate their biofertilizer and biopesticide effectiveness, in comparison to conventional chemical inputs. Operating the equipment in a hybrid percolation–sonication system led to a 36% increase in polyphenols extraction for nettle and a 29% increase from sage. Regarding the effect on tomatoes, data showed that plants treated with biofertilizer extracts were over 42.88% more productive than control samples and 17.67% more productive than tomatoes treated with chemical fertilizers. Tomato plants treated with biofertilizers grew approximately 10% taller and developed stems that were 5% thicker compared to those treated with chemical fertilizers.

Keywords: biofertilizer extraction; ecological horticultural crops; vegetable treatment in unprotected spaces (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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