Effect of an Artisanal Biopreparation of Efficient Microorganisms on the Growth and Yield of Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.)

Abstract

With the objective of evaluating the effect of efficient microorganism applications on morphological and yield variables in tomato cultivation, an experiment was conducted at the “Las Flores” farm, Cruces municipality, Cienfuegos province (Cuba), on a Brown soil without Carbonate. The commercial tomato variety “Lignon” was used, and a randomized block experimental design was applied with three treatments and four replications, covering a total area of 278 m². The efficient microorganism biopreparation was applied on three occasions every seven days, at doses of 7 L ha⁻¹ and 10 L ha⁻¹. Ten plants per plot were evaluated and the economic feasibility of each treatment was calculated. The results demonstrated that the application of efficient microorganisms promoted soil microbial activity and improved its biochemical capacity, resulting in greater vegetative development, a significant increase in flowering and fruiting, as well as a notable improvement in agricultural yield compared to the control. The economic analysis confirmed that the 10 L ha⁻¹ dose was the most profitable. The use of this biopreparation not only increases crop productivity, but also contributes to the regeneration and enrichment of degraded soils, representing a sustainable and economically viable alternative for agricultural systems with fertility limitations.