Abstract
The application of humic acid (HA) as a biostimulant in vegetable production has gained attention for its potential to enhance plant growth, soil health, and nutrient availability. This study investigated the effects of different HA concentrations (0, 4, 8, and 12 g/kg) on seed germination, seedling growth, and physiological parameters of cucumber, pumpkin, okra, brinjal (eggplant), and tomato under controlled conditions. Results indicated that HA application significantly influenced germination rates, plant height, leaf number, root development, and flowering patterns in a dose- and species-dependent manner. Lower HA concentrations (4 g/kg) improved germination speed in cucumber, pumpkin, and okra, whereas higher doses (12 g/kg) delayed germination or caused seedling mortality in okra and tomato. Root proliferation was enhanced across species, with the highest root numbers observed at 12 g/kg in cucumber and pumpkin. However, excessive HA (12 g/kg) adversely affected okra and tomato, leading to stunted growth or plant death. Brinjal seedlings showed moderate growth improvements with HA, while tomato seedlings exhibited delayed flowering under HA treatment. The findings suggest that optimal HA doses vary by crop species, with moderate concentrations (4–8 g/kg) generally promoting growth, while higher doses may induce stress. This study highlights the importance of tailored HA application strategies to maximize benefits in sustainable vegetable production.
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Claims 14
Claim · model-written summary
Humic acid significantly affected germination, growth and flowering in a dose and species dependent manner.
- Taxon
- cucumber, pumpkin, okra, brinjal (eggplant), and tomatoe1
- Treatment
- HA applicatione0
- Outcome
- germination rates, plant height, leaf numbere0
- Qualifier
- dose- and species-dependent mannere0
Not reportedComparatorDirection
Verbatim
e0“HA application significantly influenced germination rates, plant height, leaf number, root development, and flowering patterns in a dose- and species-dependent manner”
e1“cucumber, pumpkin, okra, brinjal (eggplant), and tomato”
Claim · model-written summary
A 4 g/kg humic acid dose improved cucumber germination speed.
- Taxon
- cucumber
Cucumis sativuse0 - Treatment
- HA concentrations (4 g/kg)e0
- Outcome
- germination speede0
- Direction
- improvede0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Lower HA concentrations (4 g/kg) improved germination speed in cucumber, pumpkin, and okra”
Claim · model-written summary
A 4 g/kg humic acid dose improved pumpkin germination speed.
Not reportedComparator
Verbatim
e0“Lower HA concentrations (4 g/kg) improved germination speed in cucumber, pumpkin, and okra”
Claim · model-written summary
A 4 g/kg humic acid dose improved okra germination speed.
- Taxon
- okra
.jpg?width=60)
Abelmoschus esculentuse0 - Treatment
- HA concentrations (4 g/kg)e0
- Outcome
- germination speede0
- Direction
- improvede0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
.jpg?width=500)
Verbatim
e0“Lower HA concentrations (4 g/kg) improved germination speed in cucumber, pumpkin, and okra”
Claim · model-written summary
A 12 g/kg dose delayed germination or killed okra seedlings.
- Taxon
- okraAbelmoschus esculentuse0
- Treatment
- higher doses (12 g/kg)e0
- Outcome
- germination or caused seedling mortalitye0
- Direction
- delayede0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“higher doses (12 g/kg) delayed germination or caused seedling mortality in okra and tomato”
Claim · model-written summary
A 12 g/kg dose delayed germination or killed tomato seedlings.
- Taxon
- tomato
Solanum lycopersicume0 - Treatment
- higher doses (12 g/kg)e0
- Outcome
- germination or caused seedling mortalitye0
- Direction
- delayede0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“higher doses (12 g/kg) delayed germination or caused seedling mortality in okra and tomato”
Claim · model-written summary
Root proliferation increased across the tested species under humic acid.
- Taxon
- cucumber, pumpkin, okra, brinjal (eggplant), and tomatoe1
- Treatment
- HAe1
- Outcome
- Root proliferatione0
- Direction
- enhancede0
Not reportedComparator
Verbatim
e0“Root proliferation was enhanced across species”
e1“HA concentrations (0, 4, 8, and 12 g/kg) on seed germination, seedling growth, and physiological parameters of cucumber, pumpkin, okra, brinjal (eggplant), and tomato”
Claim · model-written summary
Cucumber root number was highest at 12 g/kg.
- Taxon
- cucumberCucumis sativuse0
- Treatment
- 12 g/kge0
- Outcome
- root numberse0
- Direction
- higheste0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“the highest root numbers observed at 12 g/kg in cucumber and pumpkin”
Claim · model-written summary
Pumpkin root number was highest at 12 g/kg.
Not reportedComparator
Verbatim
e0“the highest root numbers observed at 12 g/kg in cucumber and pumpkin”
Claim · model-written summary
Excessive humic acid stunted or killed okra.
- Taxon
- okraAbelmoschus esculentuse0
- Treatment
- HA (12 g/kg)e0
- Outcome
- stunted growth or plant deathe0
- Direction
- adversely affectede0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“excessive HA (12 g/kg) adversely affected okra and tomato, leading to stunted growth or plant death”
Claim · model-written summary
Excessive humic acid stunted or killed tomato.
- Taxon
- tomatoSolanum lycopersicume0
- Treatment
- HA (12 g/kg)e0
- Outcome
- stunted growth or plant deathe0
- Direction
- adversely affectede0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“excessive HA (12 g/kg) adversely affected okra and tomato, leading to stunted growth or plant death”
Claim · model-written summary
Brinjal seedlings showed moderate growth improvement with humic acid.
- Taxon
- Brinjal
Solanum melongenae0 - Treatment
- HAe0
- Outcome
- growth improvementse0
- Direction
- improvementse0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Brinjal seedlings showed moderate growth improvements with HA”
Claim · model-written summary
Humic acid delayed flowering in tomato seedlings.
- Taxon
- tomatoSolanum lycopersicume0
- Treatment
- HA treatmente0
- Outcome
- floweringe0
- Direction
- delayede0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“tomato seedlings exhibited delayed flowering under HA treatment”
Claim · model-written summary
The authors suggest moderate 4–8 g/kg doses generally promote growth.
Verbatim
e0“moderate concentrations (4–8 g/kg) generally promoting growth”
e1“cucumber, pumpkin, okra, brinjal (eggplant), and tomato”
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other · growth · Solanum melongena (eggplant)Results differ
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See all 175 papers →other · growth · Cucurbita (pumpkins)Results agree
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See all 12 papers →Claims are grouped by organism, treatment and what was measured or targeted. A paper counts as positive when any of its claims in the group is positive.