Evaluation by Electron Microscopy of the Stomatal Density in the Leaves of the Sugar Beet (beta Vulgaris L.) Crop Fertilized with Compost Made from Sugarcane By-products

Abstract

The aim of this work was to determine the effect of compost made basically from sugarcane by-products on the stomatal density of the leaves of the sugar beet crop. The scanning electronic microscope model Quanta 200+EDS was used to evaluate the stomatal density and other details. This evaluation was contrasted with that resulting from the evaluation of the physical characteristics of the sugar beet crop. Compost was made from bagasse and vinasse that are residues from the sugar industry, complemented with guinea pig guano and dry grass, obtaining an organic fertilizer for the ecological production of sugar beet. The doses of compost were applied to the crop in 5 treatments seven days after transplantation and then the physical, chemical and biological characteristics of the plant were evaluated. The data obtained were subjected to the analysis of variance and Duncan's test. It was determined that in the treatment (T5) the highest values were obtained in the physical characteristics of the crop: plant height (36.67 cm), equatorial diameter (6.57 cm), polar diameter (6.18 cm), weight of the tuber (201.25 g), and commercial yield (20.964 t/ha). However, a greater number of open stomas were found in the treatment (T4).