Evaluación de la eficiencia de tres tipos de enraizantes para la producción de plantas de aguacate (Persea americana m.) por esquejes en la comunidad Guzo

Abstract

The cultivation of avocado (Persea americana M.) var. Hass is positioned as a high potential alternative for the Ecuadorian economy, due to the favourable climatic conditions of the inter-Andean alley. However, the production of plants by means of seeds frequently presents suboptimal productivity levels, due to the heterogeneity generated among individuals. The present investigation was carried out in the community of Guzo, which aimed to evaluate the efficiency of three organic rooting agents (aloe, onion and banana) in the production of avocado plants by cuttings, with emphasis on identifying a sustainable and efficient alternative for vegetative propagation. The results showed that the aloe-based rooting agent was the most effective, achieving a 82.22% of rooting, followed by the onion-based rooting agent with 48.89% and the banana-based rooting agent with 21.11%. A total of 153 plants were obtained, and the most of them were produced using the aloe vera rooting agent, highlighting its impact on the development and survival of the cuttings. In economic terms, the highest benefit/cost ratio corresponded to the aloe treatment ($1.21), with a higher return per dollar invested, in contrast to the control treatment ($0.25). These results position the aloe vera rooting agent as an agronomically and economically viable alternative to produce avocado plants, promoting a more sustainable and efficient agriculture.