Economic feasibility of Gluconacetobacter diazotrophicus in carrot cultivation

Abstract

The inclusion of more sustainable alternatives such as bacterial inoculants is a viable option for the competitiveness of vegetable crops in tropical countries such as Colombia. The economic feasibility of a bacterial suspension of G. diazotrophicus applied to the carrot crop was determined. The native isolate G. diazotrophicus GIBI029 was evaluated and the strain ATCC 49037 was used as a control. The experiment was installed in a subdivided plot design, where the plot was the bacterium G. diazotrophicus (ATCC49037 and GIBI029. The subplot was the concentration of G. diazotrophicus (88×10 6 CFU/mL and 18×10 7 CFU/mL) and, in it, the levels of nitrogen and phosphorus (0% and 100% nitrogen and phosphorus) were assorted. The average weight of the carrot (g) and the yield by quality of the consuming organ (kg/ ha) were evaluated. Through the production cycle, fixed, variable, and total costs were calculated. Benefit / cost ratios higher than 1.46 and net income up to US$ 10,817/ha were achieved. It is possible to efficiently and economically use the native isolate G. diazotrophicus GIBI029 in the search for more sustainable and competitive cultural practices.

Nitrogen-fixing bacteria and nitrogen fertilization on economic feasibility of tomato

“…For plants, the availability of nitrogen (N) is the main limiting factor in crop productivity, together with phosphorus (P), as both determine plant growth. Plants absorb nitrogen by the root as ammonium ion (NH 4 + ) or as nitrate ion (NO 3 -) (Ceballos-Aguirre et al, 2022).…”

“…Nitrates are not strongly retained in the soil, but rather have high mobility through the flow of water. Consequently, it is common for nitrates to move in depth with the drainage water, being able to reach the aquifers (Ceballos-Aguirre et al, 2022). Due to the Nitrogen cycle, the presence of nitrates and nitrites in the environment occurs naturally; however, human…”