Effectiveness of biofertilizer enriched in N by Beijerinckia indica on sugarcane grown on an Ultisol and the interactive effects between biofertilizer and sugarcane filter cake

Abstract

To improve yield and nutrient absorption, the addition of fertilizers to provide nutrients in adequate quantities is recommended. An alternative substitution for soluble fertilizer is the use of Acidithiobacillus bacteria to produce rock biofertilizer that is then mixed with organic matter inoculated with diazotrophic bacteria (Beijerinckia indica) for N enrichment. This study evaluates the effectiveness of biofertilizer on nutrient uptake and its interaction with sugarcane filter cake in field-grown sugarcane on an Ultisol in the Brazilian rainforest region. The experiment used two NPK fertilizer treatments (biofertilizer and soluble fertilizer) applied at three rates (50, 100 and 150% of the recommended rate [RR]) and a control treatment of earthworm compost (20 t ha -1 ). The fertilizer treatments were applied with and without filter cake, in four replicates. Total C and N, available P and K, and exchangeable Ca and Mg in plants (upper shoots, leaves and stems) as well as soil samples were analyzed.The biofertilizer showed similar responses as did the soluble fertilizer in nutrient uptake in the different parts of sugarcane and in the soil samples. The effects of biofertilizer were enhanced by the interaction of the fertilizer treatments with sugarcane filter cake. We concluded that the biofertilizer enriched in N by inoculation with B.indica may be a viable alternative for the replacement of soluble fertilizers in sugarcane.

Multivariate Behavior of Irrigated Sugarcane with Phosphate Fertilizer and Filter Cake Management: Nutritional State, Biometry, and Agroindustrial Performance

“…This information reinforces the benefits of the filter cake as a rich source of macro and micronutrients that can be applied as a complement to mineral fertilizers in numerous crops. Filter cake is an important source of phosphorus and nitrogen, in addition to improving the nutritional state of sugarcane when associated with biofertilizers and chemical fertilizers (Oliveira et al 2017). The height of stalks at 8 months is the only variable with a high negative correlation with PC2, which although characterizing a universe of less explanatory relevance, may have become a limiting factor for higher sugarcane yields under the experimental conditions and the treatments.…”

“…In addition, there is a need to add sustainability to the production system, which can be achieved by using the filter cake: the result of the clarification and filtration phase of the sugarcane juice after going through the rotary filter, a largevolume organic compound rich in organic matter containing macronutrients in its composition, especially phosphorus. Filter cake improves plant nutrition and stalk and sugar productions, increasing the sugarcane agroindustrial performance (Santos et al 2010;Oliveira et al 2017;Vasconcelos et al 2017).…”

Endophytic bacteria: a possible path towards a sustainable agriculture

“…While in sugarcane, the genera Herbaspirillum, Burkholderia (Carvalho et al, 2014), Gluconacetobacter, and Azospirillum, especially Azospirillum amazonense (Oliveira et al, 2004), are the best characterized endophytic diazotrophic bacteria. Studies suggest that these bacteria can act as a nitrogen biofertilizers for several important crops besides sugarcane (Medina-Cordoba et al, 2021;Nunes Oliveira et al, 2017).…”

Nutrient availability in phosphate and potassic rocks induced by Acidithiobacillus oxidizing bacteria to produce biofertilizers

“…Thus, microorganisms that have the ability to solubilizing phosphate and potassic rocks are very important in sustainable agriculture. The oxidizing bacteria Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans is able to metabolically produce sulfuric acid (H 2 SO 4 ), which reduces pH (El Tarabily et al, 2006) and may promotes the availability of nutrients (Stamford et al, 2016;Oliveira et al, 2017;Silva Júnior et al, 2018). The use of powdered rocks may reduce the application of soluble fertilizers and the production of rock biofertilizers, which is a practical process and requires low energy consumption (Lima et al, 2010).…”

“…Studies on sulfur inoculated with Acidithiobacillus showed that this specific bacterium is very efficient in the oxidation of elemental sulfur to produce sulfuric acid, which can increase the nutrient availability from phosphate and potassium rocks (Stamford et al, 2015(Stamford et al, , 2016. Biofertilizers from phosphate and potassium rocks mixed with sulfur inoculated with Acidithiobacillus have been applied with excellent results in different Brazilian soils of the rainforest zone and the semiarid region, grown with various crops (Oliveira et al, 2014(Oliveira et al, , 2017Stamford et al, 2009Stamford et al, , 2015Stamford et al, , 2016. However, no literature explains the specific reactions and mineralogical changes occurred during the process of rock biofertilizer production to release the minerals and interactions in availability of the nutrients.…”