Rock Biofertilizers withAcidithiobacilluson Sugarcane Yield and Nutrient Uptake in a Brazilian Soil

Abstract

The experiment was conducted with the aim to evaluate the effects of biofertilizers with phosphate and potash rocks and soluble fertilizers (Triple super phosphate and potassium chloride) in chemical attributes of a Brazilian tableland soil grown with sugarcane. The experiment was arranged in a completely randomized factorial design 2 × 4 × 3 + 1, with four replicates. Two varieties of sugarcane, three sources of P and K mixture (natural apatite + natural biotite; P + K biofertilizers with Acidithiobacillus and P + K chemical fertilizers) were applied in four levels. A control treatment with no P and K fertilization (P 0 K 0 ) was added for comparative purposes. Significant differences between varieties were observed in all analyzed parameters, with better results when applied the recommended levels of biofertilizers and chemical fertilizers. Stalk fresh matter increased with fertilizers and biofertilizers applications, especially when applied in levels near recommendation. Total N, total P and total K in stalk dry matter increased significantly when biofertilizers were applied. The results indicate potential use of biofertilizers that may be used as P source; however, long-term studies are necessary due to soil pH reductions and its possible adverse effects.

Nutrient uptake by grape in a Brazilian soil affected by rock biofertilizer

“…While leaf P and K contents increased with application rate for both soluble and biofertilizers, the increase was much stronger for soluble fertilizer, with the reverse pattern for Mg leaf content, similarly to berry nutrient concentrations. These results are similar to those found for sugarcane and melon (Stamford et al, 2006(Stamford et al, , 2008. Faria et al, (2004) .…”

“…Rock biofertilizers from P and K rocks plus sulphur inoculated with Acidithiobacillus have been applied with excellent results in different crops and soils of the rain forest zone and in the semiarid region of the Brazilian Northeast, as reported by Stamford et al, (2006Stamford et al, ( , 2007Stamford et al, ( , 2009), but no literature was found on biofertilizer usage on grapes, or on long-term field cultures.…”

Plant and soil characteristics affected by biofertilizers from rocks and organic matter inoculated with diazotrophic bacteria and fungi that produce chitosan

“…However, the available K measured in the soil was highest after treatment with FNPK fertilizers, NPKB (ChCru 6 mg mL -1 ) and (ChFu 2 mg mL -1 ), with the addition of C. elegans. The effects of chitosan were likely observed in the treatments with higher amounts of substrates that were sulfur inoculated with Acidithiobacillus, as the acid production increases the available P and K in soil (Stamford et al, 2006(Stamford et al, , 2008. Furthermore, chitosan increased the levels of N, P and K in the substrate (Kowalski et al, 2006, Goy et al, 2009.…”

“…Furthermore, chitosan increased the levels of N, P and K in the substrate (Kowalski et al, 2006, Goy et al, 2009. The application of sulfur with Acidithiobacillus must be thoroughly evaluated due to the acidification effect of sulfuric acid, which in some cases and particularly in acidic soils, may result in the displacement of exchangeable Al +3 that is harmful to plant growth (Stamford et al, 2006). The results of this study suggest that further investigation is necessary to evaluate the effect of amendments in different soils due to their effect on soil pH.…”

Biological control of the bacterial wilt Ralstonia solanacearum by bioprotector with fungi chitosan from Cunninghamella elegans on tomatoes

“…An alternative for effective and economic fertilization is the use of biofertilizers made from phosphate and potash rocks with elemental sulfur inoculated with Acidithiobacillus. This combination achieves greater nutrient availability since the bacteria produce sulfuric acid, and thus increase both phosphorus and potassium availabilities, with results comparable to traditional fertilizers in several experiments with different economic crops (Stamford et al, 2006;van Straaten, 2007;Stamford et al, 2008).…”