Sustainable agriculture: Biochar immobilized bacteria and their effects on soil and plant growth promotion

• Grant number: 23/09961-5
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Innovative Research in Small Business - PIPE
• Start date: June 01, 2024
• End date: May 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Microbiology - Applied Microbiology
• Agreement: SEBRAE-SP
• Principal Investigator: Thaís Carvalho Maester Casanova
• Grantee: Thaís Carvalho Maester Casanova
• CNAE: Fabricação de adubos e fertilizantes ; Fabricação de produtos químicos orgânicos não especificados anteriormente ; Fabricação de defensivos agrícolas
• Principal investigators: Rodrigo Nery
• Associated research grant(s): 24/04139-8 - Sustainable agriculture: Biochar immobilized bacteria and their effects on soil and plant growth promotion, AP.PIPE
• Associated scholarship(s): 25/12481-0 - Optimization of Biochar as a Support for Microorganisms: New Strategies for Biological Control and Soil Health, BP.TT; 24/11127-6 - Functional Genetic Evaluation of Micro-Immobilization and Biochar Supplementation and Its Positive Effects on Soil Amendment, BP.TT

Abstract

The reuse of organic waste is essential to mitigate the negative impacts involved in the food production chain. The production of biochar is a recent technology that immediately adds value to waste. In the soil, its use increases the capacity to absorb water and nutrients and, due to its recalcitrance in decomposition, it is able to increase carbon sequestration, contributing to the reduction of the effects of climate change. It is also considered an efficient carrier for microbial immobilization because of its porosity and good adsorption effect, which can provide a habitat for microorganisms. Ecobiotech has a bank of isolates composed of strains of Bacillus sp, Enterococcus sp. and Pseudoxanthomonas sp, one of which was characterized as a new isolate that stood out in initial applicability tests as a nematicide. In this project, we aim to immobilize the selected isolate(s) in biochar, promoting a new bioformulation to be used in agriculture and taking advantage of the benefits of both the biochar and the bacteria in promoting plant growth, reducing the need for the use of other fertilizers. So, we hope to operate in a market that is expanding and meet the concepts of sustainable development. (AU)