Economic gains using organic P source and inoculation with P-solubilizing bacteria in sugarcane

Author(s)

Antonio M. M. Silva ^[1] ; Lucas S. Pimenta ^[2] ; Xue Qi ; Elke J. B. N. Cardoso ^[4]

Affiliation

^[1] Universidade de São Paulo. Escola Superior de Agricultura “Luiz de Queiroz” - Brasil

^[2] Universidade Federal do Amazonas - Brasil

^[4] Universidade de São Paulo. Escola Superior de Agricultura “Luiz de Queiroz” - Brasil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Revista Brasileira de Engenharia Agrícola e Ambiental; v. 27, n. 2, p. 101-107, 2022-10-24.

Abstract

ABSTRACT Biological agribusiness has grown substantially worldwide and requires efficient strategies to maintain or increase crop production. However, little is known about the real economic gains associated with belowground mechanisms in agriculture, including those of traditional crops such as sugarcane. This study aimed to identify potential microbiological indicators related to yield increase and value the soil microbiological services through the development of a structural equation model (SEM). The SEM was constructed based on a dataset from a previous sugarcane field experiment in which the effects of inoculation with phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (PSB) and the input of organomineral fertilizer were evaluated. The SEM indicated that the β-glucosidase and alkaline phosphatase activities were potential indicators of yield increases in four scenarios (current, plausible, optimistic, and futuristic). Increases of 158 and 195 t ha-1 were projected based on the β-glucosidase activity for the current and plausible scenarios, respectively. These increases resulted in economic gains of R$ 453.02 ha-1 (US$ 86.07 ha-1) for the current scenario, and R$ 1,571.53 ha-1 (US$ 298.59 ha-1) for the plausible scenario, considering the exchange rate from February 2022 (R$ 0.19 US$-1). Regardless of the scenario, bacterial inoculation was associated with increased β-glucosidase or alkaline phosphatase activity and higher yields, which translates into economic gains for sugarcane farmers. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 19/13436-8 - Mitigation of water stress in maize (Zea mays L.) after arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and growth promoting rhizobacteria inoculation
• Grantee: Antonio Marcos Miranda Silva
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 16/18944-3 - Climatic changes and energetic efficiency in agriculture: focusing on hydric stress, organic management and soil biology
• Grantee: Elke Jurandy Bran Nogueira Cardoso
• Support Opportunities: Research Program on Global Climate Change - Thematic Grants