Embrapa: applications of chemical fertilizers can be reduced in Brazil

Researchers of the soybean unit of the Brazilian National Agricultural Research Company (Embrapa) are using beneficial bacteria to corn crops (e.g. Azospirillum brasilense) in order to reduce the applications of chemical fertilizers, particularly nitrogen. The studies, conducted in the municipalities of Sete Lagoas, Goiânia, and Sinop, reveal that when the high technology was employed, there can be a reduction of 25% of the nitrogen fertilizer applied in high yields plantations. 

 

There was also an increase of average gains of farmers proved by experiments made in the municipalities of Londrina and Ponta Grossa: from 24% to 30% compared to the non-inoculated control. The inoculant is a substance formed by mixture of bacteria and a carrier, which can be solid or liquid.

 

These bacteria used at the research are capable of capturing nitrogen from the atmosphere and transforming it on assimilable nitrogen by plants, which is called Biological Nitrogen Fixation. Since the Brazilian fertilizers market presents significant dependence on imports, using nitrogen fixation bacteria aims for economic and environmental gains, 

 

On crops that there is the use of this high technology - such as the ones conducted on properties that family labor is used - the experiment results show yields as high as 3,400 kg/ha in crops where only 24kg of nitrogen per hectare was applied. With a supplement of 30kg of nitrogen applied in the same area, it would reach a productivity of 7,000kg/ha. According to Embrapa data, it is estimated that the savings in this process can get to US$ 2 billion a year.