Abstract

DIAZ-FRANCO, Arturo et al. MICROBIAL STRAINS WITH POTENTIAL TO REPLACE THE INORGANIC FERTILIZATION OF SWEET SORGHUM ( Sorghum bicolor). Rev. Int. Contam. Ambient [online]. 2018, vol.34, n.3, pp.405-416. ISSN 0188-4999.  https://doi.org/10.20937/rica.2018.34.03.04.

Sweet sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) is a crop destined for the production of refined sugar, alcohol, and biofuels, among others. Inorganic fertilization, although necessary, represents a practice of high economic and environmental cost. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and plant growth promoting bacteria used as biofertilizers have the capacity to reduce or even replace inorganic fertilization. The objective of the present work was to evaluate the biofertilizer potential of microbial strains by greenhouse tests with variety Dale, and productivity in the field with varieties. Dale and Cañero, compared to conventional fertilization. A favorable symbiotic response of microbial strains was observed in greenhouse, field and in both varieties of sweet sorghum. In greenhouse, in general, the microbial strains promoted better plant characteristics (chlorophyll index, height, stem diameter and sugars content) and biomass (stem, leaves, inflorescence, aerial and radicle), compared to uninoculated plants. At field scale the response of varieties to the effect of microbial strains was competitive in relation to conventional fertilization. Stem biomass and sugar content, main productivity variables of sweet sorghum, were similar between microbial strains and conventional inorganic fertilization. The results obtained showed that the strains evaluated have the potential to substitute inorganic fertilization.

Keywords : biofertilization; plant characteristics; productivity; arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi; plant growth promoting bacteria; sweet sorghum; sustainability.