Monitoreo de la aplicación de vinaza como fertilizante en caña de azúcar con indicadores microbianos de suelo

Abstract

In the last decade, there has been a significant change in the world energy system towards the use of biofuels. In Uruguay, since 2005 bioethanol from sugar cane has become an important source of alternative energy. During its production, eight to thirteen liters of vinasse are produced per liter, a liquid residue rich in organic matter, potassium, calcium, magnesium, sulfur and nitrogen. Its use as fertilizer is an alternative that allows its degradation and recycling of its nutrients, replacing chemical fertilizers. In order to identify indicators for the monitoring of the application of vinasse to sugarcane culture, different microbial parameters of soils were evaluated in production sites of Bella Unión, Artigas, Uruguay. A baseline was established for these variables and their relationship with chemical variables. For two consecutive years, the abundance of heterotrophic bacteria, ammonifiers, actinobacteria, fungi and yeasts was determined, and the microbial activity measured as respiration. The first four populations correlated with each other and with potassium content in the soil. The monitoring of the application of vinasse allows to establish a protocol that optimizes its use as fertilizer and minimizes its environmental impact.