A bioeconomic Approach for the Production of Biofertilizers and their influence on Faba Bean (Vicia faba L) Productivity

Abstract

Nowadays humanity faces severe environmental problems, due to the large amounts produced of organic waste from industry, agriculture and household, besides the sewage sludge from wastewater treatment plants; and, the loss of soil fertility due, in part, to the extended use of chemical fertilizers. However, bioeconomy takes advantage of biological resources or bioprocesses for the production of value added products; in this sense, we evaluate two fertilizers, an inoculum of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF), and a compost prepared with sludge from two wastewater treatment plants, agriculture residues and chile waste. They were tested sole and as a mixture, over the growth of faba bean. Application of AMF with or without compost, increased the plant height, fresh and dry biomass of foliage and fresh root biomass, compared to the use of compost or soil. In the presence of AMF the fresh biomass was increased by 39% and with compost 26% compared with control. The application of biofertilizers, such as compost and AMF are a viable alternative to the use of chemical fertilizers, so it is necessary to promote their use