Response of rice cultivation to biofertilizers in Campeche, Mexico

Abstract

The activity of various biofertilizers on rice production (Sabanero A95) was evaluated in Palizada, Campeche, Mexico, in the wet season of 2009 (year one) and 2011 (year two). On year one, arbuscular mycorrhiza INIFAP® (Rhizophagus intraradices), Azospirillum brasilense plus arbuscular micorrhiza Rhizophagus sp., and chemical fertilizer (92, −92, −60 kg∙ha−1) were evaluated, while on year two marine algae extracts, a consortium of growth promoting bacteria (Pseudomonas spp.) and a control (not fertilized) were evaluated. The results showed that there were no significant differences on grain yield among treatments during the year one. The average grain yield was 2,800 kg∙ha−1. As for the year two, the highest grain yield was observed on plots fertilized with chemical fertilizer (3333 kg∙ha−1), followed by plots treated with mycorrhiza INIFAP® (3000 kg∙ha−1). The economic analysis for rice production in both years showed that the use of arbuscular mycorrhiza decreases the cost of production by 18.5% and 16.3%, which suggests that microbial inoculants might be good substitutes of chemical fertilizers in rice production.