Economic feasibility of Gluconacetobacter diazotrophicus in carrot cultivation

Abstract

The inclusion of more sustainable alternatives such as bacterial inoculants is a viable option for the competitiveness of vegetable crops in tropical countries such as Colombia. The economic feasibility of a bacterial suspension of G. diazotrophicus applied to the carrot crop was determined. The native isolate G. diazotrophicus GIBI029 was evaluated and the strain ATCC 49037 was used as a control. The experiment was installed in a subdivided plot design, where the plot was the bacterium G. diazotrophicus (ATCC49037 and GIBI029. The subplot was the concentration of G. diazotrophicus (88×106 CFU/mL and 18×107 CFU/mL) and, in it, the levels of nitrogen and phosphorus (0% and 100% nitrogen and phosphorus) were assorted. The average weight of the carrot (g) and the yield by quality of the consuming organ (kg/ ha) were evaluated. Through the production cycle, fixed, variable, and total costs were calculated. Benefit / cost ratios higher than 1.46 and net income up to US$ 10,817/ha were achieved. It is possible to efficiently and economically use the native isolate G. diazotrophicus GIBI029 in the search for more sustainable and competitive cultural practices