Biofertilizer

2004 Pugwash Workshop

Biotechnology and sustainableBiotechnology and sustainableagriculture: agriculture: biofertilizersbiofertilizers and and

biopesticidesbiopesticides

Dr. Dr. Nicol Nicolááss Medina Basso Dr. Medina Basso Dr. Ondina Le Ondina Leóón Dn Dííazaz National Institute of National Center for National Institute of National Center for Agricultural Sciences Animal and Plant Health Agricultural Sciences Animal and Plant Health [email protected] [email protected]


SOMEINTRODUCTORY

REMARKS


IMMEDIATE ANTECEDENTS

GREEN REVOLUTION (early 50´s XX century)

- Introduction of new, more attractive varieties (higher yields)

- Intensive use of agrochemicals (mineral fertilizers and pesticides)

- Progressive mechanization

- Increased monoculture

- Significant increases in crops yields

It seemed to be a suitable agricultural technology for highlydeveloped countries.

But....


MAIN CONSEQUENCESMAIN CONSEQUENCES OF THEOF THE USE OFUSE OFTRADITIONAL TECHNOLOGICAL MODELS FORTRADITIONAL TECHNOLOGICAL MODELS FOR

AGRICULTUREAGRICULTURE

- Depletion of natural resources.

- Incresed erosion and loss of natural fertility of soils.

- Sudden and frequently apparition of new pest and diseases.

- Colapse of hydric supply systems.

- Reduction of biomass production and biological diversity.


ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF HIGH RATES OFNITROGEN FERTILIZATION

Increased rates of soil organic matter mineralization

Decrease of soil organic matter pool

Modification of soil microbialcomposition and balance

Increased incidence ofpests and diseases

A decrease in crops yields and increased needs ofagrochemicals to rise soil fertility

and control pest and diseases

Decrease in soil fertilityIncrease soil compactation


AN INTEGRATED CONCEPT OFSUSTAINABILITY IN AGRICULTURE

A new paradigma for agriculture, based on agroecologicalconcepts, being the agroecosystem the foundation stone,above which men with their experience and knowledge, asresults of the continuous advances in science and technology,manage soils, plants, animals and weather factors, in orderto satisfy the always growing and changing food needs ofmankind, without deteriorating the environment


Characterization of a sustainable agroecosystem

��The one who allows conservation of renovable resources, cropsadaptation to environment and obtention of a high level ofproductivity. In this kind of agriculture, emphasis should be putmore on the long-term ecological sustainability than in short-term productivity, and must fulfil the following objectives:

- Utilization of production methods that restore the naturalmechanisms of community stability.

- Optimized recycling of organic matter and nutrients.

- Maximal utilization of system´s multiuse capacity.

- Reduction of energy and inputs comsumption.

- Decreasing of global costs.


BIOFERTILIZERS


890.4

224.1 240.7207.9

107.9 11881.1

164.4

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

1000

1989 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 Est 2003

Mt

11 11 times lesstimes less

Evolution of mineral fertilizers consumption in Cubain the last 15 years


SOME ALTERNATIVES TO THE USE OFMINERAL FERTILIZERS

✹ GREEN MANURES

✹ MANURES, COMPOSTS AND BIOEARTHS

✹ EARTH WORM MANURE

✹ CROP AND AGROINDUSTRIAL RESIDUES

✹ BIOFERTILIZERS


POPULATION DENSITY AND BIOMASS OF THEMAIN GROUPS OF MICROOORGANISMS FOUND IN

SOILS (Average values)

Microorganism Population density Biomass

N. g-1 N. m-2 N. ha-1 kg. ha-1 % weight

Bacteria 108 1012 1024 2 000 0,100

Actinomycetes 106 108 1016 2 000 0,100

Fungi 105 105 1015 2 500 0,100

Algae 104 105 1015 500 0,005

Protozoa 104 108 1014 150 0.005


SOIL MICROORGANISMS MAIN EFFECTSON AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIVITY

. Decay of organic residues with nutrients and CO2 release.

. Direct or indirect supply of nutrients to plants.

. Production of plant growth promoting substances.

. Enhancement of soil chemical and physical properties.

. Enaction of mutualistic symbiotic relationships with plants.

. Biological control of soil pest and diseases.

. Degradation of xenobiotic toxic compounds, mainly pesticides.


ANNUAL ATMOSPHERIC NITROGEN FIXATION

Fixation source 106 t N.year-1

Industrial (fertilizer production) 49 Atmospheric (electrochemical processes) 10 Other chemical processes 35 Total biological fixation 175 - Oceans 36 - Earth ecosystems 139 . Leguminous plants (140 kg N.ha-1.year-1) 35 . Rice ( 30 “ ) 4 . Pastures ( 15 “ ) 45 . Other crops ( 5 “ ) 5 . Forest ecosystems ( 10 “ ) 40 . Other ecosystems ( 2 “ ) 10


A CONCEPT OF BIOFERTILIZERSA CONCEPT OF BIOFERTILIZERS

Biopreparates based on living soil-borne and endophiticmicroorganisms at rates of population several times higherthan those normally found in nature, which are able, bymean of their biological activity, to supply to plants,directly or indirectly, most of the nutrients they need fordevelopment, as well as plant growth promoting substances.


General methodology for obtaining and using biofertilizers

Prospection, isolation and characterization of strains

Production of certified inoculant

Production of commercial inoculant

Inoculation

Seed coating technology(Direct sowing crops)

Field application(Nursery crops, seed-

beds, “in vitro”plantlets, perennial

crops, etc.Single

inoculationCombinedinoculation

(Coinoculation)


Biofertilizers and bioestimulators developed in Cuba• DIMARGON (Azotobacter chroococcum)………………………………INIFAT• DIMAZOS (A. chroococcum)…………………………………………………….INIFAT• FOSFOSOL-P (A. chroococcum & other genera).…………………INIFAT• FOSFOSOL-B (A chroococcum & other genera).………………….INIFAT• FOSFORINA (Pseudomonas sp. & other genera).…………………I. SUELOS• FOSFORINA plus A (Pseudomonas sp. & other genera)……..I. SUELOS• FOSFORINA plus R (Pseudomonas sp. & other genera).…….I. SUELOS• BIOFER (Bradyrhizobium sp.)…………………………………………………..I. SUELOS• BRADYRIZOBIUM (Bradyrhizobium sp.)……………………………….I. PASTOS• AZOSPIRILLUM (Azospirillum brasilense)……………………………ICIDCA• AZOFERT-G (A. brasilense)………………………………………………………INCA• AZOFERT-L (Bradyrhizobium sp.)……………………………………………INCA• ECOMIC (Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi)………………………………..INCA• MICOFER (Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi)……………………………..IES• INDOLACETIC ACID………………………..……………………………………….ICIDCA• GIBBERELIC ACID……………………………………………………………………..ICIDCA• JASMONIC ACID……………………………………………………………………….ICIDCA• BIOBRAS (Brassinosteroids) …………………………………………………..UH/INCA• RIZOBAC (Metabolites from Bulkholderia cepacia)……………INCA


PRODUCTION AND APPLICATION OFBIOFERTILIZERS IN CUBA

(YEARLY AVERAGE FOR THE LAST DECADE)

Biofertilizer Production Surface (ha)

Rhizobium 10 t 15 000

Azotobacter 800 ML 15 000

Fosforina 80 ML 3 000

Arbuscular mycorrhiza 25 t 3 000


AVERAGE DOSE FORSOLID BIOFERTILIZERS

1-5 kg/ha

AVERAGE DOSE FORLIQUID BIOFERTILIZERS

20 L/ha


BIOPESTICIDES

IPMIPM

Philosophy that uses the best combinations of tactics of

management for pest limitingwith the minimum impact inenvironment and economy.

• Dynamic• Flexible

Philosophy that uses the best combinations of tactics of

management for pest limitingwith the minimum impact inenvironment and economy.

• Dynamic• Flexible

IPMIPMPhysicalPhysicalPhysical

ChemicalChemicalChemical

LegalLegalLegal

GeneticGenGeneticetic

CulturalCulturalCultural

EtologyEtologyEtology

BiologicalBiologicalBiological

BIOPESTICIDES:

� Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) formulations to control mainly lepidopteraespecies.

� Trichoderma sp mainly to control soil fungi

� Verticillium lechanii to control whiteflies, aphids, thrips and otherinsects

� Bauveria bassiana to control thrips and other insects

� Paecelomices fumosoroseus controlling different insects, mainlybeetles, fire ants and nematodes

� Corynebacterium paurometabolum to control nematodes and otherpests.

� Metarhizium anisopliae to control termites, various coleoptera insects,leafhoppers and aphids .

� Main bioproducts developed andcommonly used in Cuban agriculture

grass lands, rice andplantain

Lepidoptera andColeoptera

Metarhizium anisopliaestrain LBM-11

Tobacco, vegetables,ornamentals, grains

Phytophthora,Rhizoctonia, Phytium,

Sclerotium

Trichoderma harzianumTrichoderma spp.

Vegetables, roots andfruits.

Bemisia tabaciMyzus persicae

Verticillium lecaniistrain Y-57

Sugarcane,plantain,citrus, rice,potato,beans

Coleoptera (weevils),ants, Trips palmi

Beauveria bassianastrain LBB-1

Vegetables, roots andtuber, citrus, tobacco,potato, plantain, grasslands.

Lepidoptera, MitesBacillus thurigiensisstrains LBT-1, LBT-13,LBT-21, LBT-24

CropTargetBiological Control

Sweet potatoCylas formicariusPheidole megacephala

Corn, sugarcaneSpodoptera frugiperdaTelenomus spp.

BeanBemisia sppEncarcia spp.

Cassava, banana,plantain

MitesPhytoseiulus macropilis

Sugarcane,tobacco, Cassava,cabbage,cucumber

LepidopteraTrichogramma pretiosum,T. pintoiTrichogramma spp

CropsPestBiological Control

For 1 Million of Hectares

Production: 1000 – 3000

T/year

Biological agents

CREE:- MMMMIIIINNNNAAAAGGGG: 132 working and 11 in

construction; 3 industrial plants(one almost finished).

- MMMMIIIINNNNAAAAZZZZ: 53 working.

IIIInnnnddddiiiiccccaaaattttoooorrrrssss ooooffff uuuusssseeee::::-4,5 kg/ha biopests.-30,0 th/ha entomophagous

CREE: General CharacteristicsCREE: General Characteristics

�� Location Location

�� Workers: Woman Workers: Woman�� Materials Materials�� Strains and Insects populations. Strains and Insects populations.�� Facilities Facilities�� Diversification Diversification�� Technologies Technologies�� Distribution Distribution�� Popularization and Capacity building Popularization and Capacity building�� Quality Control.Quality Control.

0

300

600

900

1200

1500

1800

Th

ou

san

d

of

Ha

.

1988

1989

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

4,200

21,100

7,900

1,900

0

5

10

15

20

25

1990 1998 2002 2003

To

n

11.1 11.1 Times LessTimes Less

Urban Agriculture: 28 Sub-programsUrban Agriculture: 28 Sub-programs

Vegetables and Fresh Condiments

24.5 57.3 140.0

478.5

872.1

1681.2

2370.2

3345.0 3500.0

1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 Plan2003

U.M:Mt

2003: 3.5 MMt Plan 2004: 3.7 MMt

Losses per 70 millions of USD/Year in the World

High losses in Vegetable Crops under Tunnel in Cuba

RKN Pc

RFLP

Specific Primer

• Identity

• Biodiversity

• Mass Production (Control Quality)

• Post Release Monitor

New challenger: Real Time PCR

Different forms of presentation of theended product and application in thefield.

Toxicological and Eco-Toxicological and Eco-

toxicological studiestoxicological studies

Documents

Biofertilizer