BIO-FERTILIZER: AN ALTERNATIVE TO REDUCE CHEMICAL FERTILIZER IN AGRICULTURE

The continuous use of chemical fertilizer in agricultural fields causes the degradation of the soil and provokes environmental pollution; furthermore, it is damaging to human health. The use of bio-fertilizers made of cyanobacteria is a promising alternative for the agricultural production. The objective of the paper was to prove that the application of bio-fertilizers can reduce the use of chemical nitrogen fertilizers without affecting the nitrogen requirements of the plants. Our study was carried out with Corn V-524 that was seeded in plant pots in sandy-loam soil, pH 6.2, N total 0.102 % and organic matter 6%. The concentration of nitrates and ammonium in the soil was higher in the control and the bio-fertilizer than in the application of chemical fertilizer. The bio-fertilizer contributed the nitrogen required by the plant, reducing the use of chemical fertilizer by up to 50%.