Effect of a Pseudomonas fluorescens-based Biofertilizer on Sweet Potato Yield Components

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted to study the effect of a Pseudomonas fluorescens-based biofertilizer on sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas (L) Lam) yield. The application was by immersion of cuttings before sowing for 0, 5, 10 and 15 minutes with combination doses of 0, 50 and 100% of NPK mineral fertilizer in a randomized block design with three replications (12 treatments-combinations). During the harvest (130 days after planting), some measurements related to yield components were recorded on ten randomly selected plants from each plot. All treatments with Pseudomonas’ immersion showed a positive productive response. With 100% NPK and the immersion in the biofertilizer for 15 min showed the highest yield (56.09 tha-1), followed by the other treatments with 100% NPK and without statistical differences among them. The treatment with 50% NPK and the immersion in Pseudomonas for 15 min (49.58 tha-1) had no statistical differences with the control variant (100% NPK, 51.60 tha-1). Based on the results, it can be concluded that this biofertilizer could be an appropriate alternative to increase the sweet potato yield, saving the 50% of the current quantity of the recommended mineral fertilizer, through a more friendly environmental techniques to promote a sustainable, efficient and productive agriculture.