Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi biofertilizer for panela sugarcane seedling production

Overview

This solution leverages arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) as biofertilizers to enhance the commercial production of sugarcane seedlings for panela, a traditional non-centrifugal sugar produced in Colombia. By integrating AMF into nursery and field fertilization programs, AGROSAVIA's technology addresses key challenges in sugarcane cultivation, including high production costs, seedling mortality, and dependence on synthetic chemical fertilizers. The approach delivers robust seedlings with improved nutrient uptake efficiency, better resistance to pests and diseases, and higher survival rates during transplantation, ultimately increasing yield and quality for panela producers.

Technical specifications

Key features:

• AMF isolates sourced from soils planted with sugarcane for panela across various regions of Colombia, with a curated selection of the most efficient isolates for seedling production
• Reduced synthetic fertilization by up to 50% through enhanced nutrient uptake efficiency mediated by mycorrhizal associations
• Lower seedling mortality in nursery and field stages, reducing replacement costs and improving transplant success
• Enhanced plant vigor and nutrition, producing robust seedlings better equipped to withstand biotic and abiotic stresses
• Reduced disease incidence, including lower occurrence of rust and other common sugarcane pathogens
• Compatibility with commercial and farmer varieties of sugarcane for panela
• Validated across semi-controlled nursery conditions and open-field environments

Technology readiness level

The technology has undergone preliminary nursery and field evaluations demonstrating the ability of sugarcane to associate with AMF and reduce synthetic chemical fertilization while increasing yield. A first selection of efficient AMF isolates has already been completed from communities isolated across Colombian sugarcane-growing regions. Future validation will involve two structured trials: a semi-controlled trial testing five AMF isolates across four sugarcane varieties (three commercial and one farmer variety) with samplings at 1.5 and 3 months after sowing, followed by a field trial using the two best-performing isolates to evaluate transplant behavior, seedling survival, and growth conditions. This positions the technology at an advanced validation stage suitable for collaborative refinement and pilot deployment.