Use of Organic Fertilizers and Biofertilizers As Alternative for Sandy SOIL Amelioration and the Effect on Carica Papaya Plant Growth, Poster Board #069

In recent years, the incorrect use of chemical fertilizers has had an negative impact on agro ecosystems, and for this reason, has been imposed a new ecological proposed based on biological beneficial interactions to increase nutrients availability in soil. One of the actions are the use of organic fertilizers for amelioration of soil fertility together to mycorrhizal fungi, The objective of the present study was to evaluate the use of different organic fertilizers and biofertilizers, mycorrhizal fungi specifically, and the effect on chemical properties, for Carica papaya plant growth. The study was carried out in the Faculty of Biological and Agronomical Sciences, of the University of Colima, Mexico, under greenhouse conditions. Soil samples were taken from experimental area of the same school. Soil samples were from 0–20 cm depths. Chemical characteristic analyzed were: soluble anions and cations, pH, electrical conductivity, and organic matter. Physical properties were: density and texture. Organic fertilizers were: cachaza (a byproduct from the sugar cane industry), vermicompost, and exudates from vermicompost, and biofertilizer was a commercial product with mycorrhizal fungi. Levels used for organic fertilizers were 10%, 15% and 20% v/v, Biofertlizer level was dose recommended on label of the product. Two treatment for control were imposed, one with just biofertilizer ane another one without any product, as well, there were treatments with only organic fertilizers. Treatments were imposed in plastic pots, with ten replications, each replication with ten plants as experimental unit. Seeds of Carica papaya were germinated 45 days before transplanted to plastic pots. The experiment was 45 days long. Leaves number, plant height and stem diameter, were measured when transplanted and at the final of the period, beside aerial fresh weight, aerial dry weight, root fresh weight, and root dry weight. Results shown that is texture is a sandy soil, 2% of organic matter. Treatment with 20% of cachaza without biofertilizer had the better height plant, also to aerial and root fresh dry weight. Respecting to leaves number, treatment without fertilizers nor organic fertilizer had the highest values. According to statistical analysis, there were not differences between treatments for stem diameter. We conclude that cachaza treatments have better effects to growth plants under greenhouse conditions.