Application of biological products via drip irrigation emerges as an economical and friendly alternative

Brazil is known internationally as a major agricultural producer. The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) generated by the agricultural sector is around 30-35% of the national GDP. Within this field, the agrochemicals market has a large commercial share, where, according to a survey carried out by the Chinese portal AgroPages, the 10 main Brazilian agrochemical companies generated US$ 1,069 billion in sales in 2019, representing 7,8% of all the market.

However, the large countries that consume Brazilian agricultural products, mainly Europe, in search of an increasingly healthier life, both socially and environmentally, have been demanding from producers a reduction in the use of agrochemicals. Through this international requirement, the biological products market has been growing in overwhelming numbers. And not only for this reason, but with the rise in the dollar, agricultural inputs have become increasingly more expensive, increasing production costs, forcing producers to look for more economical ways of producing.

It is no different in the sugar and alcohol sector, however, some biological products were already used to control pests, such as Cotesia flavips for stem borer control and the fungus Beauveria spp. for leafhopper control. But the use of biologicals has been evolving more and more, not only due to other actions, but also due to their method of application.

The drip irrigation system, as it is the newest and most efficient among the others, has been standing out as an option for applying biological products to crops, through the technology known as Drip Protection. For example, results are already being observed in ratoon sugarcane in crops in the west of São Paulo, in the fifth cut an increase of up to 14 tons through the use of biostimulants. 

Another example is using the Beauveria bassiana fungus to control the giant borer in the Northeast. Application of B. bassiana spores through the drip system proved successful at doses of 4, 6 and 8 kg/ha and maintained the number of giant borer samples at half the untreated level.

In addition to pest and disease control, dripping can be used as a means of applying other products such as organic acids. Humic and fulvic acids are commonly used as soil conditioners and less commonly as a nutritional supplement. As soil conditioners, humic acid is found in liquid form, with colloidal minerals and can be applied through the drip irrigation system without causing clogging problems. In work carried out on sandy soils, an increase in productivity of around 20% was observed.

In search of increasingly economical and environmentally friendly production management, the drip irrigation system is emerging as a great ally to meet these demands of the consumer market.