Development and Evaluation of the Formulation of a Biofertilizer Based on the Anabaena-azolla Complex

Safety in agricultural production is one of the crucial parameters for fruits and vegetables, achieved through sustainable agriculture. In this study, the cyanobacterium Anabaena was evaluated in symbiosis with the plant Azolla sp, for the development of a biofertilizer. Samples were collected in Cusubamba, Pichincha, and seven culture media with different nutritional contributions were tested. In the Azolla study, the initial and final weights are analyzed to measure growth, the time to evaluate the development, and the cultivation area, which determines the area available for the determination of the biomass. These variables together allow the performance and sustainability of Azolla to be assessed. The best treatment was T2 (Nitrofoska 1g), achieving 66.59 g of fresh weight, a growth rate of 3.83 g/d, and a doubling time of 5.96 days. Dumas' method showed that T2 concentrated about 5% nitrogen. The biofertilizer complied with the characteristics and quality of the Phytosanitary and Zoosanitary Regulation and Control Agency (Agrocalidad-Ecuador), such as the absence of pathogenic microorganisms and the presence of macro and micronutrients such as nitrogen, which presented an average percentage of 1.54%, in addition to moderately optimal physical parameters such as a pH of 4.68 and a density of 0.016 g/mL.