Abstract
The global demand for a more sustainable in agriculture can be met in part by soil microorganisms that also play a key role in economic and ecosystem services. However, the value of ecosystem services provided by biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) process is still not clear. Thus, this study aimed to estimate the economic value of BNF in soybean crop in Brazil. We also provide methodological advances via mathematical models to verify the economic value of ecosystem services from BNF, inoculation with Bradyrhizobium spp. and coinoculation with Azospirillum brasilense of the soybean crop, and mitigation of greenhouse gases by BNF. Avoided cost methods were used to estimate the economic value of BNF and its carbon mitigation benefits in Brazil; economic outcomes generated by inoculation and coinoculation were estimated. The economic value resulting from replacement of N fertilizer (urea) by BNF in the 2019–2020 crop season was estimated at 15.2 billion USD. In this same crop season, the profit generated by inoculation and coinoculation was estimated at 914 million USD. In the 2019–2020 crop season, the technology of coinoculating soybean with Bradyrhizobium spp. and Azospirillum brasilense reached 25% of the whole soybean cropped area in Brazil. The replacement of N fertilizer by BNF corresponded to the mitigation of 183 million Mg CO2-e in the 2019–2020 season, equivalent to over €5 billion in carbon credits. Our results demonstrate that BNF provides multiple ecosystem services with a high level of economic value, contributing for a more sustainable agriculture.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
