Aug 2026· Asian Journal of Agricultural and Horticultural Research· Vol 13, pp. 287-308· 0 citations
Abstract
Horticultural production is increasingly required to deliver high yields and premium quality while reducing dependence on mineral fertilisers, improving soil function and maintaining resilience under salinity, drought, heat and nutrient stress. Biofertilisers and organic inputs are frequently proposed as complementary tools, yet the evidence is fragmented across microbial inoculants, composts, vermicomposts, digestates, biochar, humic substances, seaweed extracts and protein hydrolysates. This critical narrative review evaluates recent advances in these input classes, the mechanisms through which they may influence horticultural crops, the consistency of agronomic and quality responses, and the constraints that limit translation from controlled experiments to commercial production. Literature published from 1 January 2000 to 31 May 2026 was identified through accessible scholarly indexes, metadata services and citation searching, with foundational sources included when necessary. The evidence indicates that microbial inoculants can improve nutrient acquisition, root development and stress tolerance, while mature organic amendments can enhance nutrient buffering, aggregation, water retention and biological activity. Nevertheless, average benefits conceal substantial context dependence. Outcomes are strongly conditioned by crop genotype, soil or substrate properties, resident microbiota, nutrient status, inoculant viability, amendment maturity, application method and environmental stress. Many positive reports derive from short-duration, single-site experiments with weak nutrient-equivalent controls, incomplete product characterisation or limited assessment of persistence and economics. Stronger evidence supports integrated use that supplements, rather than indiscriminately replaces, mineral nutrition and that matches products to diagnosed soil, substrate and crop constraints. Future progress depends on multi-location factorial trials, standardised product identity and quality testing, mechanistic measurements linked to marketable yield and quality, long-term safety and environmental assessment, and transparent economic evaluation. Biofertilisers and organic inputs therefore have credible roles in sustainable horticulture, but reliable performance requires context-specific design, quality assurance and evidence-based integration into nutrient and crop-management programmes.
The Rosaceae family includes some of the most economically important fruit and nut crops worldwide, such as apples, strawberries, and almonds. Increasing market demand and climate constraints have intensified reliance on synthetic fertilizers, leading to environmental degradation and reduced ecosystem resilience. In response, sustainable alternatives, such as organic fertilizers, biofertilizers, and biostimulants, have gained increasing attention. Here, we review recent findings in the application of these ecofriendly inputs in Rosaceae crops, using almonds (Prunus dulcis) as a representative case study. We highlight the roles of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in improving nutrient availability, stress tolerance, soil fertility, and crop productivity through mechanisms including biological nitrogen fixation, phosphate solubilization, siderophore production, phytohormone modulation, and enhanced plant defense responses. Evidence from field, greenhouse, and controlled experimental studies has indicated that rhizobacteria and mycorrhizal fungi, as well as organic fertilizers, enhance nutrient uptake, photosynthetic efficiency, fruit yields, and quality while supporting soil biodiversity and long-term orchard sustainability. Despite their demonstrated benefits, the adoption of biofertilizers and biostimulants in almond orchards remains limited. This review discusses the current challenges, knowledge gaps, and future perspectives for integrating microbial-based solutions into sustainable Rosaceae cultivation systems.
Z. Bouabidi, A. A. Saber, Najat Manaut et al.· Sustainability· 0 citations
Abstract Microbial inoculants are currently advancing sustainable agriculture by reducing reliance on chemical fertilizers and pesticides, and enhancing soil and plant health in ways that traditional chemical inputs cannot. However, despite over a century of research and development, their in-field establishment and performance remain unreliable, limiting their widespread adoption and impact. Typically, the selection of candidate inoculants centers around performance-based traits (e.g. nitrogen fixation) assessed in vitro; yet, viable and impactful inoculants must express a wide range of traits that promote their fitness across heterogeneous landscapes. Successful inoculants must do well across the industrial production pipeline, which requires rapid growth in nutrient-rich liquid media. They must also tolerate long-term storage and subsequently perform consistently across diverse field conditions. These traits are essential for scalability, economic viability, and impact. To date, commercially available inoculants are mostly based on microbes exhibiting rapid growth under common laboratory conditions, traits which may or may not correlate with in-field delivery of beneficial functions. In this review, we propose a multi-faceted evaluation approach for inoculant performance, considering both biotic and abiotic aspects of inoculant success. We then use this framework to evaluate how adaptive laboratory evolution could enhance inoculant performance at key industrial pipeline steps. This approach is essential to widening the range of taxa that are considered for commercialization, while identifying and potentially mitigating the pitfalls of growing, storing, and applying microbes through traditional industrial production pipelines.
L. Hemara, Rebecca Doyle, G. diCenzo et al.· ISME Communications· 0 citations
Wheat is a major staple crop, and improving its productivity and grain quality is essential to meet rising global food demand. Biostimulants have attracted growing interest because they can enhance nutrient use efficiency, improve tolerance to environmental stresses, and support crop performance without acting as conventional fertilizers, yet a focused synthesis of their effects on wheat remains limited. Following a systematic search of Scopus and Web of Science (2000–2026), this review synthesizes 52 primary studies on microbial and non-microbial biostimulants in common and durum wheat, addressing grain yield, nutritional quality, and resilience to drought, salinity, heavy metals, and temperature extremes. Across studies, 88% reported significant positive effects and none reported a consistent negative effect; grain yield increases ranged from +6% to +123%, with parallel improvements in grain protein and micronutrient biofortification, notably zinc and iron. Microbial biostimulants, especially bacteria and microbial consortia, produced the largest but most variable gains, whereas non-microbial products gave more moderate and consistent responses. Benefits were greatest under low nitrogen, drought, and saline conditions and in nutrient-poor soils, and were modulated by wheat genotype and product dose. Biostimulants are promising tools for sustainable wheat production, though standardized field trials and reporting are still needed.
Annamaria Di Serio, Alfredo Lorenzo, Lisa Antonucci et al.· Agronomy· 0 citations
Biostimulants have emerged as an innovative and sustainable approach for enhancing plant growth, productivity, quality, and stress tolerance in horticultural crops. Unlike conventional fertilizers and pesticides, biostimulants stimulate natural physiological and biochemical processes that improve nutrient uptake, root development, photosynthesis, flowering, fruit set, and overall crop performance without directly supplying large quantities of nutrients or controlling pests. Biostimulants include a wide range of natural and biological products such as seaweed extracts, humic and fulvic acids, protein hydrolysates, amino acids, beneficial microorganisms, mycorrhizal fungi, plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), silicon, and microbial inoculants. These substances enhance plant metabolism, increase nutrient-use efficiency, strengthen antioxidant defense systems, improve soil microbial activity, and enhance tolerance to abiotic stresses such as drought, salinity, heat, cold, and nutrient deficiency. Their application has gained increasing attention due to growing concerns regarding excessive chemical fertilizer use, environmental degradation, declining soil fertility, and climate change. Modern technologies, including precision horticulture, Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), remote sensing, and data-driven crop management, further optimize biostimulant application by improving timing and dosage. This paper discusses the types and mechanisms of biostimulants, evaluates their role in improving growth, yield, and quality of horticultural crops, examines their contribution to sustainable agriculture and climate resilience, and explores emerging trends, challenges, and future prospects in biostimulant-based horticultural production systems.
Research Author· European Journal of Food, Fa...· 0 citations
The intensive use of mineral fertilizers in horticultural systems has improved crop productivity but also increased concerns regarding soil degradation and environmental sustainability. In this context, vermicompost derived from buffalo manure may represent a sustainable alternative for nutrient management and organic waste valorization. This study evaluated the effects of four fertilization strategies on tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) grown in loam and clay soils: unfertilized control, mineral fertilization, vermicompost applied at an equivalent nitrogen rate, and the residual effect of vermicompost from a previous cauliflower crop. Agronomic performance, fruit quality, carbon and nitrogen metabolism, and antioxidant-related traits were assessed. Mineral fertilization produced the highest marketable yield, reaching 9.68 and 7.69 kg m−2 in loam and clay soils, respectively, mainly through increased fruit number. Direct vermicompost application maintained substantial productivity, with yields of 7.55 and 5.18 kg m−2 in the two soils. The fertilization strategies also induced distinct changes in fruit composition. Mineral fertilization increased total free amino acids to approximately 160 mg g−1 DW, mainly through the accumulation of glutamine, glutamate, asparagine and γ-aminobutyric acid, but was associated with lower soluble solids and antioxidant activity. Vermicompost promoted the highest lycopene concentration, approximately 2.1 mg g−1 DW, in clay soil and maintained intermediate antioxidant activity and amino acid concentrations. Soil texture also influenced carbohydrate partitioning, with greater fructose accumulation in clay soil and greater starch accumulation in loam soil. The residual vermicompost treatment alone did not adequately sustain tomato productivity or metabolic activity, particularly in clay soil. Overall, vermicompost partially replaced mineral fertilization while maintaining satisfactory yield and modulating fruit metabolic quality, although its effectiveness depended strongly on soil texture.
G. M. Fusco, I. Di Mola, E. Cozzolino et al.· Agriculture· 0 citations
The growing pressure exerted by global food demand, combined with the excessive use of chemical and synthetic inputs, is prompting the agricultural sector to seek innovative and sustainable solutions to improve, or at least maintain, crop yields in a context of increased abiotic stress linked to climate change. Among the promising approaches, biostimulants are attracting growing interest, particularly those derived from natural sources such as seaweed extracts, humic acids, and beneficial microorganisms. These products work through various mechanisms, including osmotic regulation, activation of antioxidant systems, stimulation of root growth, and improvement of nutrient absorption. Many recent research and review articles have explored the optimal combinations of raw materials, formulation processes, target crops, and environmental conditions to maximize beneficial effects on plant growth, soil health, and tolerance to abiotic stresses. As a result, a growing range of commercial products is emerging, with diverse chemical compositions, formulations, and modes of application. However, the precise relationships between the biochemical composition of biostimulants and their physiological effects remain poorly understood, suggesting a key role for molecular synergies. This review provides a concise overview of recent advances in biostimulant research and their potential to enhance food security by improving crop resilience in the context of climate change.
Boujemaa Fassih, Raja Ben-Laouane, Abdessamad Fakhech et al.· Sustainability· 2 citations
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