Microbial bioinoculants as eco‐friendly tools to enhance growth, productivity, and nutrient density in Himalayan common bean under high‐altitude farming conditions
The common bean (
Phaseolus vulgaris
L.) is a vital legume crop for advancing global food security, climate‐resilient agriculture, and soil fertility. However, the yields of Western Himalayan common bean remain low due to nutrient‐deficient soils, traditional farming practices, and a lack of improved inputs. This study evaluated the effect of
Pseudomonas jesenii
MP1 and
Pseudomonas palleroniana
N26 for enhancing common bean yield and nutrition under farmer‐managed conditions in Uttarakhand. Both bioinoculants significantly increased crop yield across the years and locations, with improvements ranging from 4.84% to 25.05% compared to the control (untreated). An increase of 22.70% in crop yield was recorded with the N26 treatment, while the highest improvement (25.05%) was recorded in the MP1 treatment. Microbial treatments significantly improved the seed physical traits, including weight, length, width, and thickness. Nutritional analysis indicated that MP1 increased total carbohydrate and protein content, whereas N26 enhanced antioxidant activity (2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl‐DPPH assay) and methionine content. A linear mixed model showed significant effects of treatment on yield, protein content, seed thickness, and antioxidant activity. Principal component analysis displayed strong loading of DPPH activity and yield in PC1, while protein and methionine dominated PC2; site clustering reflected microclimatic variability. Pearson's correlation analysis exhibited positive associations among seed physical traits and yield, whereas antioxidant activity and methionine were negatively correlated with protein (
p
< 0.01). The results confirm these strains are effective, sustainable biofertilizers that improve Himalayan common bean yield and nutrition, promoting resource‐efficient agriculture aligned with sustainable development goals 2 and 12.
Although green manure crops are widely recognized for ameliorating alkaline soils, some previous studies have focused mainly on laboratory germination screenings or single yield indicators, and field validation of the synergy between high yield and soil improvement remains comparatively limited. This study evaluated 16 species/accessions with varying salt tolerance in a typical alkaline soil (initial pH 9.01, EC 306 μS·cm−1) in Heilongjiang Province during 2024–2025, based on prior laboratory screening. The experiment was conducted at a single location with three field replicates, and the same plots were monitored across both years. Plant height, fresh/dry grass yield, and soil properties (pH, EC, organic matter, nutrients) were monitored. Glycine max (L.) Merr. and Sesbania Scop. achieved dual synergy, with two-year average fresh yields of 40,733 and 35,750 kg·ha−1, respectively, while reducing soil pH by 0.28–0.29 and electrical conductivity (EC) by 42.2–46.3%. Melilotus officinalis and Vicia villosa Roth exhibited the strongest alkali reduction (pH ↓0.29, EC ↓39.0–39.7%) with moderate yields. Sorghum sudanense showed the highest salt reduction (EC ↓49.0%). Principal component analysis classified the 16 species into four functional types, revealing preliminary ecological patterns for functional differentiation. This study proposes a “laboratory screening–field validation–functional classification” evaluation framework, which requires further validation across different regions and longer time scales for the biological amelioration of alkaline soils.
Ruonan Du, Qiang Gao, Xue Yang et al.· Agronomy· 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. Mola, E. Cozzolino et al.· Agriculture· 0 citations
Increased drought stress is anticipated to impact crop productivity adversely, mainly in Africa and Southeast Asia. Drought-tolerant plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) have emerged as a ray of hope as an effective bio-enhancer and sustainable strategy for agriculture under water-deficit and recovery conditions to reduce reliance on chemical fertilizers and improve soil fertility. Keeping this in view, a field experiment was conducted to check the effectiveness of commercial bio-fertilizers Phosphorine, Microbine, Potassiumag individually, or in combination with organic fertilizer (compost), and natural mineral rock (rock phosphate), as a substituent of chemical fertilizer. Two drip irrigation schedules W1 (100%) and W2 (60% of field capacity FC) were applied to evaluate growth and biochemical traits of Moringa oleifera under varying biofertilizer inputs. The highest values of plant growth under W1 were recorded in the plants amended with BioMix1 (Microbine mixed with rock phosphate and compost), plant height (150 cm), number of branch plant−1 (19), plant dry weight (203 g). On the other hand, individual application of Potassiumag (Bio3) showed the highest of plant growth under W2 water scheduling, with plant height (130 cm), number of branch plant−1 (17), plant dry weight (137 g). The present work evaluated a broad range of both non-enzymatic antioxidant components including phenolics, proline, ascorbate and carotenoids, in addition to peroxidase (POD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and catalase (CAT) enzymes. Microbine with compost and rock phosphate improved Moringa oleifera yield and quality at 100% FC, while Potassiumag followed by Phosphorine sustained growth under drought 60%FC.
R. El-Shazoly, M. A. Youssef, Asmaa M. El-Zohary et al.· BMC Plant Biology· 0 citations
Maize is one of the most important agricultural crops globally and in Bosnia and Herzegovina, where cereals are cultivated on 204,368 ha, of which 57% (116,490 ha) is dedicated to maize production. The application of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), such as the genera Pseudomonas and Bacillus, represents a sustainable alternative to mineral fertilizers, particularly in phosphorus-deficient soils commonly found in Bosnia and Herzegovina. A field experiment with ten fertilization treatments, arranged in a randomized block design with three replications, was conducted to evaluate the effects of seed inoculation, organic fertilization, and mineral fertilization on silage maize production. Grain yield, ear characteristics, and nutrient concentrations in maize leaves and grain were determined using standard analytical methods. The highest grain yield (15.2 t ha⁻¹) was achieved with the combined application of organic fertilization (30 t ha⁻¹) and bacterial inoculation, with a statistically significant difference compared to the control treatment. The applied fertilization treatments improved nutrient uptake and increased the content of protein, nitrogen, phosphorus, and magnesium in the grain, while zinc concentration generally decreased, indicating an antagonistic relationship between phosphorus and zinc. The obtained results confirm the potential of combining rhizobacterial inoculation and organic fertilization to enhance maize productivity and improve plant nutrient status.
E. Sijahović, H. Čivić, D. Gadžo et al.· Works of the Faculty of Agri...· 0 citations
The excessive dependence on synthetic fertilizers in crop production has raised concerns regarding soil degradation, environmental sustainability, and long-term agricultural productivity. Vermicompost represents a promising organic nutrient source; however, its effectiveness in improving crop performance may vary depending on application rate and crop genotype. This study evaluated vermicompost as a sustainable biofertilizer for improving growth and yield of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.). A factorial experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of vermicompost application levels and cowpea genotype on growth and yield performance. Four cowpea varieties were tested under four vermicompost-to-soil ratios of 25:75, 50:50, 75:25, and 100:0 together with chemical fertilizer and untreated control treatments. Growth and yield parameters were analyzed using analysis of variance in Minitab 15. Vermicompost significantly enhanced vegetative growth and reproductive performance compared with the control and chemical fertilizer treatments (p < 0.05). Improvements were evident across all vermicompost levels, with 25–75% applications already producing substantial gains in growth and yield attributes. Maximum values were generally observed at the 100% level, including plant height (50.94 ± 3.00 cm; Bombay), leaf number (39.00 ± 1.22; MI 35), branch number (14.20 ± 1.48; MI 35), nodes per main stem (20.00 ± 2.45; MI 35), and leaf area index (79.26 ± 14.97 cm²; Bombay). Yield-related traits also responded positively to vermicompost, as indicated by earlier flowering (35 ± 0.83 days; Waruni and Dawala), earlier maturity (47.40 ± 1.14 days; Waruni), longer pods (16.24 ± 0.68 cm; ANKCP 2), higher seed number per pod (11.00 ± 1.58; ANKCP 2), greater pod number per plant (4.40 ± 1.14; Waruni), and increased seed size (0.72 ± 0.08 mm; Bombay). Vermicompost showed beneficial effects under the tested pot conditions; however, further field validation is necessary to assess its effectiveness and suitability as a partial or complete alternative to conventional fertilizers.
A. Amarasinghe, E. Rathnathunga, W. Pushpakumari· Turkish Journal of Agricultu...· 0 citations
Enhanced soil salinity is a major constraint to rice production in the coastal regions of Bangladesh. Salinity stress impairs nutrient uptake and induces ionic toxicity and osmotic stress, while excessive use of chemical fertilizers degrades soil health and causes environmental pollution. A novel salt-tolerant endophytic fungus, Aspergillus welwitschiae Ocstreb1, isolated from the halophytic wild rice Oryza coarctata, exhibited multiple plant growth–promoting traits under both non-saline and 900 mM salt-stress conditions in vitro. These findings suggest that Ocstreb1-based biofertilizer could serve as an eco-friendly and cost-effective alternative to enhance rice productivity under saline conditions. In this experiment, the biofertilizer was prepared using fungal spores produced on wheat bran and subsequently mixed with talcum powder as a carrier. Field trials were conducted following a randomized complete block design (RCBD), incorporating different levels of chemical fertilizer application (0%, 80%, and 100% of the BRRI-recommended NPKSZn rates) in both biofertilizer-treated and untreated plants. Compared with the 100% chemical fertilizer treatment, the combined application of biofertilizer and 80% chemical fertilizer resulted in a comparable yield in Barguna and increased yield of 196.6 kg ha⁻¹ in Satkhira. Profitability analysis showed that this treatment provided an additional economic benefit of USD 48–68 ha⁻¹ over the 100% chemical fertilizer treatment. Moreover, fumonisin B1 levels in grains from biofertilizer-treated plants were negligible. In conclusion, commercial production of this biofertilizer will pave the way for enhancing rice yield with less use of chemical fertilizer while promoting sustainable agricultural practice particularly in areas affected by salinity stress.
Amit Chowdhury, J. Bhattacharya, Md. Iyasir Arafat et al.· Discover Agriculture· 0 citations