Abstract The soil used is sandy in texture, low in nutrients, and low in organic matter, and therefore has low cation exchange capacity. Therefore, the objective was to evaluate the effectiveness of improving their physicochemical and biological properties by inoculating the roots with a solution of Methylobacterium and liquid compost in cauliflower cultivation, as well as integrating a treatment through an automated drip irrigation system. This biostimulant, biofertilizer, and biocontrol agent solution was used, which has applications in agriculture to improve soil health and crop productivity. The experiment was set up under a completely randomized block design with four treatments (T0, T1, T2, and T3), corresponding to doses of 0, 250, 333, and 400 mL per 200 L of water, respectively. The results indicated that treatment T3 significantly optimized the plant's physiological response to salt stress, increasing both its antioxidant capacity and chlorophyll α concentration. Likewise, physical characterization revealed significant differences in the morphological parameters of cauliflower, suggesting greater metabolic resistance and improved nutritional quality. Finally, ultrastructural analysis of the epidermis and stomata using microscopy showed that, while the control treatment (T0) had a collapsed surface, treatment T3 showed a functional and turgid ultrastructure. This demonstrates that the inoculation applied mitigates the phytotoxic impact of the substrate and optimizes the metabolic potential of the crop.
J. A. Legua Cárdenas, E. A. Macavilca Ticlayauri, M. T. Sánchez Calle et al.· Brazilian Journal of Biology· 0 citations
Soil characteristics, microbial ecology and organic additions influence soil fertility and plant productivity. However, the effects of land use and organic amendments on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), which enhance nutrient uptake and tolerance to soil stress, remain insufficiently understood. This study examined the effects of land use and organic amendments on AMF spore abundance, root colonisation and nutrient uptake. Soils from African Star Apple (ASAR), Cassava (CRR) and Bush Fallow (BFR) collected from farms behind Babcock University stadium, Nigeria, were analysed for pH, organic carbon, total nitrogen and available phosphorus. AMF spore abundance was assessed at 3-week intervals over 9 weeks following application of poultry manure (5 t ha⁻¹), cow dung (10 t ha⁻¹), and poultry manure plus cow dung (5 t ha⁻¹ + 10 t ha⁻¹) before planting. Soil pH ranged from 7.00 (CRR) to 5.54 (BFR). ASAR had the highest organic carbon (5.46 g/kg) and total nitrogen (0.23%), while CRR had the highest phosphorus (4.727 mg/kg). CRR recorded the highest AMF root colonisation (48%) and Gigaspora spp. abundance, whereas ASAR had the highest total spore count (62%). Poultry manure increased root colonisation (44%) but reduced spore production, while cow dung maintained higher spore abundance (57%). Plant height and leaf development varied among land-use types, with ASAR soil supporting superior growth by Week 9. AMF parameters were positively related to soil fertility indicators. Overall, cow dung promoted AMF spore abundance, whereas poultry manure facilitated root colonisation; CRR soils favoured colonisation, while ASAR soils favoured sporulation.
Nwokocha Amarachi Grace, Ukagba Oluchi Ukamaka, S. Idris et al.· Pertanika Journal of Tropica...· 0 citations
Improving soil microbial activity is a critical factor for sustainable agriculture and soil health. This research was conducted to examine the temporal effects of Bradyrhizobium japonicum inoculation and different fertilizer applications on soil microbial activity. The experiment was conducted under pot conditions with eight different application groups (control, urea, vermicompost, Well-rotted farmyard manure and their combinations with bacterial inoculation). Soil respiration (CO₂ release), dehydrogenase activity (DHA) and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) production capacity were measured weekly during the four-week incubation period. The results showed that organic fertilizer applications increased soil respiration by 46-231% compared to the control. The combination of Bradyrhizobium japonicum and organic fertilizers, especially the combination of Well-rotted farmyard manure (BA+FYM), provided the highest activity values in all parameters. Chemical fertilizer (urea) application showed low activity levels similar to the control group. Soil microbial activity increased rapidly in the first weeks, reached its peak in the third week, and showed a relative decrease in the fourth week. These findings indicate that organic fertilizers and Bradyrhizobium japonicum inoculation strengthen the soil microbial ecosystem and can be used as an alternative to chemical fertilizers in sustainable agricultural practices.
Ali Sarıoğlu, Şeyma Tuğba Köroğlu· Turkish Journal of Agricultu...· 0 citations
This study was conducted to investigate the effects of a commercial microbial fertilizer containing Bacillus megaterium, Pantoea agglomerans and Pseudomonas fluorescens on soil biological properties and plant growth during eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) cultivation under greenhouse conditions in calcareous soils. While 70% of the phosphorus (P) requirement was supplied via fertigation, the remaining 30% was provided through organo-mineral basal fertilization at four reduction levels (0%, 25%, 50%, 100%) combined with microbial inoculation. Soil samples collected prior to the experiment and at 4 different growth stages were analyzed for physical, chemical, and biological properties, while plant samples collected at the end of the harvest were evaluated for pomological and physiological traits. The results indicated that microbial treatments substantially enhanced soil biological activity. Specifically, the full-dose P + microbial treatment (100+) produced the highest urease, alkaline phosphatase, β-glucosidase activities, and total bacterial count. The 100+ treatment also yielded the most pronounced improvements in soil EC, organic matter, total nitrogen, and available P. Plant parameters, including fruit length, peduncle length, dry biomass, soluble solids content, and chlorophyll concentrations, responded positively to P–microbial combinations. The highest leaf phosphorus concentration was obtained from the 100+ treatment, while the maximum total yield was achieved in both the 100 and 100+ treatments. These findings demonstrate that microbial inoculants create a strong synergy with mineral fertilization by enhancing P bioavailability and nutrient use efficiency. Consequently, it was determined that an integrated microbial-chemical fertilization strategy is an effective method for sustainable eggplant production in calcareous soils.
Ahmet Cemil Eken, Ismail Emrah Tavalı, A. Maltas· Uluslararası Tarım ve Yaban...· 0 citations
This study evaluated the agronomic potential and environmental impact of a macrophyte-based fertilizer (OMF) in maize cultivation. OMF was previously characterized in accordance with regulatory standards and applied to sandy loam and clayey soils at six rates (0, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 g dm⁻³). The experimental design also included a mineral fertilizer (MF) control receiving N, P, and K amounts equivalent to the 10 g dm⁻³ application, arranged in a randomized block design. After 45 days in greenhouse conditions, maize biomass and total nutrient accumulation, soil macronutrient concentrations, and the activities of arylsulfatase, β-glucosidase, and acid phosphatase were quantified. Basal soil respiration (BSR) and nutrient leaching were also evaluated through laboratoy-based analyses. OMF increased BSR, with CO₂ release in sandy loam and clayey soils highest under OMF (11.5; 10.7 mg g⁻¹), moderate under sludge compost (7.06; 7.51 mg g⁻¹), and lowest in unfertilized soil (2.34; 3.40 mg g⁻¹). OMF also promoted linear increases in soil P, K, Ca, Mg, and S, as well as in maize biomass and total N, P, and K accumulation. However, the highest OMF dose achieved only 20–31% of MF biomass. Moreover, organic fertilizers consistently reduced NO₃⁻-N, NH₄⁺-N, and K⁺ leaching compared with MF. In sandy soil, NO₃⁻-N leaching decreased by 31.2% and 38.5%, NH₄⁺-N by 45.6% and 37.4%, and K⁺ by 71.3% and 24.3% under SSC and OMF, respectively. In clayey soil, reductions reached 44.6% and 46.4% for NO₃⁻-N, 24.0% and 20.9% for NH₄⁺-N, and 35.9% and 15.7% for K⁺ under SSC and OMF, respectively. OMF offers environmental advantages by decreasing NO₃⁻-N leaching and supplying a slow-release K⁺ source, although it remains less effective than mineral fertilizer in promoting maize growth.
Paulo Sergio Costa Trindade, Andre Luiz de Freitas Espinoza, João Henrique Silva da Luz et al.· Journal of soil science and...· 0 citations
Jarava ichu
is an abundant grass species in high-Andean ecosystems but remains underutilised because its slow natural decomposition limits its potential as an organic soil amendment. Its accumulation may also contribute to the retention of heavy metals in soils, potentially affecting soil quality and agricultural productivity. This study evaluated the effects of microbial inoculants on the physicochemical and mineral composition of
J. ichu
biomass and their potential to reduce heavy-metal concentrations.
A 2 × 2 × 2 factorial experiment was conducted under a randomised complete block design (RCBD), comprising eight treatments, including a non-inoculated control. The microbial inoculants evaluated were
Beauveria bassiana
,
Trichoderma viride
, and EM-Compost. After 180 days of incubation, pH, electrical conductivity (EC), organic matter (OM), macronutrients (N, P, K, Ca, and Mg), and heavy metals (Ni, Cr, and Pb) were determined. Treatment and interaction effects were evaluated to identify changes in biomass composition and contaminant concentrations.
T. viride
and EM-Compost significantly increased EC to 53.57 and 56.83 mS·m⁻¹, respectively, and enhanced macronutrient availability, particularly P (4,455.24 and 4,462.60 mg·kg⁻¹, respectively) and Mg (3,630.33 and 3,706.39 mg·kg⁻¹, respectively).
T. viride
reduced Ni and Cr concentrations by 15.53% and 19.75%, respectively, whereas EM-Compost reduced Pb concentration by 43.98%. Among the interaction effects, the combination of
B. bassiana
and EM-Compost produced the highest K concentration (2,659.45 mg·kg⁻¹).
Microbial inoculation promoted substantial changes in the chemical composition of
J. ichu
biomass after 180 days, particularly by increasing nutrient availability and reducing selected heavy-metal concentrations.
T. viride
and EM-Compost showed the greatest potential for enhancing nutrient release and reducing contaminants, suggesting that microbial treatment may improve the suitability of
J. ichu
biomass for subsequent valorisation as an organic soil amendment. Further studies should directly quantify decomposition rates, nutrient mineralisation, and the agronomic effects of the resulting biomass to confirm its potential for soil management.
Cledy Ureta Sierra, Percy Goicochea Silva, Azucena Chávez-Collantes et al.· Frontiers in Soil Science· 0 citations
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