Abstract
Current agricultural productivity depends on an exogenous nutrient supply to crops. This is of special relevance in cereal production, a fundamental part of the trophic chain that plays a vital role in the human diet. However, our agricultural practices entail highly detrimental side-effects from an environmental point of view. Long-term nitrogen fertilization in croplands results in degradation of soil, water, and air quality, producing eutrophication and subsequently contributing to global warming. In accordance with this, there is a biotechnological interest in using nitrogen-fixing microorganisms to enhance crop growth without adding chemically synthesized nitrogen fertilizers. This is particularly beneficial in paddy fields, where about 60% of the synthetic fertilizer that has been applied is dissolved in the water and washed away. In these agricultural systems, N2-fixing cyanobacteria show a promising biotechnological potential as biofertilizers, improving soil fertility while reducing the environmental impact of the agricultural practice. In the current study, Andalusian paddy fields have been explored to isolate N2-fixing cyanobacteria. These endogenous microorganisms have been subsequently re-introduced in a field trial in order to enhance rice production. Our results provide valuable insights regarding the use of an alternative natural source of nitrogen for rice production.
Highlights
One of the challenges facing agriculture today is producing enough food for an evergrowing population
Wetland areas provide a perfect place for rice cultivation, but flooded conditions call for the usage of large amounts of inorganic N fertilizers to account for its loss into adjacent water bodies
Our results indicate that this practice enhances plant growth and productivity, providing a sustainable alternative for nitrogen fertilization of rice
Summary
One of the challenges facing agriculture today is producing enough food for an evergrowing population. Rice is the most important cereal crop in the world and the major food source for millions of households in dozens of countries [1]. In 2019, the world dedicated more than 150 million hectares and almost a third of the Earth’s fresh water (http://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data/QC, accessed on 10 April 2021) to rice cultivation. Rice plants require large amounts of water and mineral nutrients, including N and P, for their growth, development, and grain production [2]. Wetland areas provide a perfect place for rice cultivation, but flooded conditions call for the usage of large amounts of inorganic N fertilizers to account for its loss into adjacent water bodies.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: 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.