Bio-fertilizer Amendment Research Articles

Seedling Growth and Survival of the Endangered Pterocarpus indicus Willd. (Fabaceae) as Affected by Provenances and Biofertilizer Amendments

Seedling Growth and Survival of the Endangered Pterocarpus indicus Willd. (Fabaceae) as Affected by Provenances and Biofertilizer Amendments

Unravelling the molecular and biochemical responses in cotton plants to biochar and biofertilizer amendments for Pb toxicity mitigation.

Over the past few years, there has been a rising interest in employing biochar (BC) and biofertilizers (BF) as a means of restoring soils that have been polluted by heavy metals. The primary objective of this study was to examine how the application of BC and BF affects the ability of cotton plants to withstand Pb toxicity at varying concentrations (0, 500, and 1000 mg/kg soil). The findings revealed that exposure to Pb stress, particularly at the 1000 mg/kg level, led to a decline in the growth and biomass of cotton plants. Pb toxicity triggered oxidative damage, impaired the photosynthetic apparatus, and diminished the levels of photosynthetic pigments. By increasing the expression of Rubisco-S, Rubisco-L, P5CR, and PRP5 genes and regulating proline metabolism, BC and BF increased the levels of proline and photosynthetic pigments and protected the photosynthetic apparatus. The application of BC and BF resulted in an upregulation of genes such as CuZnSOD, FeSOD, and APX1, as well as an increase in the activity of the glyoxalase system and antioxidant enzymes. These changes enhanced the antioxidant capacity of the plants and provided protection to membrane lipids from oxidative stress caused by Pb. The inclusion of BC and BF offered protection to photosynthesis and other essential intracellular processes in leaves by minimizing the transfer of Pb to leaves and promoting the accumulation of thiol compounds. This protective effect helped mitigate the negative impact of the toxic metal Pb on leaf function. By improving plant tolerance, reducing metal transfer, strengthening the antioxidant defense system, and enhancing the level of protective substances, these amendments show promise as valuable tools in tackling heavy metal pollution.

A Review on the Impact of Organic and Biofertilizer Amendments on Growth, Yield, and Quality of Strawberry

The effects of using organic additives and biofertilizers such as vermicompost, panchgavya, beejamruth, jeevamruth, and organic manure on the growth and production of strawberries were studied. High levels of inorganic compound use in agriculture can negatively impact crop sustainability, increase cultivation costs, and decrease productivity. Traditional farming practices, like conservation agriculture, are being adopted more due to the negative effects of chemical fertilizers on soil health. Biofertilizers, which are made from living organisms that can either produce nitrogen or create a beneficial environment for plants, are more organic, cost-effective, and do not harm the soil as like chemical fertilisers. Hence, in this review, we are discussing the impact of organic amendments on strawberry.

Divergent taxonomic responses of below-ground microbial communities to silicate fertilizer and biofertilizer amendments in two rice ecotypes

Using silicate fertilizer and bacterial inoculum as biofertilizer is significant for increasing soil silicon (Si) availability and rice agronomic performance. To use microbial technology for sustainable agriculture, it is crucial to have a deeper knowledge of how microbial populations shift among the plant hosts and related compartments, as well as how they respond to various fertilization models. In this study, the effects of silicate fertilizer, a single bacterial strain Bacillus mucilagniosis as biofertilizer, and their integrated application on soil physiochemical properties and soil microbiota structure, composition, and diversity in two eco-geographically diverse races (Indica and Japonica rice) were evaluated. Plant compartment, cultivar type, and fertilizer treatments contributed to microbiome variation. Indica and Japonica harbor different root microbiota; notably, taxa enriched in the rhizosphere soil were more diverse than in the root. Bacterial genera Leptonema, Azospira, Aquabacterium, Fluviicola, Aquabacterium, Leptonema, and fungal genera Metarhizium, Malassezia, and Cladosporium all were found in the rice core microbiome. Both silicate and biofertilizer applications increase the relative abundance of Betaproteobacteria, Deltaproteobacteria, and Actinobacteria, while suppressing fungal pathogens Alternaria and Fusarium. Silicate and bacterial inoculum applications increased the soil pH, available silicon content (ASi), available phosphorous (AP), available potassium (AK), and organic carbon (OC), while reduced the total nitrogen (N). These changes were also associated with major bacterial phyla Spirochaetes, Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteria, and Proteobacteria, except for Acidobacteria, and fungal phyla Ascomycota, Mortierellomycota and unassigned fungi. Several treatment-specific biomarkers were revealed through Linear discriminant analysis effect size (LEfSe) analysis. In conclusion, the change in the structure of root-associated communities driven by plant compartment and genetics suggests dynamic interactions in the host plant microbiome. Short-term silicate and biofertilizer amendments improved soil physiochemical status and altered bacterial and saprotrophic fungal communities, which have important implications for sustainable rice production.

Bacillus and microalgae biofertilizers improved quality and biomass of Salvia miltiorrhiza by altering microbial communities

ObjectiveBiofertilizers are reliable alternatives to chemical fertilizers due to various advantages. However, the effect of biofertilizers on Salvia miltiorrhiza yield and quality andthe possible mechanisms remain little known. Here,an experiment was conducted in S. miltiorrhiza field treated with two kinds of biofertilizers including Bacillusand microalgae. MethodsA field experiment was conducted on S. miltiorrhiza of one year old. The biofertilizers were applied at six treatments: (i) control check, CK; (ii) microalgae, VZ; (iii) Bacillus, TTB; (iv) microalgae + Bacillus (1:1), VTA; (v) microalgae + Bacillus (0.5:1), VTB; (vi) microalgae + Bacillus (1:0.5), VTC. Here, high-throughput sequencing, ICP-MS and UPLC were employed to systematically characterize changes of microbial diversity and structure composition, heavy metals content and bioactive compounds, respectively. ResultsCompared to CK, root biomass increased by 29.31%−60.39% (P < 0.001). Meanwhile, bioactive compounds were higher than CK after the application of the biofertilizers, peculiarly in TTB and VTB. However, the content of Pb contents in roots significantly reduced by 46.03% and 37.58% respectively in VTC and TTB (P < 0.05). VTA application notably increased the available nitrogen content by 53.03% (P < 0.05), indicating the improvement of soil fertility. Significantly, bacterial and fungal Chao I diversity indices showed an increasing trend with biofertilizer application (P < 0.05), and biofertilizer amendment enriched the rhizosphere soil with beneficial microorganisms that have abilities on promoting plant growth (Achromobacter and Penicillium), adsorbing heavy metal (Achromobacter and Beauveria), controlling plant pathogen (Plectosphaerella, Lechevalieria, Sorangium, Phlebiopsis and Beauveria) and promoting the accumulation of metabolites (Beauveria and Phoma). ConclusionBacillus and microalgae biofertilizers improved the quality and biomass of S. miltiorrhiza by altering microbial communities in soil.

Bio-fertilizer Amendment Alleviates the Replanting Disease under Consecutive Monoculture Regimes by Reshaping Leaf and Root Microbiome.

Replanting disease is a growing problem in intensive agricultural systems. Application of bio-fertilizer containing beneficial microbes contributes to disease suppression and is a promising strategy to control replanting disease. However, the effect of both replanting disease and bio-fertilizer amendment on the assembly of crop microbiota in leaves and roots and their relationships to crop yield and quality remains elusive. In these experiments, roots and leaves of Radix pseudostellariae were collected from different consecutive monoculture and bio-fertilizer amended fields, and the associated microbiota were characterized by bacterial 16S rRNA gene sequencing and quantitative PCR. Consecutive monoculture altered the bacterial community structure and composition and significantly increased the abundance of potential pathogenic Ralstonia and Fusarium oxysporum in leaves and roots. Furthermore, bio-fertilizer application alleviated replanting disease by decreasing the pathogen load, increasing the potential beneficial genera Pseudomonas, Streptomyces, Paenibacillus, and Bradyrhizobium. The proportion of positive correlations in the co-occurrence network of bio-fertilizer application was the highest, implying that bio-fertilizer potentially enhanced ecological commensalism or mutualism of the bacterial community across the two compartments. Structural equation models indicated that bio-fertilizer had a positive and indirect effect on both yield and quality by shaping the leaf microbiota and the root microbiota. Our findings highlight the role of leaf and root microbiota on replanting disease, showing that bio-fertilizer contributes to alleviating replanting disease by improving microbe-microbe interactions.

Soil structure as a significant indirect factor affecting crop yields

Soil structure as a significant indirect factor affecting crop yields

Nutrient and Exo-Enzyme Dynamics in Organically Amended Iron Mine Spoil

The aim of this study is to restore the nutrient status of iron ore mine spoil through suitable organic interventions. This paper reports the effects of different organic manure and bio-fertilizer amendments with inoculation of the earthworm Eisenia fetida in iron mine spoil on certain chemical parameters, microbial load and soil exoenzyme activities. The mine spoil samples were collected at random from five years old spoil dump and amended with farmyard manure (FYM), poultry manure (PM) and vermimanure (VM) along with biofertilizer in different combinations. The pH, conductivity, % organic carbon, N, P, K, bacterial and fungal population with activities of soil exoenzymes amylase, cellulase and invertase were studied in organically amended mine spoil. Significant variations (p&lt;0.05) in the chemical and biological parameters were observed between treatments and days of incubation. Higher values were obtained with PM followed by FYM and VM. Earthworm inoculation enhanced the values of all the chemical parameters except % organic carbon. Bacterial population and exoenzyme activities increased significantly (p&lt;0.05) with earthworm. PM with biofertilizer was found to be the most suitable combination followed by FYM. Inoculation of Eisenia fetida could facilitate mineralization of organics resulting in higher nutrient availability, higher microbial load and exoenzyme activities required to facilitate spoil reclamation.

Effect of biofertilizer amendments on agrochemical properties of soil cropped with vegetables

Effect of biofertilizer amendments on agrochemical properties of soil cropped with vegetables

Effect of biofertilizer amendments on the concentration of elements in edible parts of radish and green bean grown in a cropping sequence

Effect of biofertilizer amendments on the concentration of elements in edible parts of radish and green bean grown in a cropping sequence

Effects of different fertilizers on growth and nutrient uptake of Lolium multiflorum grown in Cd-contaminated soils.

This study aimed to explore the effects of different fertilizers and their combinations on growth and nutrient and Cd uptake of Lolium multiflorum. Compared with control treatment, chemical fertilizer, organic manure, and their conjunctions with biofertilizer increased shoot biomass. Biofertilizers were found to cause significant reductions in shoot biomass of plants grown in organic manure-treated and control soil. Decreased soil-available N and P and shoot N and K concentrations in biofertilizer amendment treatments indicated that plant growth and nutrient absorption might be negatively affected under nutrient deficiency conditions. Elevated shoot biomasses contributed to the highest shoot Cd contents in chemical fertilizer and chemical fertilizer + biofertilizer treatments among all treatments. But the maximum translocation efficiency occurred in biofertilizer + chemical fertilizer + organic manure treatment, followed by organic manure and chemical fertilizer + organic manure treatments. Based on the results, we can conclude that the application of only the biofertilizer Bacillus subtilis should be avoided in nutrient-limited soils. Chemical fertilizer application could benefit the amount of Cd in shoots, and organic manure application and its combinations could result in the higher translocation efficiency.

The role of organic/bio–fertilizer amendment on aggregate stability and organic carbon content in different aggregate scales

This study investigated the effects of different organic and bio–fertilizer (alone or in combination) applications on aggregate stability and organic carbon (OC) content in macro (2–1mm) and micro (0.25–0.050mm) aggregate sizes of clay loam (Typic Xerofluvent) textured soil. In addition, correlation between OC content and aggregate stability was determined. The study was conducted as a pot experiment under greenhouse conditions and was arranged in a completely randomized design with three replications. The treatments were: control (no fertilizer) (C), inorganic fertilizer (15:15:15 compound fertilizer+ammonium nitrate, 33% N) (F), mycorrhizal fungi (Glomus spp.) (M), microalgae (Chlorella spp.) (A), bacteria (Bacillus megaterium KBA–10+Pantoea agglomerans RK–134+Pseudomonas fluorescens FDG–37) (BMF), bacteria (Bacillus subtilis PA1+Paenibacillus azotofixans PA2) (BCP), vermicompost (V), vermicompost+mycorrhizal fungi (VM), vermicompost+microalgae (VA), vermicompost+bacteria (VBMF) and vermicompost+bacteria (VBCP) applied in 90days incubation period. At the end of the 90-day incubation period, organic and bio–fertilizer amendments had an increasing impact on aggregate stability and OC content in macro– and micro– aggregate scale. Especially, bio–fertilizers in combination with vermicompost mostly had stronger effects on stability and OC content of aggregates of both size classes in comparison with control and bio–fertilizer treatments alone. In addition, significant (p<0.05) and positive correlations were observed between stability and OC contents of macro (2–1mm) and micro (0.25–0.050mm) aggregates size classes in each treatment.

Integrated effects of organic, inorganic and biological amendments on methane emission, soil quality and rice productivity in irrigated paddy ecosystem of Bangladesh: field study of two consecutive rice growing seasons

Effects of different soil amendments were investigated on methane (CH4) emission, soil quality parameters and rice productivity in irrigated paddy field of Bangladesh. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with five treatments and three replications. The experimental treatments were urea (220 kg ha−1) + rice straw compost (2 t ha−1) as a control, urea (170 kg ha−1) + rice straw compost (2 t ha−1) + silicate fertilizer, urea (170 kg ha−1) + sesbania biomass (2 t ha−1 ) + silicate fertilizer, urea (170 kg ha−1) + azolla biomass (2 t ha−1) + cyanobacterial mixture 15 kg ha−1 silicate fertilizer, urea (170 kg ha−1) + cattle manure compost (2 t ha−1) + silicate fertilizer. The average of two growing seasons CH4 flux 132 kg ha−1 was recorded from the conventional urea (220 kg ha−1) with rice straw compost incorporated field plot followed by 126.7 (4 % reduction), 130.7 (1.5 % reduction), 116 (12 % reduction) and 126 (5 % reduction) kg CH4 flux ha−1 respectively, with rice straw compost, sesbania biomass, azolla anabaena and cattle manure compost in combination urea and silicate fertilizer applied plots. Rice grain yield was increased by 15 % and 10 % over the control (4.95 Mg ha−1) with silicate plus composted cattle manure and silicate plus azolla anabaena, respectively. Soil quality parameters such as soil organic carbon, total nitrogen, microbial biomass carbon, soil redox status and cations exchange capacity were improved with the added organic materials and azolla biofertilizer amendments with silicate slag and optimum urea application (170 kg ha−1) in paddy field. Integrated application of silicate fertilizer, well composted organic manures and azolla biofertilizer could be an effective strategy to minimize the use of conventional urea fertilizer, reducing CH4 emissions, improving soil quality parameters and increasing rice productivity in subtropical countries like Bangladesh.

Evaluation of the influence of nitrogen fixing, phosphate solubilizing and potash mobilizing biofertilizers on growth, yield, and fatty acid constituents of oil in peanut and sunflower

Three biofertilizers nitrobein, phosphorein, and potash, containing nitrogen fixing, phosphate solubilizing, and potash mobilizing microorganisms, respectively were studied in peanut (Arachis hypogea L.) and sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.). Amendment with each of these biofertilizers enhanced different growth parameters of 30-day-old peanut and sunflower plants. Dry matter in both plants was generally correlated with enhancement of chlorophyll a and b pigments with the three used biofertilizers. The carotenoid contents of these plants were approximately comparable to those of the corresponding controls. In the field experiment, total biomass and seed yield showed superiority in peanut and sunflower cultivated in soil incorporated with potash. The enhancement effect was followed by supplementation of nitrobein in peanut and phosphorein in sunflower plants. The percentage increase in seed yield, compared to the corresponding controls were 122.03, 120.11, 176.62 in peanut and 149.22, 168.75, and 173.44 in sunflower for nitrobein, phosphorein and potash amendments, respectively. The oil content produced per plant was also increased as a result of application of nitrobein, phosphorein and potash in a similar trend to that obtained with biomass gain and seed yield. Generally, saturated fatty acid levels (palmitic, stearic and arachidic acids) were decreased and unsaturated ones, particularly the polyunsaturated essential fatty acids linoleic and linolenic were evoked with these biofertilizer amendments. Maximum increase in linoleic and linolenic acid were exerted by phosphorein and nitrobein, respectively in peanut oil and by potash and phosphorein, respectively in sunflower oil.

Effects of ammonium nitrate, wheat straw and Phylazonit MC bacterial fertilizer on the N supply of soil

An incubation experiment was set up to investigate the effects of NPK fertilizers, wheat straw and food waste compost in combination with Phylazonit MC biofertilizer on the changes in 0.01MCaCl2extractable nitrogen forms (NO3+-N, NH4+-N, organic-N fraction) of three types of soils. The quantities and changes in CaCl2-NH4+-N mainly depended on the adsorption capacity of soils. Higher CaCl2extractable NH4+-N values were measured in the calcareous chernozem and sandy soil with the application of NPK treatment, while in case of the chernozem soil with loamy texture no significant differences were found between the NPK and control treatments. NH4+immobilization appeared in pots given straw treatment. The quantity of CaCl2-NH4+-N changed within the incubation period, the direction and extent of the change were dependent of the production rates and consumption processes. In all soils the 0.01MCaCl2extractable NO3--N was the largest pool for plant nutrition. The highest CaCl2-NO3--N values were found in pots given NPK and combined NPK+straw treatments, while the lowest values were measured in straw-treated pots. Wheat straw, with higher C/N ratio caused a temporary immobilization, followed by remineralization. Food waste compost, with lower C/N ratio, proved to have a good N supplying capacity. The contrasted effect of straw and compost was more conspicuous in sandy soil, in which the original NO3--N content was the lowest. Higher CaCl2-organic N values were measured for pots treated with straw and with compost, as compared to the control. During the incubation period the amount of soluble organic-N changed, the direction and extent of the change depended on the soil type and treatments. The effect of Phylazonit MC was on the quantity of CaCl2extractable N fractions was not really expressed, and the significancy of the effect varied and was dependent of the soil type. Biofertilizer amendment increased the extractable NO3--N in sandy soil, decreased the negative effect of wheat straw, and it also might help in decomposing wheat straw and food waste compost. The application of Phylazonit MC in the calcareous chernozem caused a significantly higher amount of organic-N, especially in straw-treated pots.

Effect of biosludge and biofertilizer amendment on growth of Jatropha curcas in heavy metal contaminated soils

The pot experiments were conducted to evaluate the effect of different concentrations of arsenic, chromium and zinc contaminated soils, amended with biosludge and biofertilizer on the growth of Jatropha curcas which is a biodiesel crop. The results further showed that biosludge alone and in combination with biofertilizer significantly improved the survival rates and enhanced the growth of the plant. With the amendments, the plant was able to grow and survive upto 500, 250 and 4,000 mg kg(-1) of As, Cr and Zn contaminated soils, respectively. The results also showed that zinc enhanced the growth of J. curcas more as compared to other metals contaminated soils. The heavy metal accumulation in plant increased with increasing concentrations of heavy metals in soil, where as a significant reduction in the metal uptake in plant was observed, when amended with biosludge and biofertilizer and biosludge alone. It seems that the organic matter present in the biosludge acted as metal chelator thereby reducing the toxicity of metals to the plant. Findings suggest that plantation of J. curcas may be promoted in metal contaminated soils, degraded soils or wasteland suitably after amending with organic waste.