Fertilizers Carry a Hidden Cost for Soil's Crucial Microbes. Using Less Might Pay Off for Farms in Unexpected Ways

By Esther Ndumi Ngumbi

Across North America, in places such as Illinois, Iowa and Texas, farmers are busy growing the crops the world depends on for food, fuel and fiber.

But as their tractors roll across fields, a pressing concern weighs heavily on many farmers: the rising cost of synthetic fertilizers, widely considered essential for crop production.

After an expensive spring, with the war in Iran restricting fertilizer and petroleum shipments and raising prices, farmers may be wondering whether they can cut back on fertilizer now and in the future to save money.

The answer has a lot to do with a hidden world beneath our feet, where billions of beneficial, soil-dwelling microbes help sustain productive, resilient and healthy crops and agricultural systems.

As a researcher working to uncover the hidden roles of beneficial soil microbes and understand how they improve crop productivity and strengthen plants' resilience against drought and insect pests, I know that cutting down on fertilizer is not a bad thing. In fact, studies suggest that using less fertilizer can boost this natural workforce.

Plants do not grow alone

Soils hold a vast and extraordinarily diverse hidden world teeming with billions of microbes that are essential for sustaining life on Earth and supporting productive, resilient crops.

Plants including corn, soybeans, wheat and tomatoes form intimate, mutually beneficial relationships with these soil-dwelling microbes. Their partnerships help sustain both plant health and microbial communities.