Under the dual challenges of the rapid increase in the global population and the intensification of climate change, the traditional agricultural model is facing severe tests. The production mode that overly relies on chemical fertilizers and pesticides not only exacerbates environmental pollution but also leads to the imbalance of soil microbial communities, further reducing the nutrient utilization efficiency. As an emerging green technology, bio-based material amendments offer new ideas for enhancing soil health and crop productivity. So, how do bio-based material amendments improve nutrient utilization efficiency and boost crop yields?
The research team led by Professor Gang Wang from China Agricultural University systematically summarized the synergistic effects of bio-based material amendments such as microbial inoculants, nanomaterials, and biochar in improving soil health and crop productivity through a review article. The relevant research has been published in the journal Frontiers of Agricultural Science and Engineering (DOI: 10.15302/J-FASE-2024586).
Studies have shown that plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPB) significantly enhance nutrient utilization efficiency through functions such as nitrogen fixation, phosphorus solubilization, and potassium solubilization. The combined inoculation of nitrogen-fixing bacteria and phosphorus-solubilizing bacteria can increase the nitrogen and phosphorus uptake of wheat. The extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) secreted by them can also enhance the soil's water retention capacity, increasing the biomass of tomatoes in a high-salt environment. In the remediation of heavy metal pollution, PGPB can increase the removal rate of chromium (VI) through bio-adsorption and transformation, while reducing the application amount of chemical fertilizers.
Source : eurekalert.org