{"id":37574,"date":"2025-01-29T00:01:40","date_gmt":"2025-01-29T05:01:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/?p=37574"},"modified":"2025-01-29T12:23:35","modified_gmt":"2025-01-29T17:23:35","slug":"study-shows-biofertilizer-enhances-plant-growth-and-resilience-but-not-adequately-regulated","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/2025\/01\/study-shows-biofertilizer-enhances-plant-growth-and-resilience-but-not-adequately-regulated\/","title":{"rendered":"Study Shows Biofertilizer Enhances Plant Growth and Resilience, But Not Adequately Regulated"},"content":{"rendered":"

(Beyond Pesticides, January 29, 2025) A team of researchers recently discovered the benefits of using natural biofertilizers and biostimulants in the production of tomatoes, the results of a two-year study featured in the Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture<\/em>.<\/a> When the researchers added a biofertilizer consisting of fungi and bacteria, and\/or a biostimulant made of algae, the tomato plants grew bigger, faster, and produced significantly more (and sweeter) fruit than plants that received neither treatment. This research, published in August 2024, adds to a growing body of evidence that non-synthetic, natural fertilizer alternatives can support a global transition away from the toxic chemical treadmill of modern commercial farming.\u00a0<\/p>\n

[A note about the definition of plant biostimulants<\/a>. They are substances or microorganisms that enhance natural plant processes, improving resource efficiency, stress tolerance, and overall growth without directly providing nutrients or controlling pests. There is ongoing confusion<\/a> regarding a lack of a set definition, as some biostimulants overlap in function with fertilizers or biocontrol agents. The definition of biofertilizers<\/a>\u2014also referred to as inoculants, bioinoculants, or bioformulations\u2014are products containing beneficial microorganisms in active or inactive forms. These microorganisms, applied singly or in combination, colonize the rhizosphere or plant tissues to enhance nutrient availability (e.g., nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium) and uptake, ultimately improving plant growth and crop productivity. See here<\/a> and here<\/a>].\u00a0<\/p>\n

Also known as \u201cplant growth-promoting microorganisms\u201d (PGPM), microbial biofertilizers consist of naturally occurring soil microorganisms, such as rhizobacteria and fungi. By forming symbiotic relationships with a plant\u2019s root system, previous studies<\/a> have shown that they can enhance plant growth and increase a plant\u2019s tolerance for stressors such as drought and disease, which could serve as an entry towards transitioning to organic agricultural practices worldwide.<\/p>\n

As Emanuele Radicetti, PhD, an associate professor at the University of Ferrara, Italy, explains<\/a>, \u201cThere is an urgent need to develop sustainable agroecosystems that can ensure sufficient crop yield over a long-term period. Biofertilisers are gradually emerging as a promising, nature-based alternative that reduces agroecosystem inputs by enhancing organism interactions.\u201d<\/p>\n

Methods and materials<\/strong><\/p>\n

The study, \u201cImpact of sustainable agronomic practices for the improvement of agricultural production,<\/a>\u201d investigates the effects of plant growth-promoting microorganisms (PGPMs) and algae-based biostimulants on the growth and yield of tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum L.) in organic farming systems. The experiment was conducted on an organic farm in Ferrara, Italy, over the 2022 and 2023 growing seasons. The researchers hypothesized that the combined application of plant growth-promoting microorganisms (PGPMs) and algae-based biostimulants could improve organic tomato production in organic production (which uses no synthetic fertilizer or pesticides). This study adds to the growing evidence that organic food production practices can be optimized for higher yield, growth, and quality without petrochemical pesticides and fertilizers.\u00a0 The study objectives were threefold:<\/strong><\/p>\n

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  1. Evaluate the effects of PGPMs on plantlet establishment under field conditions;<\/li>\n
  2. Assess the impact of combined PGPM and algae-based biostimulant application on tomato growth; and,<\/li>\n
  3. Investigate how the integrated use of PGPMs and algae-based biostimulants affects tomato yield and fruit quality.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    The two treatments of microbial biofertilizers and one biostimulant are<\/p>\n