New Study Shows How Plants and Bacteria Collaborate to Decrease Reliance on Chemical Fertilizers

New Study Shows How Plants and Bacteria Collaborate to Decrease Reliance on Chemical Fertilizers

(IN BRIEF) A recent study conducted by researchers from the Universities of Warwick and Justus Liebig has found that promoting the natural relationship between plants and bacteria can reduce the need for environmentally damaging fertilizers. By enhancing the symbiotic relationship between legumes and nitrogen-fixing bacteria, the study demonstrated improved plant growth and nutrient uptake. This research offers a sustainable approach to agriculture by reducing reliance on chemical fertilizers that contribute to environmental pollution. The findings have significant implications for securing the production of important food crops and may lead to the development of biofertilizers as an alternative to traditional fertilizers.

(PRESS RELEASE) COVENTRY, 3-Jul-2023 — /EuropaWire/ — A recent study published in Microbiome has revealed a promising approach to decrease reliance on environmentally harmful fertilizers by enhancing the natural relationship between plants and bacteria. As the world’s population continues to grow and crop yields face challenges from climate change, scientists are seeking sustainable methods to promote plant growth.

The study, conducted by researchers from the Universities of Warwick and Justus Liebig (Germany), highlights a novel technique to enhance plant nutrient uptake and growth, potentially reducing the need for chemical fertilizers. These fertilizers pose environmental risks when they leach into waterways or contribute to the release of nitrous oxide, a potent greenhouse gas, as they break down in the soil.

The research team focused on investigating the efficiency of plant-bacteria relationships, known as symbiosis or nodulation, while exploring their impact on other soil microbes. Legumes, such as peas and beans, form symbiotic relationships with bacteria called rhizobia, which fix nitrogen from the air and provide nutrients to the plants. This interaction enables legumes to acquire soil nutrients, promoting growth and stress resilience without heavy reliance on chemical fertilizers. However, the outcome of this symbiotic efficiency depends on the bacteria’s ability to fix nitrogen and the soil type.

Through funding from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), the scientists assessed the influence of different symbiotic efficiencies on plant growth, nutrition, and soil microbes, offering potential applications as biofertilizers. The study employed a legume relative capable of interacting with various nitrogen-fixing bacteria across different soil types found in agricultural environments, including the University of Warwick’s Innovation Campus in Stratford-Upon-Avon.

Using different strains of bacteria, the team measured plant responses, mineral content, and recorded bacterial and fungal communities in different locations—soil, root surface, and inside the root. By analyzing this comprehensive dataset, they gained valuable insights into the impact of symbiotic efficiency.

Professor Patrick Schäfer from Justus Liebig University, Gießen, Germany, emphasized the importance of symbiosis with a complex community of microorganisms, known as the microbiome, in determining plant growth and fitness. The study demonstrated that the nutrient status of the soil affected the symbiosis between beneficial rhizobia and legumes, where atmospheric nitrogen fixation occurred in exchange for nutrients.

Dr. Beatriz Lagunas, co-author of the study from the School of Life Sciences at the University of Warwick, highlighted that symbiosis with different bacteria species can alter the entire root microbiome. The researchers identified microbial strains within this community that could serve as beneficial biofertilizers in the future.

Professor Miriam Gifford, also from the School of Life Sciences at the University of Warwick, stressed the significant implications of this research for securing the production of essential legume crops like beans and peas. The team plans to further evaluate the impact of microbes on different plant species to assess growth and stress resilience. Collaborating with agricultural companies, they aim to explore the application of these microbes as biofertilizers, thereby reducing the use of chemical fertilizers and minimizing their environmental impact.

Media contacts:

Annie Slinn
Communications Officer
Press & Media Relations
University of Warwick
Email: annie.slinn@warwick.ac.uk

SOURCE: University of Warwick