Study uncovers role of beneficial microbes in boosting crop yields

LANZHOU, May 4 (Xinhua) -- A joint study has uncovered how beneficial microbes can improve soil health and boost crop yields, according to the Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources (NIEER) under the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

The research, conducted collaboratively by NIEER and the Austrian Institute of Technology, focused on maize cultivation in northwest China.

The study is conducted in the context of global agricultural sustainability. Particularly, it endeavors to tackle the scientific problem that a large amount of barren alkaline loess on the Loess Plateau and desert regions in northwest China restricts crop productivity, according to the Wang Ruoyu, a researcher at NIEER.

The use of plant-friendly microbes as natural soil boosters has attracted widespread attention for their potential to improve both harvests and soil quality.

The researchers conducted a two-year field trial in northwest China to test how a microbial inoculant affects soil quality and maize growth.

The study found that increased microbial activity accounted for nearly half of the improvements in soil quality and was the primary driver behind the increase in maize yield.

It highlights the potential of beneficial microbes in promoting sustainable agriculture, according to Wang.

The findings of the study were recently published in the journal Microbiological Research. ■