Abstract
Organic fertilizers and especially microbial biomass, also known as microbial fertilizer, can enable a paradigm shift to the conventional fertilizer-to-food chain, particularly when produced on secondary resources. Microbial fertilizers are already common practice (e.g. Bloom® and Synagro); yet microbial fertilizer blends to align the nutrient release profile to the plant's needs are, thus far, unexplored. Moreover, most research only focuses on direct fertilization effects without considering added value properties, such as disease prevention. This study has explored three promising types of microbial fertilizers, namely dried biomass from a consortium of aerobic heterotrophic bacteria, a microalga (Arthrospira platensis) and a purple non-sulfur bacterium (Rhodobacter sphaeroides). Mineralization and nitrification experiments showed that the nitrogen mineralization profile can be tuned to the plant's needs by blending microbial fertilizers, without having toxic ammonium peaks. In a pot trial with perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.), the performance of microbial fertilizers was similar to the reference organic fertilizer, with cumulative dry matter yields of 5.6-6.7 g per pot. This was confirmed in a pot trial with tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.), showing an average total plant length of 90-99 cm after a growing period of 62 days for the reference organic fertilizer and the microbial fertilizers. Moreover, tomato plants artificially infected with powdery mildew (Oidium neolycopersici), a devastating disease for the horticultural industry, showed reduced disease symptoms when A. platensis was present in the growing medium. These findings strengthen the application potential of this novel class of organic fertilizers in the bioeconomy, with a promising match between nutrient mineralization and plant requirements as well as added value in crop protection.
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Claims 4
Claim · model-written summary
Blending microbial fertilizers allowed the nitrogen mineralization profile to be tuned to plant needs without toxic ammonium peaks.
- Treatment
- blending microbial fertilizerse1
- Outcome
- nitrogen mineralization profilee1
- Qualifier
- without having toxic ammonium peakse1
Not reportedTaxon
Verbatim
e1“Mineralization and nitrification experiments showed that the nitrogen mineralization profile can be tuned to the plant's needs by blending microbial fertilizers, without having toxic ammonium peaks”
Claim · model-written summary
Microbial fertilizers gave cumulative dry matter yields similar to the reference organic fertilizer in a ryegrass pot trial, 5.6-6.7 g per pot.
- Taxon
- Lolium perenne L.
Lolium perennee2 - Treatment
- microbial fertilizerse2
- Outcome
- cumulative dry matter yieldse2
- Direction
- similare2
- Value
- 5.6-6.7 g per pote2
- Comparator
- reference organic fertilizere2
- Setting
- pot triale2
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e2“In a pot trial with perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.), the performance of microbial fertilizers was similar to the reference organic fertilizer, with cumulative dry matter yields of 5.6-6.7 g per pot”
Claim · model-written summary
In a tomato pot trial, microbial fertilizers gave an average total plant length similar to the reference organic fertilizer, 90-99 cm after 62 days.
- Taxon
- tomato
Solanum lycopersicume2 - Treatment
- microbial fertilizerse2
- Outcome
- total plant lengthe2
- Direction
- no_changeinferrede2
- Value
- 90-99 cme2
- Qualifier
- 62 dayse2
- Comparator
- reference organic fertilizere2
- Setting
- pot triale2
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e2“This was confirmed in a pot trial with tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.), showing an average total plant length of 90-99 cm after a growing period of 62 days for the reference organic fertilizer and the microbial fertilizers”
Claim · model-written summary
Tomato plants artificially infected with powdery mildew showed reduced disease symptoms when Arthrospira platensis was present in the growing medium.
- Taxon
- tomatoSolanum lycopersicume2
- Treatment
- A. platensis was present in the growing mediume2
- Interactor
- Oidium neolycopersiciErysiphe neolycopersicie2pathogen
- Second interactor
- A. platensis
Limnospira platensise2biocontrol_agent - Outcome
- disease symptomse2
- Direction
- reducede2
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e2“tomato plants artificially infected with powdery mildew (Oidium neolycopersici), a devastating disease for the horticultural industry, showed reduced disease symptoms when A. platensis was present in the growing medium”
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