Friendly soil bacteria let tree seedlings thrive with less fertilizer
Mota RMD, Stuepp CA, Fragoso RO, Prestes L, Batista JSS
Soil Health
Restoration nurseries growing native trees for reforestation projects can cut fertilizer use and still raise sturdy, plantable seedlings by inoculating them with the right soil microbes.
Scientists tested whether adding helpful bacteria to the soil of young Mimosa flocculosa trees, a native South American species, could reduce the need for chemical fertilizer. The inoculated seedlings grew taller than untreated ones, especially when little or no fertilizer was used. That's good news for restoration nurseries trying to grow healthy trees while using fewer chemicals.
Key Findings
Seedlings inoculated with beneficial bacteria (native Paraburkholderia nodosa strains and a commercial Azospirillum brasilense product) grew taller at fertilizer doses of 0 kg/m³ and 1 kg/m³
Higher chlorophyll b levels were observed at the 2 kg/m³ fertilizer dose
The approach supports raising high-quality Mimosa flocculosa seedlings for ecological restoration while reducing reliance on synthetic fertilizer
chevron_right Technical Summary
Adding beneficial soil bacteria to seedlings of a native tree helped them grow taller with less fertilizer, offering a cheaper, greener way to raise plants for habitat restoration projects.
Abstract Preview
Original paper
Beneficial bacteria improve the growth of Mimosa flocculosa Burkart seedlings under reduced fertilizer application.
Inoculation with plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) represents a promising strategy to enhance the effectiveness of ecological restoration efforts. Native Paraburkholderia nodosa strains and a ...
open_in_new Read full abstractAbstract copyright held by the original publisher.
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