Survey of scientific production on bio-inputs in Northern and Northeastern Brazil (2010-2025): A focus on plant growth-promoting microorganisms in legumes and grasses.
de Souza TAF, Martins LMV, Hungria M, Fernandes-Júnior PI
Soil Health
The beans and grasses that feed millions of people in tropical regions can grow without synthetic fertilizers when the right soil bacteria are present—and more than a thousand studies now back up that swap as a real, scalable option.
Scientists combed through over 1,300 research papers to map how tiny bacteria in the soil are being used as a natural replacement for chemical fertilizers across tropical Brazil. These microbes latch onto plant roots and pull nitrogen straight from the air, feeding the plant for free—something beans and grasses are especially good at using. The surge in research after 2018 suggests farmers and scientists alike are taking this approach seriously as a practical, planet-friendlier way to grow food.
Key Findings
1,391 peer-reviewed studies published between 2010 and 2025 were analyzed, with a notable spike in publications after 2018.
61.2% of studies originated in Brazil's Northeast (led by Bahia, Pernambuco, and Ceará); 38.8% came from the North (Pará, Acre, Amazonas).
Leguminous crops accounted for 52% of studies and grasses for 41%, reflecting both their agronomic importance and their natural compatibility with nitrogen-fixing soil bacteria.
chevron_right Technical Summary
A comprehensive review of 1,391 studies from Brazil's Northern and Northeastern regions (2010–2025) shows a growing scientific push to replace synthetic fertilizers with naturally occurring soil microbes that help crops—especially beans and grasses—grow better. Research output accelerated sharply after 2018, signaling a regional shift toward sustainable, microbe-based farming.
Abstract Preview
Using bio-inputs, particularly those based on plant growth-promoting microorganisms (PGPM), has gained momentum in Brazil as a sustainable alternative to conventional agricultural inputs. This meta...
open_in_new Read full abstractAbstract copyright held by the original publisher.
Was this useful?
Want to tell us more? (optional)
Thanks for the note!
Something went wrong — please try again.
Too many submissions. Try again in an hour.
Targeted knockout of a host peroxisomal peptidase confers field resistance to...
The corn in your grocery store and the staple food keeping millions of East African families fed is under serious threat from a viral disease that can wipe o...
Crop-improvement refers to the systematic enhancement of plant varieties through selective breeding, genetic modification, and biotechnological approaches to develop cultivars with superior agronomic, nutritional, or environmental traits. This field is essential for addressing global food security,
arrow_forward Explore topic