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...
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Legumes are plants in the pea family Fabaceae, or the fruit or seeds of such plants. When used as a dry grain for human consumption, the seeds are also called pulses. Legumes are grown agriculturally, primarily for human consumption, but also as livestock forage and silage, and as soil-enhancing ...