What is PGPB? Benefits and Examples of Plant Growth-Promoting Bacteria

🌱 Humic Acid-Coated Urea: A Smart Solution for Soil Health & Crop Productivity 🚜 Urea is the backbone of nitrogen fertilization, but its efficiency is often compromised due to rapid volatilization and leaching. This leads to nutrient losses, soil degradation, and environmental pollution. Humic acid-coated urea (HACU) is a sustainable innovation that enhances nitrogen use efficiency (NUE), improves soil microbial activity, and boosts crop productivity. 🔬 How Does Humic Acid-Coated Urea Work? Humic acid, a key component of soil organic matter, acts as a natural chelator that binds nutrients and improves their availability. When used as a coating for urea, it: ✅ Reduces nitrogen losses – Minimizes leaching and volatilization, ensuring prolonged nitrogen availability. ✅ Enhances microbial activity – Stimulates beneficial microbes that improve nutrient cycling and organic matter decomposition. ✅ Improves soil structure & water retention – Enhances soil aggregation, reducing compaction and promoting better root penetration. ✅ Boosts crop growth & yield – Provides a steady nitrogen supply, leading to improved plant development and higher productivity. 🌾 Which Soils Benefit the Most? Humic acid-coated urea is particularly beneficial in: 🔹 Sandy soils – Reduces nitrogen leaching by improving nutrient retention. 🔹 Degraded & low-organic matter soils – Enhances microbial biomass and organic matter content. 🔹 Saline & alkaline soils – Improves soil buffering capacity and nutrient availability. 🔹 Heavy clay soils – Enhances soil aeration and prevents nutrient fixation. 🌍 Sustainable Farming with HACU By integrating humic acid-coated urea into fertilization strategies, we can improve soil health, enhance nutrient efficiency, and promote sustainable agriculture.

🌱 Global Biostimulants Market – Driving Sustainable Agriculture & Higher Crop Yields The Global Biostimulants Market is rapidly expanding, fueled by the increased resistance of pests to traditional pesticides & insecticides and the growing agricultural sector in developing economies. 📊 According to TechSci Research, the market stood at USD 4.57 Billion in 2024 and is projected to grow at a strong CAGR of 9.96% through 2030. 🌍 Key Market Drivers: ✅ Shift Away from Synthetic Agrochemicals – Rising concerns over the harmful effects of chemical inputs are pushing farmers toward organic & eco-friendly solutions. ✅ Growing Food Demand – Feeding a fast-growing global population requires higher-yield and stress-resilient crops, creating demand for biostimulants. ✅ Sustainable Farming Practices – Increased adoption of environmentally friendly farming methods supports market expansion. ✅ Government Policies & R&D – Regulations promoting eco-friendly farming and advancements in plant biotechnology are accelerating growth. 🌾 Biostimulants are not just alternatives; they are strategic enablers of crop resilience, soil health, and long-term sustainability. By enhancing nutrient uptake and improving plant stress tolerance, they help bridge the gap between food security and climate-resilient agriculture. The outlook suggests that the biostimulants industry will continue to be a key pillar in shaping the future of sustainable global food production. 🔗 Read the full report for more insights: https://lnkd.in/dKFKwdHB Major companies operating in Global Bio stimulants Market are: BASF SE Isagro S.p.A. SAPEC AGRO S.A. Biolchim S.P.A. Novozymes A/S Platform Specialty Products Corporation Valagro SpA Koppert B.V. Italpollina SAP Biostadt India Limited #Biostimulants #SustainableAgriculture #AgroInnovation #OrganicFarming #FoodSecurity #AgTech #TechSciResearch

🌾💡 Enhancing Nitrogen Efficiency in Alkaline Soils: The Role of Urea and Magnesium Sulfate (MgSO₄) In alkaline or calcareous soils, urea alone often leads to ammonia volatilization, where nitrogen escapes as gas before your crops can even use it. But a simple shift in your fertilizer mix can change that. 🔬 The Chemistry Behind It: When urea (CO(NH₂)₂) is applied to soil, it hydrolyzes into ammonium (NH₄⁺), which can convert into ammonia gas (NH₃) especially under high pH conditions—leading to nitrogen loss. Adding magnesium sulfate (MgSO₄) introduces sulfate ions (SO₄²⁻) which mildly acidify the rhizosphere. This lowers the local pH, keeping more nitrogen in the stable NH₄⁺ form—reducing gaseous losses. 🔹 1. Reduced Nitrogen Loss Sulfate lowers pH slightly around the root zone → less NH₃ volatilization → more nitrogen retained. 🔹 2. Improved Nitrogen Use Efficiency Magnesium, the core of the chlorophyll molecule, enhances photosynthesis → better nitrogen assimilation → healthier, greener crops. 🔹 3. Nutrient Synergy at Work Nitrogen + sulfur = protein powerhouse. The plant’s ability to use nitrogen improves when sulfur is present. 🔹 4. Better Crop Health & Yield Balanced nutrition supports root development, stress resistance, and overall vigor. ✅ Best Time to Apply: At planting or during early vegetative growth Ideal for calcareous or high-pH soils Works well in split applications 🌱 Takeaway: This is more than just mixing two nutrients. It’s about understanding the chemistry, improving efficiency, and reducing environmental loss—while giving your crops exactly what they need.

🌾💡 Enhancing Nitrogen Efficiency in Alkaline Soils: The Role of Urea and Magnesium Sulfate (MgSO₄) In alkaline or calcareous soils, urea alone often leads to ammonia volatilization, where nitrogen escapes as gas before your crops can even use it. But a simple shift in your fertilizer mix can change that. 🔬 The Chemistry Behind It: When urea (CO(NH₂)₂) is applied to soil, it hydrolyzes into ammonium (NH₄⁺), which can convert into ammonia gas (NH₃) especially under high pH conditions—leading to nitrogen loss. Adding magnesium sulfate (MgSO₄) introduces sulfate ions (SO₄²⁻) which mildly acidify the rhizosphere. This lowers the local pH, keeping more nitrogen in the stable NH₄⁺ form—reducing gaseous losses. 🔹 1. Reduced Nitrogen Loss Sulfate lowers pH slightly around the root zone → less NH₃ volatilization → more nitrogen retained. 🔹 2. Improved Nitrogen Use Efficiency Magnesium, the core of the chlorophyll molecule, enhances photosynthesis → better nitrogen assimilation → healthier, greener crops. 🔹 3. Nutrient Synergy at Work Nitrogen + sulfur = protein powerhouse. The plant’s ability to use nitrogen improves when sulfur is present. 🔹 4. Better Crop Health & Yield Balanced nutrition supports root development, stress resistance, and overall vigor. ✅ Best Time to Apply: At planting or during early vegetative growth Ideal for calcareous or high-pH soils Works well in split applications 🌱 Takeaway: This is more than just mixing two nutrients. It’s about understanding the chemistry, improving efficiency, and reducing environmental loss—while giving your crops exactly what they need.

Protecting Coffee Crops with the Power of Domsjö Lignin. Coffee farmers face a challenge: keeping nutrients in the soil long enough for plants to absorb them. Too often, valuable fertilizer is lost through leaching – reducing efficiency, increasing costs, and putting pressure on the environment. This is where Domsjö lignin can make a real difference. From renewable forest resources, our lignin acts as a natural protector in fertilizers: ✔️ Keeps nutrients available for coffee plants when they need them most ✔️ Improves fertilizer efficiency, helping farmers get better yields with less waste ✔️ Supports sustainability, reducing the environmental footprint of farming For coffee farmers, this means stronger plants, healthier soil, and more sustainable harvests – while helping meet the growing demand for one of the world’s most beloved crops. At Domsjö, we believe and know solutions from nature can strengthen agriculture and protect our future. Domsjö Fabriker AB

🌱 Long-Term Impacts of Urea on Soil Health: Time to Rethink Our Practices? 🚜 While urea remains one of the most widely used nitrogen fertilizers in agriculture, its long-term effects on soil healthare increasingly raising concerns. 📉 Here are some key insights that highlight why we need to balance short-term yield goals with long-term soil sustainability: 🔴 1. Soil Acidification Over time, the nitrification of ammonium from urea releases hydrogen ions (H⁺), which lowers soil pH and leads to acidification. This impacts nutrient availability and can harm root growth. ⚠️ 🟢 2. Nutrient Imbalances Prolonged use of urea can create imbalances in essential soil nutrients, often resulting in excess nitrogen but deficiencies in others like phosphorus and potassium. This can weaken overall plant health. 🟤 3. Organic Matter Decline Heavy application of urea contributes to the depletion of soil organic carbon, essential for soil structure, water retention, and nutrient exchange. 🚱 🦠 4. Reduced Microbial Diversity Soil microbes are the unseen heroes of healthy soil ecosystems. Unfortunately, urea can disrupt microbial communities, impacting nutrient cycling and soil fertility. 🧬 🧂 5. Potential Salinity Issues Excessive use of urea may contribute to salt build-up, especially in poorly drained soils—leading to reduced crop productivity over time. 🧪 🌾 Sustainable agriculture is not just about feeding today but securing tomorrow. As stewards of the land, it’s essential we adopt integrated nutrient management practices—blending organic inputs, crop rotation, and mindful fertilizer use. Let’s nourish the soil that nourishes us! 🌍💚

🌱 Long-Term Impacts of Urea on Soil Health: Time to Rethink Our Practices? 🚜 While urea remains one of the most widely used nitrogen fertilizers in agriculture, its long-term effects on soil healthare increasingly raising concerns. 📉 Here are some key insights that highlight why we need to balance short-term yield goals with long-term soil sustainability: 🔴 1. Soil Acidification Over time, the nitrification of ammonium from urea releases hydrogen ions (H⁺), which lowers soil pH and leads to acidification. This impacts nutrient availability and can harm root growth. ⚠️ 🟢 2. Nutrient Imbalances Prolonged use of urea can create imbalances in essential soil nutrients, often resulting in excess nitrogen but deficiencies in others like phosphorus and potassium. This can weaken overall plant health. 🟤 3. Organic Matter Decline Heavy application of urea contributes to the depletion of soil organic carbon, essential for soil structure, water retention, and nutrient exchange. 🚱 🦠 4. Reduced Microbial Diversity Soil microbes are the unseen heroes of healthy soil ecosystems. Unfortunately, urea can disrupt microbial communities, impacting nutrient cycling and soil fertility. 🧬 🧂 5. Potential Salinity Issues Excessive use of urea may contribute to salt build-up, especially in poorly drained soils—leading to reduced crop productivity over time. 🧪 🌾 Sustainable agriculture is not just about feeding today but securing tomorrow. As stewards of the land, it’s essential we adopt integrated nutrient management practices—blending organic inputs, crop rotation, and mindful fertilizer use. Let’s nourish the soil that nourishes us! 🌍💚

🌱 Long-Term Impacts of Urea on Soil Health: Time to Rethink Our Practices? 🚜 While urea remains one of the most widely used nitrogen fertilizers in agriculture, its long-term effects on soil healthare increasingly raising concerns. 📉 Here are some key insights that highlight why we need to balance short-term yield goals with long-term soil sustainability: 🔴 1. Soil Acidification Over time, the nitrification of ammonium from urea releases hydrogen ions (H⁺), which lowers soil pH and leads to acidification. This impacts nutrient availability and can harm root growth. ⚠️ 🟢 2. Nutrient Imbalances Prolonged use of urea can create imbalances in essential soil nutrients, often resulting in excess nitrogen but deficiencies in others like phosphorus and potassium. This can weaken overall plant health. 🟤 3. Organic Matter Decline Heavy application of urea contributes to the depletion of soil organic carbon, essential for soil structure, water retention, and nutrient exchange. 🚱 🦠 4. Reduced Microbial Diversity Soil microbes are the unseen heroes of healthy soil ecosystems. Unfortunately, urea can disrupt microbial communities, impacting nutrient cycling and soil fertility. 🧬 🧂 5. Potential Salinity Issues Excessive use of urea may contribute to salt build-up, especially in poorly drained soils—leading to reduced crop productivity over time. 🧪 🌾 Sustainable agriculture is not just about feeding today but securing tomorrow. As stewards of the land, it’s essential we adopt integrated nutrient management practices—blending organic inputs, crop rotation, and mindful fertilizer use. Let’s nourish the soil that nourishes us! 🌍💚

🌱 Acid-Treated Biochar: A Smarter Soil Solution for Sustainable Crop Production 🔬🌾 While traditional biochar is already known for improving soil structure and enhancing carbon sequestration, acid-treated biochar goes a step further—delivering greater nutrient efficiency, soil conditioning, and crop productivity. But why is acidified biochar more effective than untreated biochar? 🧪 Here’s the Science Behind It: When biochar is treated with acids like phosphoric (H₃PO₄) or sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄): 🔹 Surface chemistry is enhanced — Acid treatment introduces more –COOH, –OH, and –SO₄²⁻ groups, increasing cation exchange capacity (CEC), nutrient retention, and microbial interaction. 🔹 Insoluble nutrients become bioavailable — For example, Ca₃(PO₄)₂ in soil can dissolve in lower pH conditions created by acidified biochar, releasing phosphorus for plant uptake. 🔹 Soil pH is balanced — In calcareous or alkaline soils, acidified biochar helps lower pH, enhancing the availability of micronutrients like Fe, Zn, and Mn. 🔹 Improved microbial habitat — The roughened and oxidized surface provides more binding sites for beneficial microbes, supporting nutrient cycling and root health. 🌿 Benefits in the Field: ✅ Increased P and S availability ✅ Enhanced root development and plant vigor ✅ Better soil aggregation and water retention ✅ Suppression of harmful pathogens through improved microbial diversity ✅ Supports sustainable nutrient management and reduces chemical fertilizer dependency

🌱 Acid-Treated Biochar: A Smarter Soil Solution for Sustainable Crop Production 🔬🌾 While traditional biochar is already known for improving soil structure and enhancing carbon sequestration, acid-treated biochar goes a step further—delivering greater nutrient efficiency, soil conditioning, and crop productivity. But why is acidified biochar more effective than untreated biochar? 🧪 Here’s the Science Behind It: When biochar is treated with acids like phosphoric (H₃PO₄) or sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄): 🔹 Surface chemistry is enhanced — Acid treatment introduces more –COOH, –OH, and –SO₄²⁻ groups, increasing cation exchange capacity (CEC), nutrient retention, and microbial interaction. 🔹 Insoluble nutrients become bioavailable — For example, Ca₃(PO₄)₂ in soil can dissolve in lower pH conditions created by acidified biochar, releasing phosphorus for plant uptake. 🔹 Soil pH is balanced — In calcareous or alkaline soils, acidified biochar helps lower pH, enhancing the availability of micronutrients like Fe, Zn, and Mn. 🔹 Improved microbial habitat — The roughened and oxidized surface provides more binding sites for beneficial microbes, supporting nutrient cycling and root health. 🌿 Benefits in the Field: ✅ Increased P and S availability ✅ Enhanced root development and plant vigor ✅ Better soil aggregation and water retention ✅ Suppression of harmful pathogens through improved microbial diversity ✅ Supports sustainable nutrient management and reduces chemical fertilizer dependency