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A team of researchers in Italy have shown that use of microbial biofertilizers and algae-based biostimulants can significantly enhance both the yield and quality of organic tomatoes. Published in the Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture,

A growing demand for eco-friendly and cost-effective crop production, coupled with declining soil health has led to a growing interest in the use of PGPMs, which can form mutually beneficial interactions with plants, enhancing crop performance and tolerance against stresses such as drought. While the benefits of using PGPMs have been well-studied, their application in agricultural management remains limited.

Explaining the motivation behind the study, Emanuele Radicetti, an associate professor at the University of Ferrara and corresponding author on the research, highlighted the pressing need for innovative, sustainable farming solutions.

"There is an urgent need to develop sustainable agroecosystems that can ensure sufficient crop yield over a long-term period," he said. "Biofertilizers are gradually emerging as a promising, nature-based alternative that reduces agroecosystem inputs by enhancing organism interactions."

In addition to PGPMs, the team applied natural algae-derived treatments to the tomato crops, which act as biostimulants to further promote plant health. These treatments improve processes like nutrient absorption and stress tolerance, supporting overall crop performance.

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