Wogene Kabato
58294181600
Publications - 14
Microalgae–bacteria interaction: a catalyst to improve maize (Zea mays L.) growth and soil fertility
Publication Name: Cereal Research Communications
Publication Date: 2025-06-01
Volume: 53
Issue: 2
Page Range: 1037-1049
Description:
Biofertilisers harbouring living organisms hold allure due to their prospective favourable influence on plant growth, coupled with a diminished environmental footprint and cost-effectiveness in contrast to conventional mineral fertilisers. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the capacity of a specific microalga (MACC-612, Nostoc linckia) biomass and plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) separately and together to improve crop growth and promote soil health. The research used a factorial design within a completely randomised block framework, featuring four replications for three consecutive years across different fields. The experiment utilised three levels of microalga (control, 0.3 g/L of N. linckia, MACC-612, and 1 g/L of N. linckia, MACC-612) and three levels of bacterial strains (control, Azospirillum lipoferum and Pseudomonas fluorescens). The result demonstrated that the use of N. linckia and PGPB separately or jointly as soil treatment resulted in a substantial improvement in chlorophyll, plant biomass, soil humus, and nitrogen, depending on the environmental conditions of the years. The combined use of N. linckia and PGPB results in an improvement in dry leaf weight by 35.6–107.3% at 50 days after sowing (DAS) and 29.6–49.8% at 65 DAS, compared to the control group. Furthermore, the studies show that the synergistic application of N. linckia at 0.3 g/L, in conjunction with A. lipoferum, significantly improved total nitrogen and (NO3 − + NO2 −)-nitrogen, registering increases of 20.7–40% and 27.1–59.2%, respectively, during the study period. The most effective synergistic combination was identified through the application of 0.3 g/L of N. linckia along with A. lipoferum. Hence, application of biofertilisers through synergistic combinations of two or more microorganisms, such as microalgae and bacteria, holds promise in improving crop chlorophyll, growth, and soil nitrogen.
Open Access: Yes
Towards Climate-Smart Agriculture: Strategies for Sustainable Agricultural Production, Food Security, and Greenhouse Gas Reduction
Publication Name: Agronomy
Publication Date: 2025-03-01
Volume: 15
Issue: 3
Page Range: Unknown
Description:
Without transformative adaptation strategies, the impact of climate change is projected to reduce global crop yields and increase food insecurity, while rising greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions further exacerbate the crisis. While agriculture is a major contributor to climate change through unsustainable practices, it also offers significant opportunities to mitigate these emissions through the adoption of sustainable practices. This review examines climate-smart agriculture (CSA) as a key strategy for enhancing crop productivity, building climate resilience, and reducing GHG emissions, while emphasizing the need for strategic interventions to accelerate its large-scale implementation for improved food security. The analysis revealed that while nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) has improved in developed countries, the global NUE remains at 55.47%, emphasizing the need for precision nutrient management and integrated soil fertility strategies to enhance productivity and minimize environmental impacts. With 40% of the world’s agricultural land already degraded, sustainability alone is insufficient, necessitating a shift toward regenerative agricultural practices to restore degraded soil and water by improving soil health, enhancing biodiversity, and increasing carbon sequestration, thus ensuring long-term agricultural resilience. CSA practices, including precision agriculture, regenerative agriculture, biochar application, and agroforestry, improve soil health, enhance food security, and mitigate greenhouse gas emissions. However, result variability highlights the need for site-specific strategies to optimize benefits. Integrating multiple CSA practices enhances soil health and productivity more effectively than implementing a single practice alone. Widespread adoption faces socio-economic and technological barriers, requiring supportive policies, financial incentives, and capacity-building initiatives. By adopting climate-smart technologies, agriculture can transition toward sustainability, securing global food systems while addressing climate challenges.
Open Access: Yes
Forecasting Western Corn Rootworm (Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte) Density and Non-Chemical Control of Larvae: A Practical Review
Publication Name: Agriculture Switzerland
Publication Date: 2024-11-01
Volume: 14
Issue: 11
Page Range: Unknown
Description:
The western corn rootworm (WCR) (Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte; Chrysomelidae) is one of the most significant maize pests in Europe, with farmers spending a substantial amount (approximately 140 EUR) on its control. In the context of climate change, WCRs could pose an even greater threat to EU maize production, particularly as the European Union continues to withdraw an increasing number of effective yet environmentally harmful active agents. Biological control methods have now emerged to the forefront in creating sustainable agriculture. In this review, we carried out an extensive literature analysis on methods for forecasting WCRs and evaluated the practical applicability of the latest non-chemical control methods targeting its larvae. Effective forecasting is essential for successful pest management, enabling informed planning and the selection of the most suitable control methods. Several traditional predicting techniques remain in use today, but recent advancements have introduced modern electronic forecasting units combined with sensor-equipped pheromone and colour traps, as well as thermal sum calculations. Research has demonstrated that crop rotation is one of the most effective methods for controlling WCR larvae. Biological agents, such as entomopathogenic fungi (Beauveria bossiana and Mettarrhyzum anasoplia), entomopathogenic nematodes (Heterorhabditis bacteriophora), and botanical insecticides such as azadirachtin can significantly reduce larval populations and root damage, thereby maintaining infestation levels below the economic threshold. Genetically modified maize plants that produce specific toxins, along with conventional breeding efforts to increase root system regeneration, are also promising tools for the sustainable management of this pest. This review summarizes the solutions for prediction of western corn rootworm infestations and non-chemical control of its larvae. Accurate forecasting methods provide a clear picture of infestation levels in a given area, enabling precisely targeted control measures. In all cases, the control should be directed primarily against the larvae, thereby reducing root damage and reducing the size of the emerging imago population. This review demonstrates that biological control methods targeting larvae can be as effective as pesticides, supporting sustainable pest management.
Open Access: Yes
Unveiling the Role of Edaphic Microalgae in Soil Carbon Sequestration: Potential for Agricultural Inoculants in Climate Change Mitigation
Publication Name: Agriculture Switzerland
Publication Date: 2024-11-01
Volume: 14
Issue: 11
Page Range: Unknown
Description:
Agricultural soil has great potential to address climate change issues, particularly the rise in atmospheric CO2 levels. It offers effective remedies, such as increasing soil carbon content while lowering atmospheric carbon levels. The growing interest in inoculating soil with live microorganisms aims to enhance agricultural land carbon storage and sequestration capacity, modify degraded soil ecosystems, and sustain yields with fewer synthetic inputs. Agriculture has the potential to use soil microalgae as inoculants. However, the significance of these microorganisms in soil carbon sequestration and soil carbon stabilization under field conditions has yet to be fully understood. Large-scale commercial agriculture has focused on the development and use of inoculation products that promote plant growth, with a particular emphasis on enhancing yield attributes. Gaining more profound insights into soil microalgae’s role in soil carbon cycling is necessary to develop products that effectively support soil carbon sequestration and retention. This review comprehensively explores the direct and indirect mechanisms through which soil microalgae contribute to soil carbon sequestration, highlighting their potential as microbial inoculants in agricultural settings. This study underlines the need for more research to be conducted on microalgae inoculation into agricultural soil systems aimed at mitigating carbon emissions in the near future.
Open Access: Yes
Time of application and cultivar influence on the effectiveness of microalgae biomass upon winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)
Publication Name: Cereal Research Communications
Publication Date: 2024-09-01
Volume: 52
Issue: 3
Page Range: 1153-1161
Description:
The capability of microalgae had been studied for a long time; however, some basics of using microalgae as a biostimulant are still in question. In the present work, experiments were conducted to reply to questions such as (a) how does the application time affect the effects of microalgae treatments and (b) does variety or genetic variation cause differences in the effect of microalgae biomass application on the plants? The different times of application had different weightage on different parameters; however, when applied at the early reproductive stage the yield as well as the nitrogen % in grain was significantly affected. As per the comparison, the result suggested that varietal differences had negligible differences in biological yield, hexose content, and total phenol content. Furthermore, microalgae biomass treatment irrespective of the strain species or genus influences the biological photosynthate accumulation and nitrogen uptake or in short, the efficiency of uptake. Finally, the metabolomic analyses suggested the influence of the microalgae strains on the biochemical composition of the plants.
Open Access: Yes
Impact of the microalgae-bacteria interaction on maize (Zea mays L.) health and yield
Publication Name: Bio Web of Conferences
Publication Date: 2024-08-23
Volume: 125
Issue: Unknown
Page Range: Unknown
Description:
Microbial biofertilizers, which include microorganisms that improve soil nutrients and make them easier to cultivate, are eco-friendly alternatives to chemical fertilisers, encouraging plant growth and supporting sustainable agriculture. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the health of crops measured by the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and yield, influenced by the combination of biomass from specific cyanobacteria (MACC-612, Nostoc linckia) and plant growth promoter bacteria (PGPB). Using a factorial design in a complete randomized block configuration, four replications were performed. The experimental design included the testing of three concentrations of microalgae (untreated, 0.3 g/L N. linckia, and 1 g/L N. linckia) and two PGPBs (untreated, Azospirillum lipoferum, and Pseudomonas fluorescens). Experiments in the field were conducted for three consecutive years (2021, 2022, and 2023). The results show that the combined application of N. linckia and PGPB to soil treatment has significantly improved plant health and yield characteristics. The combined use of 0.3 g/L N. linckia and A. lipoferum has improved the health of plants (NDVI), seed count per cob, thousand-seed weight, and total yields, achieving a significant increase of yield by 1.4 fold for 2021, 1.37 fold for 2022, and 1.39 fold for 2023. These results demonstrate that applying low concentrations of N. linckia (0.3 g/L) along with A. lipoferum provide a cost-effective solution without compromising the benefits. Consequently, the integration of cyanobacteria and PGPB represents a promising approach to improve crop growth and yield while minimizing environmental impacts.
Open Access: Yes
Unveiling the significance of rhizosphere: Implications for plant growth, stress response, and sustainable agriculture
Publication Name: Plant Physiology and Biochemistry
Publication Date: 2024-01-01
Volume: 206
Issue: Unknown
Page Range: Unknown
Description:
In the rhizosphere, the activities within all processes and functions are primarily influenced by plant roots, microorganisms present in the rhizosphere, and the interactions between roots and microorganisms. The rhizosphere, a dynamic zone surrounding the roots, provides an ideal environment for a diverse microbial community, which significantly shapes plant growth and development. Microbial activity in the rhizosphere can promote plant growth by increasing nutrient availability, influencing plant hormonal signaling, and repelling or outcompeting pathogenic microbial strains. Understanding the associations between plant roots and soil microorganisms has the potential to revolutionize crop yields, improve productivity, minimize reliance on chemical fertilizers, and promote sustainable plant growth technologies. The rhizosphere microbiome could play a vital role in the next green revolution and contribute to sustainable and eco-friendly agriculture. However, there are still knowledge gaps concerning plant root-environment interactions, particularly regarding roots and microorganisms. Advances in metabolomics have helped to understand the chemical communication between plants and soil biota, yet challenges persist. This article provides an overview of the latest advancements in comprehending the communication and interplay between plant roots and microbes, which have been shown to impact crucial factors such as plant growth, gene expression, nutrient absorption, pest and disease resistance, and the alleviation of abiotic stress. By improving these aspects, sustainable agriculture practices can be implemented to increase the overall productivity of plant ecosystems.
Open Access: Yes
Harnessing the Synergy of the Cyanobacteria-Plant Growth Promoting Bacteria for Improved Maize (Zea mays) Growth and Soil Health
Publication Name: Sustainability Switzerland
Publication Date: 2023-12-01
Volume: 15
Issue: 24
Page Range: Unknown
Description:
Intensive use of chemicals in agriculture harms the soil, disrupts the ecological balance, and impacts microorganisms. Biofertilizers are gaining traction due to their eco-friendly and cost-effective benefits. This study evaluates the potential of the cyanobacterium MACC-612 (Nostoc piscinale) and plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) (Azospirillum lipoferum, Pseudomonas fluorescens) in enhancing crop growth, yield, and soil health. A two-year field study was conducted using a factorial approach and a completely randomized block design, comprising four replications. The three levels of the cynobacterium (0, 0.3, or 1 g/L of N. MACC-612) and different bacteria strains were used in the experiments. The results demonstrated substantial enhancements in seed number per ear, kernel weight, and yield when using N. piscinale and PGPB, whether used individually or in combination. The soil pH, humus, (NO3 − + NO2 −)-nitrogen, and soil microbial biomass showed significant increases across both years. The combining application of the N. piscinale (0.3 g/L) with A. lipoferum increased grain yield by 33.20% in the first year and 31.53% in the second. The humus and (NO3 − + NO2 −)-nitrogen content significantly rose in treatments involving N. piscinale at 0.3 g/L combined with A. lipoferum at about 20.25% and 59.2%, respectively, in comparison to the untreated control. Hence, the most effective approach was the combined use of N. piscinale and A. lipoferum, which enhanced maize growth and soil fertility.
Open Access: Yes
DOI: 10.3390/su152416660
Chitosan and cyanobacterial biomass accounting physiological and biochemical development of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under nutrient stress conditions
Publication Name: Agrosystems Geosciences and Environment
Publication Date: 2023-12-01
Volume: 6
Issue: 4
Page Range: Unknown
Description:
In the spirit of getting back to nature and using science to increase crop productivity without posing any threat to the environment, researchers are paying attention to making natural products alternative sources of nutrients for plants at affordable prices. On top of this, chitosan and cyanobacteria have become popular in agriculture as metabolic enhancers, biofertilizers, and antimicrobial properties. Cyanobacteria are known to possess biostimulating properties while chitosan is well known for its inherent biological properties. With the aim of minimizing the application of nitrogen, this experiment was conducted for the first time to check if the application of chitosan, microalgae, or both with 50% nitrogen can balance the nutrient requirement for different physiological and biochemical development as effectively as a 100% nitrogen dose. The data were recorded only for the early vegetative stages, as the seeds were non-vernalized. The basic parameters recorded were hexose content, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total phenol content, and relative water content (RWC). In most of the parameters, comparable results were found between the control (with a 100% nitrogen recommended dose) and other treatments (where either microalga, chitosan, or both were added), whereas it was clearly shown that 50% of recommended nitrogen doses reduce the hexose, chlorophyll, and RWCs. Thus, the treatments were effective in supplementing the developmental requirements. Therefore, the combined use of chitosan and cyanobacteria on crops significantly lowers nitrogen fertilization, increases photosynthesis, enhances resistance to water stress, and enhances antioxidant activity in modern agriculture.
Open Access: Yes
DOI: 10.1002/agg2.20428
Potential benefit of microalgae and their interaction with bacteria to sustainable crop production
Publication Name: Plant Growth Regulation
Publication Date: 2023-09-01
Volume: 101
Issue: 1
Page Range: 53-65
Description:
Agriculture is undergoing a paradigm shift as it moves away from relying only on agrochemicals toward natural-based product to enhance plant growth and productivity while sustainably maintaining soil quality and productivity. In this sense, microalgae and bacteria offer a unique potential due to the growing use of novel and eco-friendly products such as biofertilizers, biostimulants, and biopesticides. Microalgae improve crop growth and health by fixing nitrogen, releasing soil trace elements, solubilizing potassium, and phosphorus, producing exopolysaccharides, and converting organic matter into utilizable nutrients. They also release bioactive substances including, carbohydrates, proteins, enzymes, vitamins, and hormones, to promote plant growth, control pests, and mitigate plant stress responses. Even though it has long been known that microalgae produce various bioactive and signaling molecules (like phytohormones, polysaccharides, lipids, carotenoids, phycobilins, and amino acids) which are effective in crop production, the targeted applications of these molecules in plant science are still in the very early stages of development. Microalgae are beneficial to bacteria because they produce oxygen and extracellular chemicals, and bacteria, in turn, provide microalgae with carbon dioxide, vitamins, and other nutrients in exchange. This review discusses the possible role of microalgae in increasing crop yield, protecting crops, and maintaining soil fertility and stability, and it points out that interactions of microalgae and bacteria may have a better enhancement of crop production in a sustainable way than using either of them alone.
Open Access: Yes
Understanding the Mechanisms of Fe Deficiency in the Rhizosphere to Promote Plant Resilience
Publication Name: Plants
Publication Date: 2023-05-01
Volume: 12
Issue: 10
Page Range: Unknown
Description:
One of the most significant constraints on agricultural productivity is the low availability of iron (Fe) in soil, which is directly related to biological, physical, and chemical activities in the rhizosphere. The rhizosphere has a high iron requirement due to plant absorption and microorganism density. Plant roots and microbes in the rhizosphere play a significant role in promoting plant iron (Fe) uptake, which impacts plant development and physiology by influencing nutritional, biochemical, and soil components. The concentration of iron accessible to these live organisms in most cultivated soil is quite low due to its solubility being limited by stable oxyhydroxide, hydroxide, and oxides. The dissolution and solubility rates of iron are also significantly affected by soil pH, microbial population, organic matter content, redox processes, and particle size of the soil. In Fe-limiting situations, plants and soil microbes have used active strategies such as acidification, chelation, and reduction, which have an important role to play in enhancing soil iron availability to plants. In response to iron deficiency, plant and soil organisms produce organic (carbohydrates, amino acids, organic acids, phytosiderophores, microbial siderophores, and phenolics) and inorganic (protons) chemicals in the rhizosphere to improve the solubility of poorly accessible Fe pools. The investigation of iron-mediated associations among plants and microorganisms influences plant development and health, providing a distinctive prospect to further our understanding of rhizosphere ecology and iron dynamics. This review clarifies current knowledge of the intricate dynamics of iron with the end goal of presenting an overview of the rhizosphere mechanisms that are involved in the uptake of iron by plants and microorganisms.
Open Access: Yes
Response of wheat to combined application of nitrogen and phosphorus along with compost
Publication Name: Journal of Crop Science and Biotechnology
Publication Date: 2022-12-01
Volume: 25
Issue: 5
Page Range: 557-564
Description:
To achieve food security and increase crop productivity in a sustainable way, keeping soil fertile and balanced fertilization is vital. Soil fertility declining and unbalanced fertilization is one of the bottlenecks to sustainable agricultural production. To overcome these problems, a field experiment was investigated, with the aim of exploring the potential of organic and inorganic nutrient sources with their optimal application and integration for sustainable wheat production. The experiment was conducted in a factorial approach with three replications, where one factor was the level of the NP (Nitrogen and Phosphorus) fertilizer and the other compost, set in a randomized complete block design. Four levels of the N:P fertilizer (control, 27.6%:18.4%, 41.4%:32.2% and 55.2%:46%) were combined with three levels of compost (0, 3 ton/ha and 6 ton/ha), giving 12 treatments combination. From the data collected and analyzed, integrated application of the NP fertilizer and compost significantly increased soil organic carbon, total nitrogen, and available phosphorus but had no effect on soil pH and cation exchange capacity (CEC). Application of 6 ton/ha compost was higher with plant height, spike length, number of seeds per spike, 1000 seeds weight, and biological yield. The sole application of the NP (55.2%:46%) produced (6.19 ton/ha) grain yield whereas combined application of the NP (55.2%:46%) along with the compost (6 ton/ha) produced the higher grain yield (8.16 ton/ha). This clearly revealed that application of 75% recommended inorganic NP fertilizers combined with compost resulted in increased wheat yield by 27.45% over sole application of inorganic fertilizer indicated that the integrated approach could enable to save up to 25% of commercial fertilizers and increase the yield of wheat.
Open Access: Yes
Correction to: Response of wheat to combined application of nitrogen and phosphorus along with compost (Journal of Crop Science and Biotechnology, (2022), 25, 5, (557-564), 10.1007/s12892-022-00151-7)
Publication Name: Journal of Crop Science and Biotechnology
Publication Date: 2022-12-01
Volume: 25
Issue: 5
Page Range: 621
Description:
Due to unfortunate oversight author names have been misspelt.
Open Access: Yes
Managing soil health for climate resilience and crop productivity in a changing environment
Publication Name: Science of the Total Environment
Publication Date: 2025-10-20
Volume: 1000
Issue: Unknown
Page Range: Unknown
Description:
Healthy soil is essential for life on Earth, valued for its ability to sustain productivity, provide ecosystem services, support biodiversity, socioeconomic structure, food security, and promote environmental health. However, climate-induced changes, such as extreme weather events, shifting precipitation patterns, and rising temperatures, can disrupt essential soil processes. Climate change, combined with unsustainable soil management practices, can accelerate soil degradation, loss soil organic matter, reduce soil moisture retention, intensify erosion, disrupt nutrient cycling, and increase greenhouse gas emission. An increase in temperature of 1 °C is estimated to increase pest incidence by 10–25 % and reduce major crop yields by up to 7.4 %. Enhancing soil health strengthens plant resilience, suppresses disease development, and safeguards agroecosystems against the adverse effects of climate extremes. The growing recognition of the central role of soil in both agricultural and environmental sustainability has therefore driven interest in holistic strategies that integrate advanced agronomic practices, innovative technologies, and enabling policy frameworks to sustainably manage and restore soil health. This review examines recent advances in soil management strategies, highlighting the integration of interdisciplinary approaches to strengthen soil health as a basis for climate change resilience and increased crop productivity. Our synthesis emphasizes the importance of tailoring agricultural management practices such as soil amendments, diverse cropping systems, beneficial microbes, conservation agriculture, precision agriculture, and innovative technologies to specific soil and environmental contexts. By adopting these strategies through an interdisciplinary approach, we can improve soil productivity, sustain agroecosystem functions, and mitigate negative environmental impacts, ensuring the capacity of soil to meet the demands of a changing world.
Open Access: Yes
