Researchers developed an engineered sewage sludge biochar paired with Bacillus velezensis that boosts cabbage growth by improving nitrogen uptake and soil microbial activity. The biofertilizer increased plant biomass by up to 40%, while enhancing root colonization and soil health. This sustainable approach transforms waste into a valuable agricultural input, reducing dependence on chemical fertilizers and supporting greener crop production.
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Researchers have developed an engineered sewage sludge biochar combined with beneficial Bacillus bacteria that significantly improves cabbage growth by enhancing nitrogen uptake and soil microbial activity. The study showed up to a 40% increase in plant biomass, with the biochar acting as both a habitat and nutrient source for microbes that support crop nutrition. The findings highlight a promising approach for agriculture by converting waste into biofertilizers that improve soil health and reduce reliance on chemical inputs.
Biochar is a carbon-rich material made by heating organic waste in low-oxygen conditions and is widely used to improve soil. In this study, the researchers redesigned sewage sludge biochar to make it more supportive of beneficial microbes, which often struggle to survive and remain effective in soil, according to a press release.
“Our goal was to create a biochar that not only supports beneficial microbes but actively enhances their function in the soil,” said the study’s corresponding author. “By combining engineered biochar with a plant growth-promoting bacterium, we achieved a synergistic effect that significantly boosts crop performance.”
The team created a new material, called SSBC37, by extracting nutrient-rich compounds from low-temperature biochar, improving the remaining material through higher-temperature processing, and then adding the nutrients back. They then loaded it with Bacillus velezensis, a bacterium known to promote plant growth.
Tests on cabbage showed that the combined treatment worked better than either the biochar or the bacteria alone. The researchers found that the biochar provided both a habitat and nutrients for the bacteria, helping them grow, colonize roots, and reshape the soil microbiome in ways that improve plant nutrition.
“This work highlights the importance of designing biochar materials that work in harmony with soil microbiomes,” the authors noted. “By understanding these interactions, we can develop more effective biofertilizers that reduce reliance on chemical inputs.”
The findings suggest a new way to recycle sewage sludge into a high-value agricultural product while supporting more sustainable crop production.
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