USP researchers find mineral fertilizer and biological additive combination improves crops

Researchers from the University of São Paulo (USP) at Esalq have evaluated the effects of combining mineral fertilizers with biological additives to promote more sustainable crop development. The study, conducted through greenhouse experiments with corn, demonstrated that this combined treatment improves plant growth, particularly in soils managed under crop rotation.

Key findings include increases in plant height, biomass, and levels of phosphorus and sulfur. Additionally, the treatment enhanced biological soil attributes, such as microbial activity. The research aims to address the environmental challenges of intensive mineral fertilizer use, which can negatively impact microbial biodiversity and essential ecological functions like organic matter decomposition and nitrogen fixation.