Nitrogen Fixation by Diazotrophs: A Sustainable Alternative to Synthetic Fertilizers in Hydroponic Cultivation

Prabhaharan Renganathan, Marcia Astorga-Eló, Lira A. Gaysina, Edgar Omar Rueda Puente () and Juan Carlos Sainz-Hernández ()
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Prabhaharan Renganathan: Department of Bioecology and Biological Education, M. Akmullah Bashkir State Pedagogical University, 450000 Ufa, Russia
Marcia Astorga-Eló: Grupo de Investigación en Alimentación y Nutrición Humana, Carrera de Nutrición y Dietética, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Autónoma de Chile, Temuco 4780000, Chile
Lira A. Gaysina: Department of Bioecology and Biological Education, M. Akmullah Bashkir State Pedagogical University, 450000 Ufa, Russia
Edgar Omar Rueda Puente: Departamento de Agricultura y Ganadería, Universidad de Sonora, Blvd. Luis Encinas y Rosales, Hermosillo 83000, Sonora, Mexico
Juan Carlos Sainz-Hernández: Centro Interdisciplinario de Investigación para el Desarrollo Integral Regional Unidad Sinaloa, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Guasave 81049, Sinaloa, Mexico

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 13, 1-28

Abstract: Sustainable agriculture and food security are challenged by the indiscriminate use of synthetic nitrogen (N 2 ) fertilizers, inefficient water management, and land degradation. Hydroponic cultivation uses nutrient-rich aqueous media and is a climate-resilient and resource-efficient alternative to traditional farming methods, whose dependence on synthetic N 2 fertilizers reduces their long-term sustainability. Biological nitrogen fixation (BNF), which is mediated by diazotrophs that reduce atmospheric N 2 to plant-available ammonium, has emerged as a sustainable alternative to synthetic N 2 input in hydroponic systems. This review discusses the integration of BNF into hydroponic systems by exploring the functional diversity of diazotrophs, root–microbe interactions, and environmental constraints. It further highlights recent advances in strain improvement, microbial consortia development, nitrogenase protection, and genome editing tools, novel bioformulation strategies to enhance microbial compatibility with hydroponic nutrient regimes, and omics-based tools for the real-time assessment of N 2 fixation and microbial functionality. Key challenges, such as microbial leaching, nitrate-induced inhibition of nitrogenase activity, and the absence of standardized biostimulant protocols, are discussed. Case studies on staple crops have demonstrated enhanced NUE and yield productivity following diazotroph applications. This review concludes with future perspectives on synthetic biology, regulatory policies, and omics-based tools for the real-time assessment of N 2 fixation and microbial functionality.

Keywords: biological nitrogen fixation; precision agriculture; nitrogenase engineering; synthetic biology; nitrogen use efficiency; sustainable food production (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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