Bacillus-Based Biofertilizer Influences Soil Microbiome to Enhance Soil Health for Sustainable Agriculture

Fung Ling Ng, Tsung-Chun Lin, Erick Wang, Tzong Yi Lee, Guan Ting Chen, Jiunn-Feng Su () and Wen Liang Chen ()
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Fung Ling Ng: Department of Biological Science and Technology, College of Engineering Bioscience, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu 300, Taiwan
Tsung-Chun Lin: Plant Pathology Division, Taiwan Agricultural Research Institute, Taichung 413, Taiwan
Erick Wang: Industrial Development Graduate Program, College of Engineering Bioscience, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu 300, Taiwan
Tzong Yi Lee: Department of Biological Science and Technology, College of Engineering Bioscience, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu 300, Taiwan
Guan Ting Chen: Department of Molecular Medicine and Bioengineering, College of Engineering Bioscience, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu 300, Taiwan
Jiunn-Feng Su: Plant Pathology Division, Taiwan Agricultural Research Institute, Taichung 413, Taiwan
Wen Liang Chen: Department of Biological Science and Technology, College of Engineering Bioscience, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu 300, Taiwan

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 14, 1-15

Abstract: Identifying natural alternatives to conventional chemical fertilizers is critical to preventing the widespread soil degradation and environmental damage caused by modern agriculture. Microbe-based biofertilizers have emerged as promising candidates due to their natural ability to improve nutrient bioavailability and promote plant growth. However, how biofertilizers affect the soil microbiome remains unclear. To investigate the impact of biofertilizer application on soil microbiome, LNP-1, a strain of Bacillus subtilis , was used as a biofertilizer in conjunction with no fertilizer, organic fertilizer, and chemical fertilizer for the cultivation of cabbage. Soil samples were collected and analyzed using next-generation sequencing to determine microbial abundance and diversity. Our results showed that LNP-1 supplementation not only improved cabbage yield significantly but also improved soil microbe diversity, a key indicator of soil health. Overall, soils treated with LNP-1 showed the enrichment of microbes involved in nutrient cycling and plant growth when compared to untreated groups. Notably, the yield of organically fertilized cabbage plants increased by 39.7% when treated with LNP-1. These results therefore demonstrate the potential for using biofertilizers to establish a more well-rounded, multifunctional soil microbiome to reduce reliance on chemical inputs and achieve high crop yield sustainably.

Keywords: biofertilizer; soil microbiome; sustainable agriculture; next-generation sequencing (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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