In the heart of Mexico’s Yaqui Valley, a region synonymous with the Green Revolution, researchers are exploring innovative ways to bolster durum wheat production while reducing the environmental footprint of nitrogen fertilizers. Marisol Ayala-Zepeda, a lead researcher from the Instituto Tecnológico de Sonora ITSON, and her team have published groundbreaking findings in Applied Sciences (the international peer-reviewed journal). Their study delves into the potential of native bacterial inoculants to enhance wheat yield, quality, and nitrogen-use efficiency (NUE).
The Yaqui Valley, a powerhouse of wheat production, accounts for 56% of Mexico’s national wheat output. Yet, despite high fertilizer inputs, NUE remains alarmingly low, at less than 34.4%. This inefficiency not only drives up production costs but also poses significant environmental risks, including water and soil pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions.
The research team, led by Ayala-Zepeda, focused on a bacterial consortium comprising Bacillus cabrialesii subsp. cabrialesii TE3T, Priestia megaterium TRQ8, and Bacillus paralicheniformis TRQ65. These strains, isolated from the Yaqui Valley, have shown promising plant growth-promoting traits in previous studies. The team aimed to quantify the impact of this consortium on durum wheat yield, quality, and NUE under different nitrogen doses.
The results were intriguing. While the bacterial inoculant had a lower impact on yield and quality compared to nitrogen doses, it significantly boosted early growth stages. “The inoculation of the BC on wheat had positive effects at the early stages of growth, on plant height (+1.6 cm), root depth (+11.9 cm), and spikes per square meter (+25 spikes m−2)”, Ayala-Zepeda noted. Moreover, the consortium improved nitrogen acquisition by the plants at different growth stages, demonstrating its potential to enhance NUE.
One of the most striking findings was the significant increase in NUE when nitrogen doses were reduced from 240 kg N ha−1 to 120 kg N ha−1. “Our results indicated that reducing the N dose from 240 kg of N ha−1 to 120 kg of N ha−1 improved the NUE (27.5% vs. 44.3%, respectively) of the crop”, Ayala-Zepeda explained. This suggests that farmers could potentially halve their nitrogen inputs without compromising yield, a game-changer for both economic and environmental sustainability.
The study also highlighted the importance of appropriate nitrogen management when using bacterial inoculants. The team recommended a nitrogen fertilizer fractionation of 33%, 33%, and 33% for optimal results. This approach could revolutionize wheat farming practices, making them more sustainable and profitable.
The implications of this research are vast. As global demand for wheat continues to rise, driven by population growth and changing diets, the need for sustainable, high-yielding crops becomes ever more pressing. This study provides a promising pathway towards achieving this goal. By integrating native bacterial inoculants with optimized nitrogen management, farmers could significantly reduce their environmental impact while maintaining or even increasing their yields.
The findings published in Applied Sciences lay the groundwork for future research. Long-term studies will be crucial to validate these initial results and develop comprehensive management practices. As Ayala-Zepeda and her team continue to explore this innovative approach, the future of wheat farming in the Yaqui Valley—and beyond—looks increasingly green.