Frontiers in Plant Science (Apr 2024)

Effectiveness of bio-effectors on maize, wheat and tomato performance and phosphorus acquisition from greenhouse to field scales in Europe and Israel: a meta-analysis

  • Peteh Mehdi Nkebiwe,
  • Jonas D. Stevens Lekfeldt,
  • Sarah Symanczik,
  • Cécile Thonar,
  • Paul Mäder,
  • Asher Bar-Tal,
  • Moshe Halpern,
  • Moshe Halpern,
  • Borbala Biró,
  • Klára Bradáčová,
  • Pedro C. Caniullan,
  • Krishna K. Choudhary,
  • Vincenza Cozzolino,
  • Emilio Di Stasio,
  • Stefan Dobczinski,
  • Joerg Geistlinger,
  • Angelika Lüthi,
  • Beatriz Gómez-Muñoz,
  • Ellen Kandeler,
  • Flora Kolberg,
  • Zsolt Kotroczó,
  • Martin Kulhanek,
  • Filip Mercl,
  • Guy Tamir,
  • Guy Tamir,
  • Narges Moradtalab,
  • Alessandro Piccolo,
  • Albino Maggio,
  • Dinah Nassal,
  • Magdolna Zita Szalai,
  • Katalin Juhos,
  • Ciprian G. Fora,
  • Andreea Florea,
  • Gheorghe Poşta,
  • Karl Fritz Lauer,
  • Brigitta Toth,
  • Brigitta Toth,
  • Pavel Tlustoš,
  • Isaac K. Mpanga,
  • Nino Weber,
  • Markus Weinmann,
  • Uri Yermiyahu,
  • Jakob Magid,
  • Torsten Müller,
  • Günter Neumann,
  • Uwe Ludewig,
  • Andreas de Neergaard,
  • Andreas de Neergaard

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2024.1333249
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 15

Abstract

Read online

Biostimulants (Bio-effectors, BEs) comprise plant growth-promoting microorganisms and active natural substances that promote plant nutrient-acquisition, stress resilience, growth, crop quality and yield. Unfortunately, the effectiveness of BEs, particularly under field conditions, appears highly variable and poorly quantified. Using random model meta-analyses tools, we summarize the effects of 107 BE treatments on the performance of major crops, mainly conducted within the EU-funded project BIOFECTOR with a focus on phosphorus (P) nutrition, over five years. Our analyses comprised 94 controlled pot and 47 field experiments under different geoclimatic conditions, with variable stress levels across European countries and Israel. The results show an average growth/yield increase by 9.3% (n=945), with substantial differences between crops (tomato > maize > wheat) and growth conditions (controlled nursery + field (Seed germination and nursery under controlled conditions and young plants transplanted to the field) > controlled > field). Average crop growth responses were independent of BE type, P fertilizer type, soil pH and plant-available soil P (water-P, Olsen-P or Calcium acetate lactate-P). BE effectiveness profited from manure and other organic fertilizers, increasing soil pH and presence of abiotic stresses (cold, drought/heat or salinity). Systematic meta-studies based on published literature commonly face the inherent problem of publication bias where the most suspected form is the selective publication of statistically significant results. In this meta-analysis, however, the results obtained from all experiments within the project are included. Therefore, it is free of publication bias. In contrast to reviews of published literature, our unique study design is based on a common standardized protocol which applies to all experiments conducted within the project to reduce sources of variability. Based on data of crop growth, yield and P acquisition, we conclude that application of BEs can save fertilizer resources in the future, but the efficiency of BE application depends on cropping systems and environments.

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