In this week’s edition of Growing Possibilities, we explore strategies for maintaining crop health after planting and as plants begin to grow.

Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) play a vital role in sustainable agriculture by enhancing plant growth, improving nutrient uptake, and increasing resistance to environmental stressors. Among the various application methods, early post PGPR application has gained attention for its effectiveness in optimizing crop yield and soil health. This method involves applying PGPR after seed germination but before the plant reaches full growth canopy, ensuring that beneficial bacteria establish themselves in the rhizosphere during a critical growth stage (1).

Early post PGPR application significantly impacts root development, enhancing nutrient absorption. PGPR colonize the root zone and facilitate nutrient solubilization, particularly phosphorus, which is often locked in the soil and unavailable to plants (2). By producing organic acids and enzymes, PGPR help break down complex compounds, making essential nutrients accessible to crops. As a result, plants develop healthier, stronger root systems, ultimately boosting overall productivity.

Environmental stressors such as drought, salinity, and pathogen attacks pose challenges to crop growth. Early post PGPR application strengthens plant resilience by inducing systemic resistance and modulating stress-related gene expression (3). PGPR produce phytohormones that regulate growth and stress responses, ensuring optimal crop development even under adverse conditions.

Soil health is a cornerstone of sustainable agriculture, and early post PGPR application contributes to its improvement. PGPR interact with soil microbes, fostering a balanced microbial community that supports plant growth (4). Additionally, PGPR promote soil aggregate formation, enhancing aeration and water retention. These benefits contribute to long-term soil fertility and sustainability.

Applying PGPR early post emergence allows them to establish themselves in the rhizosphere when plants are actively developing, maximizing their beneficial effects. This approach reduces inoculant wastage, enhances efficiency, and provides a cost-effective solution for farmers.

At XiteBio Technologies, we offer several PGPR-powered products, including XiteBio® Yield+, XiteBio® Tuber+, and XiteBio® Vegi+. All of these can be applied during early post-emergence, simply add them to your tank mix with herbicide and spray together.

The early post application of PGPR in inoculants and ag-biologicals is a strategic approach to improving crop yield, soil health, and plant resilience. By facilitating nutrient uptake, enhancing stress resistance, and optimizing microbial interactions, PGPR contribute to sustainable agricultural practices. As research continues to reveal their potential, adopting early-post application methods can help farmers achieve higher productivity while promoting environmental sustainability.

References

1. https://microbiologyjournal.org/plant-growth-promoting-rhizobacteria-pgpr-prospective-and-mechanisms-a-review/
2. https://xitebio.ca/early-post-pgpr-application-foliar-application-are-they-different
3. https://annalsmicrobiology.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1007/s13213-011-0211-z
4. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Unah-Unah/publication/332849572_Plant_Growth_Promoting_Rhizobacteria_PGPR_A_Novel_Agent_for_Sustainable_Food_Production/links/5ccca42492851c4eab80fddc/Plant-Growth-Promoting-Rhizobacteria-PGPR-A-Novel-Agent-for-Sustainable-Food-Production.pdf