Cyanobacteria-microalgae consortia as bio- inoculants for enhancing soil fertility and plant growth
Authors:   , Jose Shisy 
Published: September 2024

Modern agriculture that heavily utilizes synthetic fertilizers has raised significant environmental concerns worldwide. Microalgae-based bio-inoculants have become a more viable and eco- friendly option to reduce the reliance on chemical fertilizers for improving soil fertility and plant growth in agronomic practices. Indigenous microalgal species can colonize and thrive well under local conditions, making them well-suited for use as bio-inoculants. Additionally, it appears that using microalgal consortia of green microalgae and nitrogen (N)-fixing cyanobacteria could be beneficial because the green microalgae can supply carbon (C), the cyanobacteria can fix C and N in the soil. They both can produce agriculturally beneficial metabolites and improve soil nutrient availability. This synergistic relationship could enhance the overall effectiveness of bio- inoculants and promote sustainable agriculture practices. In this study, thirteen microalgal strains were isolated from agricultural fields of Durban, KwaZulu Natal, South Africa. Two N-fixing cyanobacteria (Nostoc sp. and Calothrix sp.) and two green microalgae (Desmodesmus armatus and Chlorella sp.) strains were selected and analyzed for metabolites of agricultural significance for the development of suitable microalgal consortia under N-deficient conditions. The amount of indole acetic acid (IAA) in biomass extracts from cyanobacteria (Calothrix sp. (2.54 ng g−1) and Nostoc sp. (1.52 ng g−1)) was significantly higher than in extracts from green microalgae (Chlorella sp. (0.32 ng g−1) and Desmodesmus armatus (0.20 ng g−1)). A completely randomized design was used to develop and evaluate eight microalgal consortia on a N-deficient medium with the selected microalgal strains. A significant improvement in biomass productivity, indole acetic acid production, nutrients viz C, N, phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), and manganese (Mn) was observed in the selected consortium compared to the individual isolates. The microalgal consortium was further analyzed for biostimulant properties using seed germination assay in chili seeds. A significant increase in seedling length and leaf number was observed in seeds treated with biomass extracts of consortium compared to the control. The pot culture study also supported the effect of microalgal bio-inoculant on soil fertility, chili plant growth and native soil microbiomes. Soil enzyme activity increased significantly (p < 0.05) with microalgal treatments, with soil dehydrogenase activity (DHA), organic carbon (OC), soil chlorophyll (Chl), total polysaccharides (TP) and nutrients such as C, N, P, K and Mn being more enriched at 100 % and 50 % treatment applications in comparison to control (Cnt). Growth responses in terms of shoot and root (fresh and dry weight), root length and leaf number were significantly high in 50 % microalgal treatments (Al(50 %)+CF(50 %)) when compared to Cnt. With different soil nutrient parameters and microbiome (bacterial and fungal) indicators, we could successfully predict higher soil fertility and plant growth responses to microalgal inoculations. Results using 16SrRNA and ITS amplicon sequencing suggested that microalgal bio-inoculation improved the diversity and composition of native soil microbiome, leading to an increase in soil fertility, plant growth and yield. Further, shotgun metagenomics has confirmed a higher enzymatic activity involved in C, N, and P metabolisms in 50 % and 100 % microalgal treatment compared to the control. Potential shifts in microbial taxa and functional genes indicated that microalgal bio-inoculant was a major driver of microbial metabolic change. The findings from the study suggested that microalgal bio-inoculation improved the diversity and composition of native soil microbiomes, leading to an increase in soil fertility, plant growth, and yield in chili plants.