Scholarlink

<p>In the arid and semi-arid regions of Rajasthan, India, severe soil degradation, poor water retention, and dependence on chemical fertilisers threaten the sustainability of smallholder dryland farming. This greenhouse study evaluated axenically cultivated <i>Chlorella minutissima</i> biomass as a potential biofertiliser for the three dominant rabi (winter) crops (wheat cv. Raj 3765, mustard cv. Pusa Bold, chickpea cv. GNG 1581) grown simultaneously in Thar Desert sandy-loam soil (pH 8.4–8.7, organic C &lt; 0.5%) under restricted irrigation. Biomass was applied as soil amendment (1%, 3%, 5% w/w) and foliar spray (0.5, 1, 2&#xa0;g L⁻<sup>1</sup>) in a randomised complete block design with 20 replicates per treatment. Soil properties, plant growth, chlorophyll content, grain quality, and yield were analysed using two-way ANOVA and Tukey’s HSD test. The intermediate dose (3% w/w soil amendment or 1&#xa0;g L⁻<sup>1</sup> foliar) was optimal, significantly increasing total N, available P, exchangeable K, organic carbon, water-holding capacity, and dehydrogenase activity by 17–27%, chlorophyll content by 19–22%, grain protein by approximately 20%, and grain yield by 23–27% across all three crops, while the highest dose induced mild phytotoxicity. This proof-of-concept study is the first to demonstrate dose-dependent efficacy of contamination-free, axenically cultivated <i>C. minutissima</i> biomass on wheat, mustard, and chickpea in Rajasthan arid soil under water-limited conditions. The approach uses biomass produced in controlled synthetic medium, which minimizes risks of heavy-metal and pathogen contamination commonly associated with wastewater-derived alternatives. It offers potential cost savings and soil health benefits as a climate-resilient option for dryland agriculture in South Asia and beyond. Multi-location field validation is recommended.</p>

错误：搜索内容不能为空，请输入英文关键词
错误：关键词超出字数限制，请精简
高级检索

Axenic microalgal biomass as a potential biofertiliser for arid-region food crops: a greenhouse dose–response study

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年6月22日

查看全文
  • Monika Saini,
  • Ram Yash,
  • Nadeem Nazurally,
  • Endang Yuniastuti,
  • Rachana Swami,
  • Sonu Kumar

摘要

In the arid and semi-arid regions of Rajasthan, India, severe soil degradation, poor water retention, and dependence on chemical fertilisers threaten the sustainability of smallholder dryland farming. This greenhouse study evaluated axenically cultivated Chlorella minutissima biomass as a potential biofertiliser for the three dominant rabi (winter) crops (wheat cv. Raj 3765, mustard cv. Pusa Bold, chickpea cv. GNG 1581) grown simultaneously in Thar Desert sandy-loam soil (pH 8.4–8.7, organic C < 0.5%) under restricted irrigation. Biomass was applied as soil amendment (1%, 3%, 5% w/w) and foliar spray (0.5, 1, 2 g L⁻1) in a randomised complete block design with 20 replicates per treatment. Soil properties, plant growth, chlorophyll content, grain quality, and yield were analysed using two-way ANOVA and Tukey’s HSD test. The intermediate dose (3% w/w soil amendment or 1 g L⁻1 foliar) was optimal, significantly increasing total N, available P, exchangeable K, organic carbon, water-holding capacity, and dehydrogenase activity by 17–27%, chlorophyll content by 19–22%, grain protein by approximately 20%, and grain yield by 23–27% across all three crops, while the highest dose induced mild phytotoxicity. This proof-of-concept study is the first to demonstrate dose-dependent efficacy of contamination-free, axenically cultivated C. minutissima biomass on wheat, mustard, and chickpea in Rajasthan arid soil under water-limited conditions. The approach uses biomass produced in controlled synthetic medium, which minimizes risks of heavy-metal and pathogen contamination commonly associated with wastewater-derived alternatives. It offers potential cost savings and soil health benefits as a climate-resilient option for dryland agriculture in South Asia and beyond. Multi-location field validation is recommended.