Microbial natural bioactive formulations in citrus development.

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Science
• Microbiology
• Horticulture

Background:

• Efficient Microorganisms (EM) are widely used in organic farming, but their impact on citrus seedling production is understudied.
• Citrus cultivation relies on healthy rootstock and young plant development for successful crop establishment.
• Evaluating novel microbial inoculants is crucial for sustainable agricultural practices.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the effects of Native Efficient Microorganisms (NEM) and commercial EM1® inoculants on the formation of *Poncirus trifoliata* rootstock seedlings.
• To evaluate the impact of NEM and EM1® on the development of young Sweet Orange 'Valência' and Murcott tangor plants.
• To compare the microbial diversity of homemade NEM with the commercial EM1® product.

Main Methods:

• Application of Native Efficient Microorganisms (NEM) and EM1® inoculants to citrus rootstock and young plants.
• Analysis of dry mass to quantify plant growth and development.
• Comparison of microbial diversity between NEM and EM1® formulations.

Main Results:

• Native Efficient Microorganisms (NEM) exhibited greater microbial diversity compared to the commercial EM1® product.
• Both EM1® and NEM inoculants demonstrated positive effects on the dry mass of Valência orange and Murcott tangor plants, particularly when combined with an oat straw cover system.
• The study confirms the potential of EM as a natural bioactive microbial formulation for citrus cultivation.

Conclusions:

• Efficient Microorganisms, including native strains, hold significant potential for enhancing citrus seedling and young plant development.
• The use of NEM offers a cost-effective alternative for farmers, as it can be produced on-site.
• Further research into EM applications can contribute to more sustainable and resource-efficient citrus farming.