Calcite-dissolving bacteria: promising approach as bio-fertilizer

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Science
• Soil Microbiology
• Plant Nutrition

Background:

• Calcium (Ca) is vital for plant growth, membrane stability, and cell integrity.
• Soil Ca exists in various forms, with limited availability for plants, leading to deficiency issues.
• Smallholder farmers often lack access to Ca fertilizers, necessitating alternative solutions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the potential of calcite-dissolving bacteria (CDB) as biofertilizers for improving soil Ca availability.
• To explore the mechanisms of calcite dissolution and plant growth promotion by CDB.
• To highlight the limited research on CDB for enhancing soil Ca supply and crop productivity under field conditions.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature review using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) method.
• Analysis of existing research on calcite chemistry, soil Ca dynamics, and CDB functions.
• Synthesis of information on CDB diversity, dissolution mechanisms, and plant growth promotion.

Main Results:

• Calcite-dissolving bacteria (CDB) can dissolve poorly soluble calcite, increasing Ca²⁺ availability in soils.
• CDB present an economically viable and environmentally friendly approach to address Ca deficiency.
• Research on CDB for improving soil Ca supply and its impact on crop yields in field settings is limited.

Conclusions:

• CDB hold significant potential as biofertilizers to enhance soil Ca content and improve crop productivity.
• Further research is needed to understand CDB mechanisms and optimize their application in field conditions.
• Effective formulation of CDB-based biofertilizers requires comprehensive knowledge of calcite chemistry and CDB functions.