Summary
This meta-analysis synthesises evidence on the impact of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) on drought-stressed cereals and legumes, finding that PGPR inoculation significantly improved shoot dry weight (38%), root dry weight (52%), and yield (38%), alongside increases in nitrogen (24%), phosphorus (44%), and potassium (28%) concentrations. The analysis reveals that legumes responded more robustly than cereals, and that multi-strain consortia combining taxonomically distinct phyla were substantially more effective than single-strain inoculants, supporting targeted deployment of phylogenetically diverse microbial consortia to enhance drought resilience in major cropping systems.
Regional applicability
The findings are globally representative, encompassing major cereal (maize, wheat) and legume (soybean, chickpea) crops studied across multiple conditions. In United Kingdom agriculture, the results suggest potential for PGPR-based interventions to improve water-use efficiency and nutrient status in cereals and pulses under drought conditions, though uptake will depend on regulatory approval, cost-effectiveness, and integration with existing agronomic practices.
Key measures
Shoot dry weight (SDW), root dry weight (RDW), yield, nitrogen concentration, phosphorus concentration, potassium concentration, drought severity (field capacity/water holding capacity percentages), crop type, experimental conditions (field vs. controlled), soil texture, soil pH, inoculation strategy (single-strain vs. multi-strain consortia)
Outcomes reported
The meta-analysis quantified the impact of PGPR inoculation on shoot and root dry weight, yield, and nutrient concentrations (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium) in maize, wheat, soybean and chickpea under drought stress conditions. Key moderators of PGPR effectiveness were identified, including crop type, drought severity, experimental conditions, soil properties, and inoculation strategy.
Topic tags
Dig deeper with Pulse AI.
Ask about this record, its theme or its relevance to UK farming and policy. Pulse AI uses selected catalogue evidence and cites the sources it draws on.