Pulse Brain · Growing Health Evidence Index
Tier 3 — Observational / field trialPeer-reviewed

Mineral fertilizer substitution and application of Bacillus velezensis SQR9 reduced nitrogen-oxide emissions in tropical vegetable fields

Wei Tian, Fei Liang, L. W. Tu, Zhe Xu, Rong Li, Ruoya Ma, Yawen Huang, Shuang Wu, Shuqing Li, Jinyang Wang, Shuwei Liu, Zhaoqiang Han, Jianwen Zou

Agriculture Ecosystems & Environment · 2025

Read source ↗ All evidence

Summary

This 2025 field study investigated how partial substitution of mineral nitrogen fertiliser with Bacillus velezensis SQR9 inoculant affects nitrogen oxide emissions in tropical vegetable systems. The findings suggest that combining reduced synthetic fertiliser with beneficial bacterial inoculation can lower greenhouse gas emissions whilst maintaining vegetable production. The work contributes to understanding microbial management as a climate mitigation strategy in high-input horticulture.

UK applicability

Tropical vegetable production systems differ substantially from UK temperate horticulture in climate, soil type and agronomic practice; direct transfer of findings would require validation. However, the principle of microbial inoculant-mediated fertiliser reduction and emission mitigation may have relevance to UK intensive vegetable growers seeking to lower their nitrogen footprint, subject to local soil and climatic adaptation.

Key measures

Nitrogen-oxide emissions (likely N₂O and/or NOx flux); fertiliser application rates; soil microbial community composition or activity (as suggested by Bacillus inoculant focus)

Outcomes reported

The study measured nitrogen-oxide (NOx) emissions from tropical vegetable fields under different fertiliser regimes, comparing conventional mineral fertiliser application with reduced fertiliser plus Bacillus velezensis SQR9 inoculant.

Theme
Climate & resilience
Subject
Climate & greenhouse gas mitigation
Study type
Research
Study design
Field trial
Source type
Peer-reviewed study
Status
Published
Geography
China
System type
Horticulture
DOI
10.1016/j.agee.2025.109554
Catalogue ID
SNmok1w2al-ttg5v9

Topic tags

Pulse AI · ask about this record

Dig deeper with Pulse AI.

Pulse AI has read the whole catalogue. Ask about this record, its theme, or how the findings apply to UK farming and policy — every answer cites the underlying studies.