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Background <p>Although biofertilizers are promoted as sustainable alternatives to synthetic fertilizers, their effects on vegetable yield vary significantly across crop types and soil conditions. The mechanisms underlying these variations, particularly the role of soil-microbe-plant interactions, remain poorly understood.</p> Methods <p>We conducted a global meta-analysis analyzing 2,657 observations from 384 studies to quantify biofertilizer effects on vegetable yield, nutrient uptake, and soil microbial diversity. We explored mechanistic drivers under varying soil conditions and identified key factors using random forest modeling.</p> Results <p>The findings revealed that biofertilizer application significantly increased vegetable yield by 17.9%, with fruit vegetables (+ 19.3%), leaf vegetables (+ 18.6%), root vegetables (+ 18.1%), and legumes (+ 13.9%) showing distinct responses. N, P, and K uptake increased by 36.3%, 32.3%, and 28.4%, respectively. Yield enhancement was more pronounced in clay loam and sandy clay loam soils, especially under higher soil pH conditions. Biofertilizer also improved soil bacterial diversity, microbial biomass, and C-cycle enzyme activity. Yield was positively correlated with soil total nitrogen (TN) and pH while negatively with carbon-to-nitrogen ratio (C/N), available phosphorus (AP), available nitrogen (AN), and soil organic matter (SOM). Yield gains were particularly notable in soils with low AP, SOM, and AN levels. Random forest analysis identified soil pH, AP, and TN as key factors influencing biofertilizer effectiveness.</p> Conclusion <p>Biofertilizers exhibit optimal performance in low-nutrient soils (low TN, AP, and SOM) with neutral to slightly alkaline pH, driven by soil–plant-microbe interactions.</p> Graphical Abstract <p></p>

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Unlocking the potential of biofertilizer: Soil microbial contributions to nutrient availability and vegetable yield

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年7月5日

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  • Zhiyu Zhang,
  • Yutao Cui,
  • Zikai Wang,
  • Shunjin Li,
  • Bingli Wei,
  • Qingling Liu,
  • Zhi Yu,
  • Wei Zhang

摘要

Background

Although biofertilizers are promoted as sustainable alternatives to synthetic fertilizers, their effects on vegetable yield vary significantly across crop types and soil conditions. The mechanisms underlying these variations, particularly the role of soil-microbe-plant interactions, remain poorly understood.

Methods

We conducted a global meta-analysis analyzing 2,657 observations from 384 studies to quantify biofertilizer effects on vegetable yield, nutrient uptake, and soil microbial diversity. We explored mechanistic drivers under varying soil conditions and identified key factors using random forest modeling.

Results

The findings revealed that biofertilizer application significantly increased vegetable yield by 17.9%, with fruit vegetables (+ 19.3%), leaf vegetables (+ 18.6%), root vegetables (+ 18.1%), and legumes (+ 13.9%) showing distinct responses. N, P, and K uptake increased by 36.3%, 32.3%, and 28.4%, respectively. Yield enhancement was more pronounced in clay loam and sandy clay loam soils, especially under higher soil pH conditions. Biofertilizer also improved soil bacterial diversity, microbial biomass, and C-cycle enzyme activity. Yield was positively correlated with soil total nitrogen (TN) and pH while negatively with carbon-to-nitrogen ratio (C/N), available phosphorus (AP), available nitrogen (AN), and soil organic matter (SOM). Yield gains were particularly notable in soils with low AP, SOM, and AN levels. Random forest analysis identified soil pH, AP, and TN as key factors influencing biofertilizer effectiveness.

Conclusion

Biofertilizers exhibit optimal performance in low-nutrient soils (low TN, AP, and SOM) with neutral to slightly alkaline pH, driven by soil–plant-microbe interactions.

Graphical Abstract