Karmactive Staff
Imagine tiny living cleaners that eat harmful chemicals in farm soil and turn them into plant food. This isn’t science fiction – it’s happening in Indian farm fields. Thanks to the research from IIT Bombay that could transform agricultural practices.
(Photo Source: Sandesh Papade and Prof Prashant Phale (@IIT Bombay)
The soil these bacteria clean contains chemicals from pesticides and factory waste that can build up in seeds and plant biomass. Think of these bacteria like natural cleaners – they eat these harmful chemicals and break them down into harmless substances. Simultaneously, they produce nutrients that help plants grow better.
“These bacteria work as natural cleaners of polluted environments,” explains Professor Prashant Phale from IIT Bombay. “While cleaning the soil, they also help plants grow healthier by making the soil more fertile.”
The results are impressive. When farmers use a mix of these helpful bacteria, their crops grow up to 45-50% better. This works for everyday foods like wheat, mung beans, spinach, and fenugreek. The bacteria help in three ways: they clean harmful chemicals, produce plant growth boosters, and fight off dangerous fungi that damage crops.
This matters because current farming often relies on chemicals that can build up in soil over time. Traditional cleanup methods are expensive and don’t solve the whole problem. The bacteria offer a natural solution that could reduce dependence on chemical treatments.
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These natural helpers also fight crop diseases. Right now, harmful fungi destroy 10-23% of important food crops each year, even when farmers use chemical treatments. On the other hand, these bacteria produce natural substances like lytic enzymes and HCN that can kill or inhibit the growth of plant pathogenic fungi.
The research team is now working to make these bacteria easy for farmers to use. They’re creating special mixtures called bio-formulations that combine the bacteria with natural materials, making them last longer and work better in fields. However, Professor Phale notes that farmers won’t see these products immediately: “We need to test them in different farming conditions and develop them into practical products.”
This discovery could mean significant changes for farming. By using these natural helpers instead of harsh chemicals, farmers could potentially reduce their use of chemical pesticides. The bacteria’s ability to break down pollutants while promoting plant growth suggests possibilities for more sustainable agriculture.
The bigger picture shows promise for agriculture. The technology aims to clean soil of toxic pollutants while enhancing crop yields naturally. While the technology still needs more testing, it points toward farming methods that work with natural processes.
Published in Environmental Technology & Innovation, these findings open the door to farming approaches that could benefit agricultural sustainability – from soil health to crop productivity.
