article · African Journal of Biology and Medical Research
Modern agriculture faces serious challenges from the overuse of synthetic chemical fertilisers and resulting biodiversity loss. This study isolated and characterised Rhizobium bacteria from the root nodules of Phaseolus vulgaris, commonly known as bean plants, to develop an organic nitrogen biofertiliser. Nodules were gathered across different plant growth stages, sterilised, and evaluated. The isolated bacteria were identified as fast-growing, Gram-negative, translucent, and mucoid organisms that grew within 72 hours on selective media. Yeast Extract Mannitol broth provided the necessary multiplication for inoculant preparation. Using charcoal powder with a suitable pH of 7.9 as a carrier, the process generated three distinct biofertiliser preparations of 225 grams, 165 grams, and 145 grams. Testing showed that the resulting biofertilisers achieved a viable shelf life of six months, demonstrating the viability of carrier-based legume inoculants.
Excessive reliance on synthetic chemical fertilisers harms natural ecosystems, depletes biodiversity, and poses risks to human health. Developing natural biofertilisers from soil bacteria that fix nitrogen can supply crops with essential nutrients safely. Demonstrating that stable, charcoal-based inoculants can be produced with a six-month shelf life offers a practical pathway toward more sustainable, soil-friendly agricultural management.
The work presents an applied formulation for agricultural biofertiliser production, targeting farmers seeking alternatives to chemical nitrogen inputs. Because the inoculant was prepared in specific batch quantities using charcoal powder and achieved a demonstrated six-month shelf life, it shows early prototype readiness. However, further commercialisation would require field-testing for crop yield efficacy and scaled manufacturing trials before reaching the market.
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Rhizobia are special bacteria that can live in the soil or nodules formed on the roots of legumes. Phaseolus vulgaris is an important legume vegetable belonging to the family Fabaceae. Rhizobia are Gram-negative bacteria, aerobic, and non-sporulating which are associated symbiotically with the roots of leguminous plants. Overuse of chemical fertilizer and biodiversity loss are serious problems challenging the sustainable development of modern agriculture. As organic fertilizers are increasingly used in agriculture today, there is an imperative need to preserve the health of humans and the environment. This study was aimed at isolating and characterizing Rhizobium bacteria from the nodules of Phaseolus vulgaris to produce nitrogen biofertilizer that can be used to substitute chemical fertilizer. Specifically, nodules were collected from Phaseolus vulgaris roots at different stages of development in the school garden of the University of Bamenda, sterilized and used to purify and characterise morphologically and microscopically Rhizobium bacteria. These were then used to produce nitrogen biofertilizer using charcoal powder. As a result, morphological characterization of the bacteria isolated from the bean nodules revealed fast-growing bacteria in 72 h in Yeast Extract Mannitol Agar with Congo red medium. They do not absorb Congo Red, are translucent, mucoid, bulging in the Petri Dish and gram-negative which corresponds to Rhizobium bacteria. Only Yeast Extract Mannitol broth showed good multiplication of bacteria for inoculant production. The pH of charcoal powder was 7.9 which is good for rhizobia growth and three concentrations of 225g, 165g and 145g of Rhizobium biofertilizers were produced with a shelf life of six months.
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DOI: 10.52589/ajbmr-kukvfysx
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