The impact of RHIBAC

RHIBAC aims to reduce the high inputs of N and P chemical fertilisers commonly used in arable cultivation. The most intensive conventional cereal growers, for example in the UK, typically apply 200-250 kg N and 60-80 kg P/ha each growing season. This enables high yields of up to 12 tonnes ha-1, compared with typically 4-5 tonnes/ha obtained with organic methods (e.g. manure fertilisation).

South America is growing in importance for wheat cultivation and export, with the biggest producers being Argentina (12,300,000 Mt pa), Brazil (3,105,660 Mt pa), and Chile (1,820,390 Mt pa). In S. America, application of N and P fertilisers in agriculture has steadily increased (97 and 117%, respectively) since 1990 (www.fao.org).

The premise of RHIBAC is that wheat inocula containing PGPR improved for enhanced plant growth promotion, will enable reductions in inputs of chemical fertiliser, while maintaining yields and/or protein content of grain at levels acceptable for the relevant markets. Therefore PGPR can contribute to improving the local and global environment, and reducing dependence on non-renewable resources, while still permitting cereal growers to supply grain with quality and price acceptable to consumers.

Although the project focuses on wheat, several of the PGPR also interact with other cereals, including maize and barley, and non-food crops, ryegrass for amenity and forage use being the primary example. Also, the PGPRs with antibacterial and antifungal activities against bacterial and fungal pathogens of wheat will be investigated and their potential to be used as microbial pesticides. These are other uses towards which the results of RHIBAC may be applied.