Synergies between biostimulants and plant nutrients: a review of ecofriendly nutrient management in crop production

• Published in: Discover Agriculture
• Main Authors: Noor Ul Basar, Muhammad Adnan Shahid, Alberto San Bautista Primo, Davie M. Kadyampakeni
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Springer 2025-09-01
• Subjects: Nutrient management; Humic substances; Seaweed extract; Protein hydrolysates
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1007/s44279-025-00345-x

Abstract Addressing the challenges of growing food demand, natural resource conservation, environmental protection, and climate change are driving global agricultural research for sustainable production. Crop production relies on the use of different synthetic inputs including chemical fertilizers, while the current trend in fertilizer use is highly inefficient, causing adverse impacts on the environment. This requires a shift from intensive use of fertilizers to a more ecofriendly system using alternative sustainable inputs. The use of biostimulants has shown great promise in this regard and could pave the way for reducing the reliance on inorganic fertilizers with no significant reduction in crop yield. Various products including humic substances, seaweed extracts, protein hydrolysates, microbial inoculants, and different beneficial mineral nutrients are classified as biostimulants. These products are primarily obtained from different natural sources and are emerging as innovative tools for sustainable nutrient management in crop production. This review aims to highlight the use of biostimulants in crop nutrient management and their effectiveness in reducing the use of chemical fertilizers. Findings from different studies on the interactive effects of different biostimulants and essential plant nutrients have been extensively reviewed as well as challenges associated with their use and the need for future research have also been discussed. This review will provide a benchmark for the effective integration of biostimulants in nutrient management for crop production to protect the environment and enhance crop productivity.