Effects of a microbial plant biostimulant on soil microbial activity, photosynthetic performance, and grain productivity of winter wheat under greenhouse conditions

Benedict Okorie; Katya Petkova Dimitrova; Dobrinka Anastasova Balabanova

doi:10.18393/ejss.1833761

Effects of a microbial plant biostimulant on soil microbial activity, photosynthetic performance, and grain productivity of winter wheat under greenhouse conditions

Abstract

Plant biostimulants are widely recognized as an eco-friendly alternative to chemical fertilizers due to their beneficial effects on soil health and plant growth. This study evaluated the effects of a microbial plant biostimulant on soil microbial activity, photosynthetic performance, and grain productivity of winter wheat grown under greenhouse conditions. Four treatments were tested: control (C), microbial plant biostimulant (MPB, 1 kg/ha), chemical fertilizer (CF, 100 kg/ha), and combined application (CF+MPB, CF dose reduced by 25%). The experiment used winter wheat variety KWS Lazuli and each treatment comprised six replications at completely randomized design. Studied parameters included soil chemical analysis, microbial metabolic activity, photosynthetic performance, and wheat grain productivity. The results showed that application of microbial plant biostimulant (MPB) did not affect soil chemical composition but increased soil dehydrogenase activity. Microbial plant biostimulant (MPB) also affected plant growth parameters and grain productivity. The combined application (CF+MPB) showed no synergistic effects and for net photosynthetic rate and grain productivity did not exceed the results obtained with the CF. However, the overall positive trend across studied parameters supports further research on the partial replacement of chemical fertilizers with microbial plant biostimulants under field conditions.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

Agricultural University – Plovdiv

Project Number

Project 03/23

Thanks

This work was part of the MSc thesis for the Erasmus Mundus Masters in Soil Science and was financially supported by the Centre for Science Research, Technology Transfer, and Protection of Intellectual Property at the Agricultural University – Plovdiv, Project 03/23. Special thanks are extended to Professor Andon Vassilev for invaluable help and guidance during the experimental work. Gratitude is also expressed to Agredo EOOD, Bulgaria, for supplying microbial plant biostimulant used in the study.

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Soil Sciences and Plant Nutrition (Other)

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Benedict Okorie
0000-0003-0340-0483
Nigeria

Katya Petkova Dimitrova ^* This is me
0000-0002-1038-6619
Bulgaria

Dobrinka Anastasova Balabanova This is me
0000-0002-2301-2907
Bulgaria

Publication Date

January 2, 2026

Submission Date

May 9, 2025

Acceptance Date

November 26, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 15 Number: 1

DOI

https://doi.org/10.18393/ejss.1833761

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA22HN36YH

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Okorie, B., Dimitrova, K. P., & Balabanova, D. A. (2026). Effects of a microbial plant biostimulant on soil microbial activity, photosynthetic performance, and grain productivity of winter wheat under greenhouse conditions. Eurasian Journal of Soil Science, 15(1), 90-101. https://doi.org/10.18393/ejss.1833761

AMA

1.Okorie B, Dimitrova KP, Balabanova DA. Effects of a microbial plant biostimulant on soil microbial activity, photosynthetic performance, and grain productivity of winter wheat under greenhouse conditions. EJSS. 2026;15(1):90-101. doi:10.18393/ejss.1833761

Chicago

Okorie, Benedict, Katya Petkova Dimitrova, and Dobrinka Anastasova Balabanova. 2026. “Effects of a Microbial Plant Biostimulant on Soil Microbial Activity, Photosynthetic Performance, and Grain Productivity of Winter Wheat under Greenhouse Conditions”. Eurasian Journal of Soil Science 15 (1): 90-101. https://doi.org/10.18393/ejss.1833761.

EndNote

Okorie B, Dimitrova KP, Balabanova DA (January 1, 2026) Effects of a microbial plant biostimulant on soil microbial activity, photosynthetic performance, and grain productivity of winter wheat under greenhouse conditions. Eurasian Journal of Soil Science 15 1 90–101.

IEEE

[1]B. Okorie, K. P. Dimitrova, and D. A. Balabanova, “Effects of a microbial plant biostimulant on soil microbial activity, photosynthetic performance, and grain productivity of winter wheat under greenhouse conditions”, EJSS, vol. 15, no. 1, pp. 90–101, Jan. 2026, doi: 10.18393/ejss.1833761.

ISNAD

Okorie, Benedict - Dimitrova, Katya Petkova - Balabanova, Dobrinka Anastasova. “Effects of a Microbial Plant Biostimulant on Soil Microbial Activity, Photosynthetic Performance, and Grain Productivity of Winter Wheat under Greenhouse Conditions”. Eurasian Journal of Soil Science 15/1 (January 1, 2026): 90-101. https://doi.org/10.18393/ejss.1833761.

JAMA

1.Okorie B, Dimitrova KP, Balabanova DA. Effects of a microbial plant biostimulant on soil microbial activity, photosynthetic performance, and grain productivity of winter wheat under greenhouse conditions. EJSS. 2026;15:90–101.

MLA

Okorie, Benedict, et al. “Effects of a Microbial Plant Biostimulant on Soil Microbial Activity, Photosynthetic Performance, and Grain Productivity of Winter Wheat under Greenhouse Conditions”. Eurasian Journal of Soil Science, vol. 15, no. 1, Jan. 2026, pp. 90-101, doi:10.18393/ejss.1833761.

Vancouver

1.Benedict Okorie, Katya Petkova Dimitrova, Dobrinka Anastasova Balabanova. Effects of a microbial plant biostimulant on soil microbial activity, photosynthetic performance, and grain productivity of winter wheat under greenhouse conditions. EJSS. 2026 Jan. 1;15(1):90-101. doi:10.18393/ejss.1833761

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