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A Unique Pairing That Could Boost Greenhouse Cherry Tomato Production

By CEAg World|June 12, 2026
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A major obstacle to growing cherry tomatoes in greenhouses is providing the crop with enough readily available phosphorus for healthy and uniform development. However, a new study published in the Biochar journal by a team of researchers in China has identified a sustainable way to boost cherry tomato production by combining biochar with Bacillus bacteria that turns insoluble phosphorus into a form that’s more easily accessible for plants. 

Biochar and Bacillus Cherry Tomato Trials

The study involved the test of four separate treatments: 

  1. No amendment 
  2. Biochar (derived from rice husks) 
  3. Bacillus 
  4. Biochar and Bacillus. 

The combined consortium treatment method of biochar and Bacillus delivered the best results, including the following when compared to untreated soil: 

  • 10.16% increase in available phosphorus 
  • 174.6% increase in microbial biomass phosphorus 
  • 68.52% increase in alkaline phosphatase enzyme activity. 

As a result, the tomato plants demonstrated larger and more active root systems with a nearly 20% increase in phosphorus uptake efficiency. Additionally, while the study notes that the consortium method resulted in slightly smaller individual fruits, the overall total crop yield increased by 23.53%. 

For more, continue reading the original post on CEAgWorld.com.

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