Nanocoated nitrogen-fixing bacteria dramatically improve leaf colonisation and nitrogen supply in rice, boosting plant growth and cutting synthetic fertiliser needs. This innovative nanotech strategy could reduce environmental impacts and costs while enhancing yields offering a promising sustainable agricultural tool.
Nanocoated Bacteria Supercharge Nitrogen Fixation in Rice
17th February 2026
Researchers have developed a novel nanotechnology-based approach to enhance biological nitrogen fixation in rice, a sustainable alternative to conventional fertilisers. By applying nanocoated nitrogen-fixing bacteria (specifically Klebsiella variicola W12) to rice leaves, scientists significantly improved bacterial survival and colonization on plant surfaces. The nanocoating using metal–phenolic networks and sodium alginate protected the microbes from environmental stressors such as UV and desiccation, boosting their ability to form biofilms and persist in the phyllosphere.
Compared with non-coated bacteria, the nanocoated microbes showed a 3.3-fold increase in leaf colonization and contributed nearly twice as much plant nitrogen under low-nitrogen conditions. In greenhouse experiments, this translated into a 1.4-fold increase in fresh rice biomass after 54 days.
Field trials suggest that this strategy could reduce the need for synthetic nitrogen fertiliser by about 74 kg N ha⁻¹, offering a promising route to cut input costs and environmental pollution while maintaining productivity.
This work highlights how nanotechnology can help beneficial microbes survive and thrive on crop surfaces, potentially heralding a new class of bio-based fertilisation tools that boost nutrient supply sustainably.
Nanocoated bacteria boost foliar nitrogen fixation in rice