Author(s): Chinedu Okafor, Amaka Bello and Ibrahim Musa

Abstract: Plant diseases remain a major threat to global food security, often causing substantial yield losses and necessitating heavy reliance on chemical inputs for control. However, chemical-based approaches compromise soil health, accelerate pathogen resistance, and undermine ecological sustainability. This study investigated the role of microbial interventions in balancing soil health and disease resistance for sustainable agriculture, using wheat (Triticum aestivum) and tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) as model crops. Field trials compared untreated controls, chemical treatments, single-strain inoculations, and microbial consortia, evaluating their effects on disease incidence, severity, yield, microbial biomass, soil organic carbon, and microbial diversity. The results demonstrated that microbial consortia significantly reduced disease incidence by more than 50% compared to controls, while improving yields and soil health indicators. Analysis revealed a strong negative correlation between microbial diversity and disease incidence, indicating that greater ecological complexity enhances disease suppression. The superiority of microbial consortia over single strains or chemical treatments underscores the importance of functional complementarity among beneficial microbes. These findings confirm the hypothesis that microbial interventions can provide sustainable alternatives to conventional chemical-based strategies, offering both biotic stress management and soil ecosystem restoration. The study concludes that integrating microbial inoculants into crop management practices is a viable pathway to resilient agriculture, reducing environmental risks while maintaining productivity. Practical recommendations include the promotion of high-quality microbial formulations, farmer training on inoculant application, and the alignment of microbial technologies with conservation agriculture practices to enhance long-term sustainability. This work highlights microorganisms as key allies in designing future-ready agricultural systems that/harmonize productivity with ecological health.

Pages: 146-151 | Views: 316 | Downloads: 75

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