By Adam Said Adam, Kano
A Nigerian scientist from Kano State, Dr. Mubarak Mahmud, has developed an innovative method that could help crops obtain essential nutrients directly from the air, a breakthrough that may significantly reduce reliance on costly synthetic fertilizers.
Dr. Mahmud, who conducts research at the French National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment, carried out the study in collaboration with scientists at Université Bourgogne Europe in Dijon, France.
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The research focuses on nitrogen—an essential nutrient that exists abundantly in the atmosphere but cannot be directly used by major cereal crops such as maize, wheat, and rice.
Farmers typically rely on synthetic nitrogen fertilizers to supply this nutrient. However, these fertilizers are often expensive and can pose environmental risks, including water pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.
Dr. Mahmud’s research explores how natural soil organisms can be harnessed to improve plant nutrition. The study centers on the role of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi, beneficial fungi that form underground networks linking plant roots to nutrients in the soil.
These fungi act as biological bridges, helping plants access nutrients that would otherwise remain unavailable. Meanwhile, certain soil microbes can convert nitrogen from the air into forms plants can absorb. However, much of this converted nitrogen is often lost before crops can utilize it.
Dr. Mahmud’s innovative approach combines the activities of these microbes with the nutrient-transporting capabilities of the fungi, enabling plants to access nitrogen more efficiently through natural soil processes—without the need for genetic modification.
If successfully developed and widely adopted, the technology could boost crop yields, reduce dependence on synthetic fertilizers, lower farming costs, and support more environmentally sustainable agriculture.
According to Dr. Mahmud, the method is not intended to immediately replace conventional fertilizers but could significantly reduce their use while improving soil health.
He emphasized the need for interdisciplinary collaboration among scientists, policymakers, and agricultural stakeholders to further develop and deploy the technology.
If fully realized, the “air-to-fertilizer” concept could mark a major step toward improving crop productivity and sustainability, particularly in countries like Nigeria where farmers face rising fertilizer costs and declining soil fertility.
