Utilization of native microbes to improve peanut productivity and minimize nitrogen fertilizer application

Native endophytic microorganisms (NEMs) significantly enhance plant growth, soil health, and crop productivity. This study assessed the individual and combined effects of Enterobacter mori cjy13 (strain cjy13) and Streptomyces globosus CAU 1564 (strain CAU 1564) on peanut growth, yield, quality, and their potential to reduce chemical nitrogen fertilizer (CNF) use. A two-factorial field experiment was designed to evaluate two NEM strains (cjy13 and CAU1564), both individually and in combination, in conjunction with three CNF application rates (0, 20, and 40 kg N/ha). Nine treatments were arranged in a randomized complete block design with four replications over two growing crops of 2024 (crop 1) and 2025 (crop 2) at An Giang University’s Agriculture Experiment Center. Results showed that 20 kg N/ha application of the CNF combined with strain cjy13 significantly improved soil fertility and key agronomic traits. This treatment yielded the highest fresh pod production, increasing by 46.5% in crop 1 and 41.6% in crop 2 compared to the control without CNF and microbial inoculation. Yields were consistently higher in the second crop, indicating accumulative benefits of microbial inoculation. These findings suggest that integrating NEMs, especially strain cjy13, with reduced CNF application can sustain peanut productivity and quality. Adoption of 20 kg N/ha application combined with microbial supplementation is recommended for sustainable yield improvement.