These tiny soil microbes could rescue crops from salty farmland

Salty soil has long been a barrier to farming in many regions, but researchers have discovered that beneficial bacteria might change that. According to ScienceDaily, the microbes don't block salt — instead, they trigger lignin production, a compound that strengthens root systems. Greenhouse and field tests showed the approach boosted plant health and crop yields even in salty conditions. If it scales, this could reclaim marginal farmland once considered too salty for agriculture.

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