Soil Microbiology

Overall Objective

The Soil Microbiology Research Unit sits under the Soil & Water Management Division. It develops soil microbiology solutions that improve soil fertility and raise productivity for small-scale farmers. Work focuses on legume–rhizobium partnerships, practical inoculants that perform in local soils, and field methods that deliver reliable nodulation and yield gains. The team links lab work to on-farm trials, turning results into clear, step-by-step recommendations farmers and extension staff can use. Collaboration with breeders, seed companies, and extension services helps proven technologies reach farmers quickly and affordably.

Day to day, the unit selects and maintains effective rhizobium strains, produces and checks inoculant quality (viable count, purity, shelf-life), and designs simple seed-coating and handling guides so farmers get good nodulation in the field. It also evaluates other helpful microbes (e.g., plant growth–promoting bacteria and mycorrhizae), looks at how organic inputs (manure, compost, residues) break down, and tracks basic soil health indicators linked to biology.

The aim is reliable gains—healthy soils, better legumes, and more consistent yields—with tools and advice that are practical, affordable, and easy to follow.

Biological Nitrogen Fixation (BNF) Research

This involves identifying, isolating, characterising, and multiplying effective rhizobium strains for key legumes.
Work includes collecting local strains from soils and nodules, confirming identity and effectiveness in the lab and greenhouse, and running side-by-side field trials across soil types and seasons. Strains are tested for compatibility with common varieties, and for tolerance to acidity, heat, and drought under farmer practices. Promising strains are multiplied and paired with suitable carriers, with quality checks for purity, viable count, and shelf-life. Outputs are simple, field-ready recommendations on inoculant choice, seed coating, planting, and fertiliser top-ups—aimed at reliable nodulation, higher yields, and reduced mineral nitrogen use.

Inoculant R&D and Production

Develop and test legume inoculants suited to local soils and farming systems; includes the NitroZam soybean inoculant.
Work covers the full pipeline: selecting high-performing rhizobium strains, choosing and sterilising a suitable carrier, and refining the formulation for easy seed coating and strong field performance. Each batch is quality-checked for purity, viable cell count, and shelf-life, then packaged with clear, farmer-friendly instructions on storage, handling, and use.

Mycotoxin Testing

Practical lab services for maize and groundnuts/products to support food safety and breeding decisions.
Samples are screened for key toxins (e.g., aflatoxins) using reliable laboratory methods, with confirmatory analysis where needed. The service includes simple sampling instructions, clear reporting against national and international limits, and easy guidance on what to do if levels are high—better drying, sorting, cleaning, and storage steps, plus advice on resistant varieties and field practices that lower risk. For breeding and research, results are turned into quick summaries that help compare lines, sites, and seasons, so safer, better-performing grain moves forward.

Nutritional Quality Testing

Measure carotenoids/pro-vitamin A in maize and other carotenoid-rich crops using modern LC-MS/HPLC methods, with clear, easy-to-use reports.
Samples are processed under controlled light/temperature to protect pigments, then quantified for total carotenoids and key fractions (e.g., β-carotene). Results come with simple units (µg/g), traffic-light ratings, and brief notes on what the numbers mean for biofortification targets, variety selection, and post-harvest handling. Support includes easy sampling instructions, quick turn-around options, and side-by-side summaries to compare lines, sites, and seasons—so breeders, seed companies, and processors can make confident, data-driven choices.