Researchers at the University of California, Davis, have found a way to reduce the amount of nitrogen fertilizers needed to grow cereal crops. The discovery could save farmers in the United States billions of dollars annually in fertilizer costs while also benefiting the environment.

Beneficial bacteria that could promote crop growth and reduce dependence on commercial fertilizers have been identified by an Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) research scientist.

A simple grass type could lay the groundwork for scientists exploring the relationship between crops and the nitrogen-fixing bacteria that provide them the nitrogen amount plants need daily.