Rhizobia are biological nitrogen‐fixing nonpathogenic microorganisms that make inert nitrogen available to legumes establishing symbiosis, living in nodules to promote growth. Livestock farmers use antibiotics without prescriptions to prevent losses, death and economic wastes, resulting in indiscriminate release of excess, unutilized antibiotics into the environment causing detrimental effects to soil microbes particularly rhizobia. This study evaluates the susceptibility pattern of selected rhizobia strains. The intrinsic antibiotic resistance (IAR) ability of common rhizobia strains including FA3, B574, RS15, USDA136, USDA9032, R25B, 532C, CC511, RANI22 and RAUG1 was investigated. The antibiotics used included ceftazidime, florfenicol, cefpodoxime, sulphamethoxazole, ciprofloxacin, gentamycin, kanamycin, ertapenem, tetracycline, meropenem and carbapenem. Strains showed highest resistance to carbapenem but were generally susceptible to ciprofloxacin, tetracycline, kanamycin and gentamycin. Rani 22 showed most resistant. Most strains showed no resistance to these antibiotics, but those with resistance abilities are of significance and can be used for recovering antibiotics contaminated sites, providing potential solutions for futuristic problems associated with AMR. This study suggests using a consortium of symbiotic rhizobia strains as a strategy to achieve optimal yields in antibiotic contaminated fields, since strains showed different susceptibility pattern. Also, the antibiotics produced active compounds/substances detrimental for rhizobia’s growth potentially hindering their activities as plant growth promoting bacteria, when applied as inoculant during agricultural practises. Antibiotics are therefore of major agricultural concern posing major threats by promoting poor plant growths, productivity and yields despite the use of rhizobia as plant growth enhancers.

Bambara groundnut (BG) (Vigna subterranean L. verdc) is a highly nutritious underutilized leguminous crop of African origin with high economic importance. Its production rate (300,000 metric tonnes/year) does not meet the current demand (800,000 metric tonnes/year). Despite it’s useful properties, it has remained neglected, with poor market and low yields because research about improving BG has been neglected. rhizobia have proved to be useful in promoting the growth of legumes, yet, there is unavailable information about the role of indigenous BG-symbiont rhizobia inoculant (which are better affordable alternatives to chemical fertilizers) for increasing BG yield and this needs to be explored, hence this study. This experiment studied the role six rhizobial strains in improving the biomass and plant vigour of two selected varieties of BG (TVSU 1248, TVSU 631). These strains were applied as inoculant (at concentrations of > 0.85 × 10¹⁰ cfu/ml) on field compared alongside commercial USDA110 strains and Urea (rates of 60 kg/ha and 20 kg/ha) treated plants and analysed for biomass of shoot, root, shaft and seed, and moisture etc. Rhizobia significantly influenced the shoot biomass (≥ 19.26 g), (79.81 ± 1.81 g and 63.15 ± 3.21 g), root biomass (≥ 0.63 g), pod biomass (≥ 155.3 g), seed biomass (≥ 103.96 g), shaff biomass (≥ 52.29 g) and moisture content of the plants, with differences in varietal response. Indigenous BG-symbiotic strains are able to significantly influence plant vigour and biomass, promoting the growth and health of BG. Rhizobia, proved to be useful for enhancing the plant biomass, vigour and growth and should be recommended for improving the production of BG for higher yield and productivity.

Nitrogen fixation plays a critical role in enhancing carbon sequestration, particularly in terrestrial ecosystems where plant productivity and microbial processes are tightly linked to nitrogen availability. Biological nitrogen fixation (BNF), carried out by free-living and symbiotic microorganisms such as Rhizobium, Nitrobacter, Nitrosomonas, Frankia, and cyanobacteria, converts atmospheric nitrogen (N₂) into bioavailable forms, supporting plant growth in nitrogen-limited soils. Enhanced plant biomass from increased nitrogen input translates into greater carbon dioxide (CO₂) uptake through photosynthesis and more carbon allocated to root systems and soil organic matter. Legume-based systems, through their symbiotic nitrogen-fixing capacity, not only reduce dependency on synthetic fertilizers but also foster increased soil carbon stocks via root exudates and litter deposition. In grasslands, forests, and agroecosystems, the coupling of nitrogen fixation and carbon inputs can improve soil structure, microbial activity, and long-term carbon storage. Moreover, BNF can influence soil carbon dynamics by altering microbial decomposition rates and the stabilization of organic matter through nitrogen-rich compounds. However, the efficiency of this process depends on multiple factors including plant species, soil type, microbial community composition, and environmental conditions. Integrating nitrogen-fixing species into sustainable land management strategies—such as agroforestry, cover cropping, and reforestation—can significantly enhance carbon sequestration while restoring soil fertility. Understanding and leveraging the synergies between nitrogen fixation and carbon storage is therefore vital for climate change mitigation, soil health, and ecosystem resilience. Ongoing research into optimizing BNF in various ecosystems offers a promising avenue to maximize carbon sequestration benefits in the face of global environmental challenges.

Plant conciousness is a scenario where people imbibe the culture of engaging plants as a constant part of their day to day activity. The earth supports both plants and animals, but , plants unlike animals are unable to express themselves by shouting, nagging or crying, e.t.c. They are only able to response saliently thus making them oblivious and constantly neglected. Unfortunately, plants play just as much major roles in sustaining the earth as much as people and animals do. The proper handling of plants is much reliant on the ‘’Plant consciousness or obliviousness’’ of people including both the young and the old. Are people well aware of plants, how important they are to the earth, the environment and it sustenance?, the answer is not enough. There is a need for plant knowledge bridges to create more and adequate awareness about plants, their importance, how they should be handled, how they should be cared for, and an understanding that they are partners for the sustaining our dying world. We seek to change this obvious lack of appreciation and understanding of plants, but how can this be done? We discuss methodologies that have and can been used for bridging this knowledge gap to ensure that our world is safe by protecting and caring for plants.

Rhizobia are biological nitrogen fixing non-pathogenic micro-organisms that make inert nitrogen available to legumes establishing symbiosis and living within their nodules and promoting their growth. Livestock farmers use antibiotics without prescriptions to prevent losses, death and economic wastes, resulting in indiscriminate release of excess, un-utilized antibiotics into the environment causing detrimental effects to soil microbes particularly rhizobia.This study evaluates the susceptibility pattern of selected rhizobia strains. The intrinsic antibiotic resistance (IAR) ability of common rhizobia strains including FA3, B574, RS15, USDA136, USDA9032, R25B, 532C, CC511, RANI22, RAUG1 were investigated. The antibiotics used included Ceftazamine , Florfenicol , Cefpodoxime, Sulphamethoxazole, Ciprofloxacin, Gentamycin , Kanamycin, Ertapenem, Tetracycline , Meropenem and Carbapenem. Results showed different resistance patterns among isolates where high resistance was shown against Carbapenem and least resistance was shown against Ciprofloxacin (40mm), Tetracycline (33mm), kanamycin (45mm) and Gentamycin (50mm). Rani 22 showed most resistant. Most strains showed no resistance to these antibiotics, but it is significant to note that those with resistance can be used for the recovery of antibiotics contaminated sites and may provide potential solutions for futuristic problems associated with AMR.This study suggests that using a consortium of symbiotic rhizobia strains is a strategy to achieve optimal yields in antibiotic contaminated fields as the strains showed differences in their susceptibility pattern. Also, the antibiotics produced or contained active compounds and substances that are detrimental for the growth of rhizobia and may therefore be a hindrance to these plant growth promoting bacteria when they are applied to aid plant growth used during agricultural practises.

An increasing need for better agricultural practices that are sustainable to provide increased yields of crops for the ever increasing food demand to be met for the growing world population is a current necessity. It is estimated by the UN that in 2050 the world’s populace may be as much as 9.8 billion global, yet, farmers still face several obstacles, which includes soil degradation, extreme temperatures, and drought which as increasingly becoming more severe with climate changes. Plant health monitoring is a method that will help to increase awareness about plant enhancing by studying how to increase crop yields while decreasing the environmental impacts. The use of low-cost, controlled environments, soil quality, water levels, and pathogenic and pests attacks can be regularly monitored. Currently, several diagnostic technologies and portable point-of-use methods and technologies are employed for detection of diseases, although, the current available lab-based methods used for plant’s diagnostics test are inadequate for plant point-of-use monitoring. The promotion of use of these point of use methods will enable pathogen detection, poor plant growth, unsuitable environmental conditions and nutrient use efficiency allowing for immediate and timely corrective actions to ensure minimal damage to the plants with maximal yield. Increase in the use of sustainable agri practices are required for ensuring higher yields with minimal inputs and that are non-destructive to the land and the use of improved methodologies and technologies will be useful tools for achieving sustainable agriculture.