A new study reveals that vitamin C production byproducts, traditionally considered waste, may hold the key to boosting cotton growth on saline-alkali soils. Research from the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Applied Ecology (IAE) has demonstrated that the combination of these byproducts—fermentation residue after extraction (RAE) and a concentrated Bacillus endophyticus bacterial solution (CBS)—can enhance soil health, improve cotton germination, and increase plant resilience in challenging soil conditions.

Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.), a globally significant crop, faces severe challenges in saline-alkali soils, which hinder seed germination and reduce yield. This study addresses the problem by using CBS as a microbial coating for cotton seeds, observing significant soil quality improvements and growth benefits for cotton.

The researchers proposed that RAE functions as a “prebiotic,” energizing CBS to act as a “probiotic.” This “prebiotics-probiotics” strategy offers a sustainable solution for managing saline soils and valorizing vitamin C industry waste. 

This research paves the way for eco-friendly agricultural practices and sustainable waste management in the vitamin C industry.

Led by Dr. Gao Mingfu and Prof. XU Hui, the study, published in Industrial Crops and Products, demonstrated that the combination of RAE and CBS further enhanced these effects, increasing seed germination rates and biomass accumulation.