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Microbes as Biofertilizers, a Potential Approach for Sustainable Crop Production

Author

Listed:
  • Shaista Nosheen

    (Colin Ratledge Center for Microbial Lipids, School of Agricultural Engineering and Food Science, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo 255000, China)

  • Iqra Ajmal

    (Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China)

  • Yuanda Song

    (Colin Ratledge Center for Microbial Lipids, School of Agricultural Engineering and Food Science, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo 255000, China)

Abstract

Continuous decline of earth’s natural resources and increased use of hazardous chemical fertilizers pose a great concern for the future of agriculture. Biofertilizers are a promising alternative to hazardous chemical fertilizers and are gaining importance for attaining sustainable agriculture. Biofertilizers play a key role in increasing crop yield and maintaining long-term soil fertility, which is essential for meeting global food demand. Microbes can interact with the crop plants and enhance their immunity, growth, and development. Nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, zinc, and silica are the essential nutrients required for the proper growth of crops, but these nutrients are naturally present in insolubilized or complex forms. Certain microorganisms render them soluble and make them available to the plants. The potential microbes, their mode of action, along with their effect on crops, are discussed in this review. Biofertilizers, being cost effective, non-toxic, and eco-friendly, serve as a good substitute for expensive and harmful chemical fertilizers. The knowledge gained from this review can help us to understand the importance of microbes in agriculture and the ways to formulate these microbes as biofertilizers for sustainable crop production.

Suggested Citation

  • Shaista Nosheen & Iqra Ajmal & Yuanda Song, 2021. "Microbes as Biofertilizers, a Potential Approach for Sustainable Crop Production," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-20, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:4:p:1868-:d:496109
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    4. Niño Paul Meynard Banayo & Pompe C. Sta. Cruz & Edna A. Aguilar & Rodrigo B. Badayos & Stephan M. Haefele, 2012. "Evaluation of Biofertilizers in Irrigated Rice: Effects on Grain Yield at Different Fertilizer Rates," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 2(1), pages 1-14, March.
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    Cited by:

    1. Nurul Solehah Mohd Zaini & Abedelazeez J.D. Khudair & Aliah Zannierah Mohsin & Elicia Jitming Lim & Wakisaka Minato & Hamidah Idris & Jamilah Syafawati Yaacob & Muhamad Hafiz Abd Rahim, 2023. "Biotransformation of food waste into biofertilisers through composting and anaerobic digestion: a review," Plant, Soil and Environment, Czech Academy of Agricultural Sciences, vol. 69(9), pages 409-420.
    2. Nasser Al-Suhaibani & Mostafa Selim & Ali Alderfasi & Salah El-Hendawy, 2021. "Integrated Application of Composted Agricultural Wastes, Chemical Fertilizers and Biofertilizers as an Avenue to Promote Growth, Yield and Quality of Maize in an Arid Agro-Ecosystem," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(13), pages 1-26, July.
    3. Wang, Yongqiang & Huang, Donghua & Sun, Kexin & Shen, Hongzheng & Xing, Xuguang & Liu, Xiao & Ma, Xiaoyi, 2023. "Multiobjective optimization of regional irrigation and nitrogen schedules by using the CERES-Maize model with crop parameters determined from the remotely sensed leaf area index," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 286(C).

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