Application of Biofertilizers in crop production: A review

Abstract

Nutritious foods are needed for the continuously growing population together with the nutrient for plant growth and production. Inorganic chemical-based fertilizers have been base and are used heavily in today’s soil management procedures, posing serious health and environmental concern. Biofertilizer has been recognized as a reasonable solution for improving soil fertility and crop output in sustainable farming. The use of beneficial microorganisms as biofertilizers has escalated its importance in the agricultural industry due to its potential significance in food safety and sustainable crop production. Biofertilizers can be a valuable component of a comprehensive nutrient management strategy. Overall, nitrogen fixers (N-fixers), potassium and phosphorus solubilizers, growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), endo and ectomycorrhizal fungi, cyanobacteria, and other beneficial microscopic organisms are incorporated into biofertilizers. Utilizing bio-fertilizers, enhance nutrient and water uptake, plant development, and plant tolerance to abiotic and biotic impacts. These prospective biological fertilizers would play a essential role in soil production and sustainability and also in environmental protection, being eco-friendly and cost-effective inputs for farmers.

Biofertilizers: A Sustainable Strategy for Organic Farming That Would Increase Crop Production and Soil Health

“…The process of conversion of atmospheric nitrogen by various nitrogenfixing living microorganism which is prokaryotic to the organic compounds that are available to plants is biological nitrogen fixation and the fertilizers which are made from living microorganism that helps in nitrogen fixation in the soil known as Nitrogen Fixing Biofertilizers (Bhat et al, 2015). According to prior research by, The diverse nitrogen-fixing bacteria are divided by them into several groups, including free-living bacteria (Azotobacter and Azospirillum, blue-green algae) and symbiotic bacteria (Rhizobium, Frankia, and Azolla) (Sharma et al, 2022).…”

“…Rhizobium is considered as most important atmospheric nitrogen-fixing bacteria that fall under the family Rhizobiaceae, showing symbiotic relation with various leguminous and non-leguminous like Parasponia plants (Bhat et al, 2015), which can fix about 300kg N per hectare per year in various legumes and non-legumes crops (Sharma et al, 2022;Sharma et al, 2022). With the help of good cultivation operation, an optimum amount of Nitrogen can be maintained in leguminous plants by the application of Rhizobium in the soil.…”

“…These function by releasing hormones and anti-metabolites that encourage root development, the breakdown of organic matter that aids in soil mineralization, increasing nutrient availability, and enhancing crop output (Itelima et al, 2018). Auxins, Indole acetic acid, ethylene, gibberellin, and other phytohormones that increase seed germination, soil fertility, and plant tolerance to drought, salt, and biotic stress are some of the phytohormones they produce, which they use to encourage growth (Sharma et al, 2022).…”

“…), Arbuscular Mycorrhiza (AM) fungus, nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria (Anabaena), nitrogen-fixing soil bacteria (Azotobacter and Rhizobium), and nitrogenfixing cyanobacteria (Anabaena). Cellulolytic bacteria and microorganisms that generate the phytohormone (auxin) and the cellulase, as well as cellulolytic enzymes, are also included in biofertilizer formulations (Sharma et al, 2022). Biofertilizers are distinct from both inorganic and organic inputs since they do not apply any type of nutrient directly to plants and instead create a formulation of a particular type of microbe, including fungus, actinomycetes, bacteria, and algae and the production process is simple, and their installation cost is very cheap as compared to inorganic plant sources (Singh Parmar et al, 2018).…”

“…It makes using biofertilizers easier and significantly increases the product's shelf life because it is contained in an appropriate carrier, like lignite or peat (Ritika and Utpal, 2014). Manure, intercrop, green manure, or organically supplemented chemical fertilizers are not the same as biofertilizers (Sharma et al, 2022) which are also simply known as bio formulations (Kumar Arora, 2014). Understanding biofertilizers, their needs and varieties, and their function in organic agriculture is the primary goal of this research.…”