Potential of microalgae and cyanobacteria to improve soil health and agricultural productivity: a critical view

Abstract

Microalgae and cyanobacteria are a source of scientific curiosity and inspiration for their utilization as ‘inoculants’ in agriculture and the commercial production of high-value products. Their diversity and abundance in...

A critical review of soil algae as a crucial soil biological component of high ecological and economic significance

“…Many reports are available in the current literature on the specific roles of algae in improving soil nutrient content and soil stabilization (Alvarez et al, 2021;Hu et al, 2002;Pushkareva et al, 2016). For example, diazotrophic cyanobacteria in soils have been shown to contribute to soil nitrogen content (Vaishampayan et al, 2001) and form associations with the angiosperm Gunnera sp., many Cycads, Pteridophytes, and Bryophytes (Gaysina et al, 2019;Rai et al, 2000). However, the possibility of inducing such associations in crops has not yet been explored, and these associations require further study.…”

“…Many Cyanophycean algae have been shown to fix atmospheric nitrogen, contributing to soil fertility (Gaysina et al, 2019). Symbiotic association of algae in the roots of terrestrial (Gaysina et al, 2019;Pecundo et al, 2021;Rai et al, 2000) and aquatic (Gaysina et al, 2019;Rai et al, 2000) plants are well known. Cyanobacterial species are already used as biofertilizers (Ammar et al, 2022;Chatterjee et al, 2017), especially in wetland paddy agriculture (Vaishampayan et al, 2001).…”

“…This review has concentrated on terrestrial algae (algae of soil and subaerial environments), and the literature on algae of the wetland paddy soils is not emphasized. Algae of wetland paddy fields is an already well‐explored theme (Chatterjee et al., 2017; Kaushik et al., 2019; Ramakrishnan et al., 2023; Vijayan & Ray, 2015), and such algae are primarily aquatic (Komal et al., 2021; Vijayan & Ray, 2015).…”

Prospects of 2D graphene nanomaterials in plant-based agriculture and their fate in terrestrial soil: a critical review

“…Along with the use as biofertilizers, eukaryotic algae (e.g., green algae) and prokaryotic cyanobacteria are naturally abundant in agricultural soils. 72 These photosynthetic microorganisms can have a positive effect on soil structure, such as by improving soil aggregation and water holding capacity, increasing soil fertility, through carbon and nitrogen fixation, improving nutrient cycling such as the P cycle, or by acting as plant biostimulants. 72 With their beneficial characteristics it is necessary to address how GNM application will alter these communities.…”

“…72 These photosynthetic microorganisms can have a positive effect on soil structure, such as by improving soil aggregation and water holding capacity, increasing soil fertility, through carbon and nitrogen fixation, improving nutrient cycling such as the P cycle, or by acting as plant biostimulants. 72 With their beneficial characteristics it is necessary to address how GNM application will alter these communities. However, as noted with bacteria, current knowledge regarding GNM impact is based on toxicity studies carried out in pure growth media (Table S1.3 †).…”