Soil Microbes for Securing the Future of Sustainable Farming
Sanjay Swami
Abstract
Chemo-centric technological advancement during green revolution period boosted the production potential of our nation. However, over a period of time, this production system has started exhibiting its carrying capacity as reflected by production plateau in green revolution belts. In this context, exploiting the agro-ecosystem services of soil microbial communities appears to be a promising effective approach. This paper reviews the research efforts aimed at improving a sustainable and healthy agricultural production through the appropriate management of soil microorganisms. It deals with the potential microorganisms that can be used as biofertilizers viz. Rhizobia, Azotobacters and Azospirillum, Phosphate-Solubilizing Bacteria (PSB), Vesicular Arbuscular Mycorrhiza (VAM) and Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) along with their functions and inoculation techniques; beneficial microbes, mechanism of action and their significance in securing the future of sustainable farming.