Numerous anthropogenic activities, such as novel agricultural practices, coal
mining, industrial pollution, etc., pose a negative impact on the environment. Such
factors cause the accumulation of different pollutants within the ecosystem, ultimately
hampering the plants as well as animals. However, plants possess a series of
physiological as well as molecular mechanisms for defense and resistance. The global
population has posed a significant food challenge, therefore, to ensure food security,
soil nutrition, agricultural productivity as well as fertility, different sustainable aspects
should be kept in mind. Chemical fertilizers dilapidate the ecological balance along
with human health, henceforth the microflora present in the rhizosphere acts as
quintessential elements. Microbes such as plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria and
mycorrhizae have been formulated as biofertilizers in agriculture that enhance their
nutrient uptake as well as yield, along with providing resistance against different
stressors. Biofertilizers have been shown to provide a positive outcome for plants,
therefore, an array of microbial strains have been selected and formulated to be used in
the agricultural sector. These are based on rhizobacterial species, endophytes, and
mycorrhizae. Regardless of the challenges observed in the production, usage, and
application, these have been proven to be the exclusive alternatives for chemical-based
fertilizers. Therefore, their elaborate understanding will offer new approaches to
sustainable agriculture. Biofertilizers not only boost crop yield and soil fertility but also
interact with plants to trigger their immune systems, physiological processes, growth,
and development. They also enable solubilization of essential nutrients such as
nitrogen, phosphorous, zinc, potassium, and silica that promote plant growth. Most
importantly, they are cost-effective, toxin-free, eco-friendly, and serve as the best
alternative for chemical fertilizers. In this chapter, we have highlighted the microbial dynamics within the rhizospheric zone and its significance in agriculture by its usage as
biofertilizers for sustainable crop production.
Keywords: Biofertilizers, Formulation, Microbiome, Mycorrhizae, Rhizosphere, Rhizobacteria.
