Enhancing Crop Productivity with Biofertilizers: Exploring Multifunctional Benefits
Sibananda Darjee
Division of Environment Science, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi-110012, India.
Gunturi Alekhya
Division of Agronomy, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi-110012, India.
Sudarshan S
Division of Agronomy, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi-110012, India.
Smruti Ranjan Padhan
Division of Agronomy, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi-110012, India and KVK-East Sikkim, ICAR-Research Complex for NEH Region, Gangtok -737135 India.
Gundreddy Rajareddy
Division of Entomology, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi-110012, India.
Moumita Baishya
The Graduate School, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi-110012, India.
Amit Kumar Dash *
ICAR-Indian Institute of Seed Science, Mau-275103, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The increasing demand for food production, combined with the environmental degradation caused by conventional farming practices, has prompted a shift towards sustainable agriculture. Biofertilizers, consisting of living microorganisms such as nitrogen-fixing bacteria, phosphate-solubilizing bacteria, and mycorrhizal fungi, offer a promising solution to enhance crop productivity while minimizing environmental impacts. This article explores the multifunctional benefits of biofertilizers, including their role in nutrient supplementation, soil structure improvement, disease suppression, and abiotic stress tolerance. Biofertilizers contribute to sustainable farming by improving nutrient availability, enhancing soil health, and promoting plant resilience to environmental stresses. The integration of biofertilizers into agricultural practices represents a crucial step towards achieving sustainable crop production, restoring soil health, and securing food systems for future generations.
Keywords: Biofertilizers, productivity, symbiosis, solubilizers