Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.

Sci (2018) 7(5): 800-804

International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences

ISSN: 2319-7706 Volume 7 Number 05 (2018)
Journal homepage: http://www.ijcmas.com

Review Article https://doi.org/10.20546/ijcmas.2018.705.097

Microbial Inoculants for Sustainable Agriculture

Aarti Yadav*

Department Microbiology, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar - 125004, India

*Corresponding author

ABSTRACT

Keywords
Biofertilizer, Expanding utilization of chemical fertilizers in farming make nation self-ward in food
Bioinoculants, Chemical production for generation however it deteriorate condition and cause destructive effects on
fertilizer and
Microorganism living beings. Overuse of chemical fertilizers in farming is exorbitant and has different
adverse effects on soil richness. Further, soil microorganisms assume an essential part in
Article Info the plant development and improvement by different means viz. nitrogen fixation,
phosphate solubilisation, phytohormone generation and so forth. Hence, bio-inoculants for
Accepted:
07 April 2018 farming purpose i.e. biofertilizers could be a superior other option to chemical fertilizer for
Available Online: agriculture and also for environment sustainability.
10 May 2018

Introduction Moreover, their multiplication can be

controlled by the plant and indigenous
Soil microorganisms are critical part of microorganisms. In addition, microbial
sustainable agriculture and soil biodiversity inoculants have faster decay systems and are
framework. They play a vital part in the plant less inclined to incite protection by the
development and growth. In recent years, it is pathogens and bugs. Bio-inoculants for
being seen that over application of synthetic agriculture reason are called bio-fertilizers.
fertilizers and pesticides which fall apart soil Very often, microorganisms are not as
fertility as well as make few ecological efficient in natural surroundings as one would
effects. Beneficial microorganisms offer the expect them to be and therefore, artificially
possibility to meet our farming needs and in multiplied cultures of efficient selected
this manner, are better options for maintaining microorganisms play a vital role in
soil health and as an important part of accelerating the microbial processes in soil.
integrated nutrient management for Use of biofertilizers in the form of liquid
sustainable agricultural practice. When microbial consortia is one of the important
contrasted with the synthetic fertilizers, components of integrated nutrient
biofertilizers are more secure with diminished management as these are cost effective and
ecological harm, has more focused on renewable source of plant nutrients to
movement and compelling in littler amounts. supplement the chemical fertilizers for

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sustainable agriculture. “Biofertilizers are microorganisms), "the terrible" (plant

defined as preparations containing living cells pathogens) and "the appalling" (human
or latent cells of efficient strains of pathogens). Through different mechanisms
microorganisms that help crop plants in uptake plant beneficial microorganisms enhance their
of nutrients by their interactions in the growth and development as well as shield
rhizosphere when applied through seed or soil. them from pathogen. PGPRs can stimulate
They accelerate certain microbial processes in plant's development either directly or
the soil which augment the extent of indirectly.
availability of nutrients in a form easily
assimilated by plants” Biofertilizers include: Coordinated mechanisms involve the synthesis
nitrogen fixing biofertilizers (Rhizobium, of substances like phytohormones, release of
Bradyrhizobium, Azospirillum and nutrients and induction of induced systemic
Azotobacter), phosphate solubilizing resistance. Several Phosphate (P) solubilizing
biofertilizers (PSB) (Bacillus, Pseudomonas, microbes (PSB) viz. Xanthomonas sp.
Aspergillus etc.), phosphate mobilizing Pseudomonas sp., Pseudomonas striata,
biofertilizers (Mycorrhiza), plant growth Rhizobium japonicum, R. leguminosarum,
promoting biofertilizers, potassium Azotobacter chroococcum, Enterobacter
solubilizing bacteria, solubilizing bacteria and aerogens, Burkholderia cepacia and some
so on, however some of these genera diazotrops. Different PGPR and their mode of
incorporate endophytic species too. The best- action are listed in table 1. Moreover, indirect
described endophytic microbes incorporate mechanisms include induction of of symbiotic
Azoarcus spp, Gluconaceto bacter relationships for root development and
diazotrophicus and Herbaspirillum biocontrol potential. In many cases various
seropedicae and so on. The utilization of systems are involved to maintain beneficial
biofertilizer is well beneath its maximum plant microbial associations (Nihorimbere et
potential, fundamentally due to non- al., 2011). Therefore, in present scenario the
accessibility of suitable inoculants. In this identification of the mechanisms responsible
way, additionally studies on bioinoculants and of plant development and growth is a big
their exploration will definitely help to challenge.
comprehend the complexity and dynamism of
microbial functioning and their compatibility PGPR under abiotic stress
in soils.
It has been expected that the rhizosphere
Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria microbial groups adds to the capacity of some
plant species to get by under outrageous
The rhizosphere, the zone encompassing and condition (Mendes et al., 2013). For instance,
influenced by plant roots, is a problem area for halo-tolerant microorganisms flourish under
a few life forms and a standout amongst the salt-stretch conditions and help in promoting
most composite biological communities on plant growth and development (Jorquera et al.,
Earth (Mendes et al., 2013). The rhizosphere 2012). Upadhyay et al., (2009) demonstrated
is the natural surroundings for a few the capacity of creating indole-3-acidic
microscopic organisms, archaea, parasites, corrosive, P-solubilization, siderophores
green growth, infections, oomycetes, generation and N2 fixation. By 24 halo-
nematodes, arthropods and protozoa. Mendes tolerant microbes isolated from the
et al., (2013) explained the rhizosphere rhizosphere of wheat plants developed in a
microbiome as far as "the great" (beneficial saline zone.

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Table.1 Mode of action of PGPR

ORGANISM Mode of action Example Refernces

Reduce N2 to Rhizobia, Frankia, Kumar et al.,
Rhizobia NH3 Azospirillum 2014; Suyal et
(NITROGEN Pseudomonas al., 2014
FIXATION)
Azotobacter Produced Azotobacter DeLuca et al.,
Diazotrophs ammonia, chroococcum, 1996; Verma et
vitamins, growth A. vinelandii, al., 2001
substances, A. beijerinckii,
indole acetic A. paspali,
acid, gibberllins, A. armeniacus,
cytokinins A. nigricans
A. salinestri
Acetobacter N2 fixation, Acetobacter, Suyal et al.,
production of Gluconacetobacter, 2014
plant growth- Gluconobacter,
promoting Acidomonas
substances
Pseudomonas Plant growth P. jesenii Kumar et al.,
promotion P. migulae 2014
activities
Phosphate Phosphate Solubilize Pseudomonas, Rani et al., 2013
solubilizing solubilizing inorganic Bacillus,
microorganisms bacteria (PSB) phosphates Arthrobacter,
Rhodococcus,
Serratia,
Gordonia,
Phyllobacterium
Mycorrhiza Mycorrhiza Soil exploration Glomeromycota Mallik, 2000
Arbuscular and increasing
mycorrhizal uptake and
fungi (AMF), supply of N, P,
K, Zn, Cu, S, Fe,
Ca, Mg and Mn
to the host roots

There is great interest in agriculture and 13). Other abiotic factors that may badly
horticulture for bacterial and fungal affect plant growth are pH and high
inoculants that enhance growth of plants concentrations of toxic compounds. Low pH
under low temperature (Mendes et al., 2013). soils or contaminated soils are main
For example, Burkholderia phytofirmans challenges in many production systems
PsJN increased grapevine root growth and worldwide. Kawasaki et al., (2012) used a
physiological activity at 4 °C (Mendes et al., split-root model and a combination of T-

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RFLP, DGGE, and 16SrRNA gene pyro due to their importance as opportunistic
sequencing and showed that Trifolium and pathogens (Mendes et al., 2013). These
other legumes respond to polycyclic aromatic microbial inoculants are available in both
hydrocarbons contamination in a systemic form liquid and with solid carriers.
manner. Similarly, Rani et al., (2013)
explored cadmium (Cd) resistant P. putida Other than promoting plant growth and
710A for Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek plant development, bioinoculants can mitigate both
growth promotion and metal sequestering in biotic and abiotic stress on crops, in this way,
Cd polluted soils. Also, fungi play an giving an ecological safe option for
important role in rhizo remediation, for sustainable development. However, effective
example, inoculation of the endophytic usage of microbial bioinoculants is depends
fungus Lewia sp. in the rhizosphere of on time span of usability or shelflife,
Festuca arundinacea (Cruz-Hernandez et al., variability in environment, diverse plants
2012). species and soil form or health. Besides, the
irregularity of bio-inoculant execution and
Bioinoculants as biofertilizers absence of free approval does little to
fabricate confidence in their efficacy. In this
In last few years, Rhizobia, constituting about way, more rudimentary information is
79 % of the global demand of bio-inoculants, required about microbial response, their
Phosphate-solubilizing bioinoculants interaction with both biotic and abiotic factors
comprise 15 %, with other bio-inoculants and for sustainable agriculture maintainable
(Transparency Market Research, 2014; Owen horticulture.
et al., 2014). Due to the wide application of
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How to cite this article:

Aarti Yadav. 2018. Microbial Inoculants for Sustainable Agriculture.

Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci. 7(05): 800-804. doi: https://doi.org/10.20546/ijcmas.2018.705.097

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