Microbes in crop production: Formulation and application

Abstract

Agriculture depends upon expensive inputs of pesticides and chemical fertilizers to increase crop yields. This dependence on agrochemicals poses risks to human and environmental health such as disruption of nutrient cycling and demolition of beneficial microbial communities for higher crop production. Over the last decade, soil microbes have been widely exploited to enhance the crop production and plant and soil health management. The higher crop yields are reported after inoculation with plant growth-promoting microbes (PGPM). The PGPM signify as an effective and promising way to improve quality food production without environmental or human health hazard. This chapter will explore the current research and trends in microbial exploitation in growth promotion of different agricultural crops. We further discuss the key mechanisms underlying growth promotion and technological advances in bioformulation development to increase shelf life. Recent uses, development, and application of microbial formulation for managing a sustainable environmental system are also discussed.