Impact of application of biofertilizers on soil structure and resident microbial community structure and function

Abstract

Biofertilizers are believed to be an eco-friendly alternative to chemicals that have been used extensively in agriculture thereby contaminating the environment. The mechanism by which biofertilizers lead to positive effect on plant growth is not completely understood. Target effects of biofertilizers have been investigated before their field release to determine their efficacy. However, a largely ignored aspect in the development and release of biofertilizers has been studies on their impact on the indigenous microbial community. The introduction of biofertilizers, in numbers which largely exceed their normal populations, can change the microbial community structure and function in both positive and negative ways. It is, therefore, important to study the microbial ecology of resident microbial communities post biofertilizer application. A thorough understanding of the interactions between bioinoculants and other soil components would help in improvement of their survival and competitive ability in the rhizosphere of crops. The chapter primarily focuses in discussing the reports of impact of biofertilizers on soil structure and microbial community dynamics.