Beneficial Microorganisms for the Management of Soil Phosphorus

Abstract

The dependence of all life on phosphorus (P) availability has revealed serious P challenges such as the P deficiency in weathered and eroded soils, the high cost of phosphate fertilizers, the scarcity and unequal global distribution of rock phosphates, the regional over-accumulation of P and the agricultural non-point source P pollution. In this context, microorganisms capable of mobilizing P in the soil system may be applied as a low-cost technology to enhance plant growth and crop yields. Here we review the beneficial role of microorganisms, namely arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and P--mobilizing bacteria, to mediate P availability and transform legacy P (insoluble, bound) into soluble forms.