Is PGPR an alternative for NPK fertilizers in sustainable agriculture?

Abstract

Nowadays, because of environmental concerns, great importance has been given to the sustainability of the present agricultural practices. The current fertilizing methods have utilization efficiency problems; high amounts are lost in the environment and cause pollution. The efficiency of fertilizer use has to be improved or replaced, taking into consideration the global crisis of finite resources and environmental pollution. The synthetic input of NPK fertilizers can be reduced by using N-fixing, P, and K solubilizing rhizobacteria. Numerous bacterial strains were reported as having beneficial effects on crop plants, improving their nutritional status. Microbes contribute to plant nutrient acquisition due to their effect on nutrient fixation and mobilization without the depletion of natural resources. Bacterial inoculants based on single or multiple bacterial strains were successfully used in diverse crop plants. Formulations containing bacterial strains and soil minerals were proved to be efficient in P and K fertilization. By using the potential lying in rhizobacteria, the decrease in chemical fertilizer utilization can be achieved, meeting the goals of sustainable agriculture.