The Role of Microbes to Improve Crop Productivity and Soil Health

Abstract

Soil microbes are the most important candidature for enhancing soil fertility and health. The plant growth promoting microbes and arbuscular mycorrhizae (AM) are used for enhancing plant growth and yields of agricultural crops under normal and stress conditions. It improves plant growth on various physiological parameters of plant in response to external stimuli by a number of different mechanisms. The mechanisms involved in growth promotion include plant growth regulators, production of different metabolites, and conversion of atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia, etc., by direct and indirect ways. In addition, it also provides resistance against biotic components (pathogens) through induced systemic resistance (ISR) and systemic acquired resistance (SAR). Plant microbe's interaction contributing in plant growth promotion and disease control under changing environment and enabling more sustainable agriculture without compromising ecosystem functioning. Plant growth regulators maintain beneficial plant-microbe interactions such as interaction between plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) and arbuscular fungi. The microbial diversity in rhizospheric soil maintains soil health and productivity. Thus, the inclusive use of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria helps to get sustainable agriculture production under normal as well stress condition. This review highlights an overview of the beneficial effect of microbes for enhancing sustainable agricultural production.