Microbial biofilms and their role in sustainable agriculture and climate-smart farming

Abstract

Microbial biofilms are organised populations of microbes covered with a self-made extracellular polymeric matrix and are at the core of climate-smart farming and sustainable agriculture. Biofilms enhance soil health by stabilising soil structures, enhancing microbial diversity and promoting nutrient cycling and thereby naturally supporting plant growth and resilience. One way biofilm-forming plant growthpromoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) might be helping plants is by making them better able to take up nutrients through the solubilization of elements such as nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium; at the same time, they release phytohormones and compounds that alleviate stress to make plants resistant to abiotic stresses like salinity and drought. Root colonisation becomes more durable and pathogen biocontrol can be done more efficiently by biofilm matrices, which protect microorganisms from environmental stresses. Rhizospheric interactions exemplified by cross-kingdom biofilms with fungi are the most effective ways to exchange nutrients and enhance ecosystem resilience. The growth of stable biofilm communities and their microbial diversity can be supported by agricultural techniques such as the use of organic additives and conservation tillage. Recent developments emphasise the use of biofilm-based inoculants as biofertilizers, bio-stimulants and biocontrol agents in an effort to lower chemical inputs and greenhouse gas emissions in agroecosystems. More research and innovative applications like multi-strain consortia and biofilm-enhanced seed coating provide promising ways of harnessing microbial biofilms for increased agricultural productivity and soil quality, as well as environmental sustainability in the face of climate change.