Shelf-life of Biofertilizers: An Accord between Formulations and Genetics

Abstract

To meet the steady demand of food supply, application of fertilizer is indispensable in modern agriculture. Role of fertilizers has already been proven by many countries with green revolution and by attaining food self-sufficiency within short period of time. Actually, application of synthetic/chemical fertilizers not only supplies essential nutrients to food crops but also provides them in an easily available manner. Therefore, these fertilizers can quickly enhance the growth and productivity of food crops and are quick to gain popularity. However, extensive use of such fertilizer leads to serious environmental concerns. Nitrate leaching and surface/ground water pollution due to increased use of fertilizer is directly related to human health problems. Similarly, freshwater contamination by chemical fertilizer/fertilizer residue is one of the major causes of eutrophication. Likewise, increased greenhouse gas emission as well as heavy metal uptake and accumulation by food crop could be considered as other environmental problems emerged due to synthetic fertilizers [1]. Moreover, chemical fertilizer could eliminate the beneficial microbial as well as insect community of soil. Alternatively, many of these problems can be surmounted by utilization of biofertilizers. It may not be a realistic idea to completely replace the chemical fertilizers by biofertilizer; however, biofertilizers have the potential to supplement the synthetic fertilizers and to significantly reduce its use