Biofertilizers For Sustainable Agriculture And Environment

This book provides a comprehensive overview of the benefits of biofertilizers as an alternative to chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Agricultural production has increased massively over the last century due to increased use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, but these gains have come at a price. The chemicals are not only expensive; they also reduce microbial activity in agricultural soils and accumulate in the food chain, with potentially harmful effects for humans. Accordingly, it is high time to explore alternatives and to find solutions to overcome our increasing dependence on these chemicals. Biofertilizers, which consist of plant remains, organic matter and microorganisms, might offer an alternative. They are natural, organic, biodegradable, eco-friendly and cost-effective. Further, the microbes present in the biofertilizers are important, because they produce nutrients required for plant growth (e.g., nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium), as well as substances essential for plant growth and development (e.g., auxins and cytokinins). Biofertilizers also improve the physical properties, fertility and productivity of soil, reducing the need for chemical fertilizers while maintaining high crop yield. This makes biofertilizers a powerful tool for sustainable agriculture and a sustainable environment. The book covers the latest research on biofertilizers, ranging from beneficial fungal, bacterial and algal inoculants; to microbes for bioremediation, wastewater treatment; and recycling of biodegradable municipal, agricultural and industrial waste; as well as biocontrol agents and bio-pesticides. As such, it offers a valuable resource for researchers, academics and students in the broad fields of microbiology and agriculture.

Microbial biotechnology is an emerging field with applications in a broad range of sectors involving food security, human nutrition, plant protection and overall basic research in the agricultural sciences. The environment has been sustaining the burden of mankind from time immemorial, and our indiscriminate use of its resources has led to the degradation of the climate, loss of soil fertility, and the need for sustainable strategies. The major focus in the coming decades will be on achieving a green and clean environment by utilizing soil and plant-associated beneficial microbial communities. Plant-microbe interactions include the association of microbes with plant systems: epiphytic, endophytic and rhizospheric. The microbes associated with plant ecosystems play an important role in plant growth, development, and soil health. Moreover, soil and plant microbiomes help to promote plant growth, either directly or indirectly by means of plant growth-promoting mechanisms, e.g. the release of plant growth regulators; solubilization of phosphorus, potassium and zinc; biological nitrogen fixation; or by producing siderophores, ammonia, HCN and other secondary metabolites. These beneficial microbial communities represent a novel and promising solution for agro-environmental sustainability by providing biofertilizers, bioprotectants, and biostimulants, in addition to mitigating various types of abiotic stress in plants. This book focuses on plant-microbe interactions; the biodiversity of soil and plant microbiomes; and their role in plant growth and soil health. Accordingly, it will be immensely useful to readers working in the biological sciences, especially microbiologists, biochemists and microbial biotechnologists.

HANDBOOK of BIOMASS VALORIZATION for INDUSTRIAL APPLICATIONS The handbook provides a comprehensive view of cutting-edge research on biomass valorization, from advanced fabrication methodologies through useful derived materials, to current and potential application sectors. Industrial sectors, such as food, textiles, petrochemicals and pharmaceuticals, generate massive amounts of waste each year, the disposal of which has become a major issue worldwide. As a result, implementing a circular economy that employs sustainable practices in waste management is critical for any industry. Moreover, fossil fuels, which are the primary sources of fuel in the transportation sector, are also being rapidly depleted at an alarming rate. Therefore, to combat these global issues without increasing our carbon footprint, we must look for renewable resources to produce chemicals and biomaterials. In that context, agricultural waste materials are gaining popularity as cost-effective and abundantly available alternatives to fossil resources for the production of a variety of value-added products, including renewable fuels, fuel components, and fuel additives. Handbook of Biomass Valorization for Industrial Applications investigates current and emerging feedstocks, as well as provides in-depth technical information on advanced catalytic processes and technologies that enable the development of all possible alternative energy sources. The 22 chapters of this book comprehensively cover the valorization of agricultural wastes and their various uses in value-added applications like energy, biofuels, fertilizers, and wastewater treatment. Audience The book is intended for a very broad audience working in the fields of materials sciences, chemical engineering, nanotechnology, energy, environment, chemistry, etc. This book will be an invaluable reference source for the libraries in universities and industrial institutions, government and independent institutes, individual research groups, and scientists working in the field of valorization of biomass.

Organic farming is a new revolution in agriculture on a global scale. This has come in wake of realization of ill effects of Green Revolution.This book has given description of adverse effects of chemicals used in agriculture and the urgent need to switch to organic farming by the use of biofertilizers and adopting biocontrol measures. Organic farming is a sustainable option where cheap and ecofriendly biofertilizers are produced by farmers and scientists using various micro organisms such as bacteria, algae and fungi. Green pest management practices using biocontrol agents for minimising the crop loss due to insect pests is extensively described in this book. The authors have also dealt with the different measures adopted in India to popularize the use of biofertilizers and biocontrol agents. The book focuses attention on present day challenge of attaining sustainable agriculture without damaging the environment.

Great attention has been paid to reduce the use of conventional chemical fertilizers harming living beings through food chain supplements from the soil environment. Therefore, it is necessary to develop alternative sustainable fertilizers to enhance soil sustainability and agriculture productivity. Biofertilizers are the substance that contains microorganisms (bacteria, algae, and fungi) living or latent cells that can enrich the soil quality with nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, organic matter, etc. They are a cost-effective, biodegradable, and renewable source of plant nutrients/supplements to improve the soil-health properties. Biofertilizers emerge as an attractive alternative to chemical fertilizers, and as a promising cost-effective technology for eco-friendly agriculture and a sustainable environment that holds microorganisms which enhance the soil nutrients' solubility leading a raise in its fertility, stimulates crop growth and healthy food safety. This book provides in-depth knowledge about history and fundamentals to advances biofertilizers, including latest reviews, challenges, and future perspectives. It covers fabrication approaches, and various types of biofertilizers and their applications in agriculture, environment, forestry and industrial sectors. Also, organic farming, quality control, quality assurance, food safety and case-studies of biofertilizers are briefly discussed. Biofertilizers' physical properties, affecting factors, impact, and industry profiles in the market are well addressed. This book is an essential guide for farmers, agrochemists, environmental engineers, scientists, students, and faculty who would like to understand the science behind the sustainable fertilizers, soil chemistry and agroecology.

An increasing population has put tremendous pressure on agricultural productivity to fulfill the demands of human consumption. Numerous agricultural activities and techniques have been developed to raise annual crop production globally. While agriculture has succeeded in enhancing the yearly crop productivity, this achievement is at the cost of environmental degradation by applying synthetic persistent substances, such as industrial fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, etc. Chemical fertilizers are nearly as destructive as they are productive, causing monocultures and consequences associated with elimination of diversity, nutrient pollution as evidenced by algae blooms, eutrophication, water quality issues, lower oxygen levels and dangers to fish stocks. Therefore, the scientific approach to maintain sustainable fertility in soil and plants is to switch over to biofertilisers. Biofertilisers are compounds of organic matter that are applied to crops for growth and health. Their constituent micro-organisms interact in an ecofriendly manner with the soil, root and seeds of plants, promoting the growth of micro-flora that enhances soil fertility. They are known to play a number of vital roles in soil fertility, crop productivity and production in agriculture. Application of biofertilisers results in increased mineral and water uptake, root development, vegetative growth and nitrogen fixation. They liberate growth promoting substances and vitamins and help to maintain soil fertility. They act as antagonists and play a pivotal role in neutralising the soil borne plant pathogens, thereby assisting in the bio-control of diseases. Application of biofertilisers in lieu of synthetic fertilizers could be the promising technique to raise agricultural productivity without degrading the environmental quality. The present book focuses on the latest research approaches and updates from the microbiota ecosystem and their applications in agriculture industry. It also highlights the great potential and possible future of action of microbiota in the development of sustainable agricultural systems.

Great attention has been paid to reduce the use of conventional chemical fertilizers harming living beings through food chain supplements from the soil environment. Therefore, it is necessary to develop alternative sustainable fertilizers to enhance soil sustainability and agriculture productivity. Biofertilizers are the substance that contains microorganisms (bacteria, algae, and fungi) living or latent cells that can enrich the soil quality with nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, organic matter, etc. They are a cost-effective, biodegradable, and renewable source of plant nutrients/supplements to improve the soil-health properties. Biofertilizers emerge as an attractive alternative to chemical fertilizers, and as a promising cost-effective technology for eco-friendly agriculture and a sustainable environment that holds microorganisms which enhance the soil nutrients' solubility leading a raise in its fertility, stimulates crop growth and healthy food safety. This book provides in-depth knowledge about history and fundamentals to advances biofertilizers, including latest reviews, challenges, and future perspectives. It covers fabrication approaches, and various types of biofertilizers and their applications in agriculture, environment, forestry and industrial sectors. Also, organic farming, quality control, quality assurance, food safety and case-studies of biofertilizers are briefly discussed. Biofertilizers' physical properties, affecting factors, impact, and industry profiles in the market are well addressed. This book is an essential guide for farmers, agrochemists, environmental engineers, scientists, students, and faculty who would like to understand the science behind the sustainable fertilizers, soil chemistry and agroecology.

The alkaline calcareous nature, high pH, salinity, heavy metals pollution, and low organic matter content of soils in many parts of the world have diminished the soil fertility and made essential nutrients unavailable to crops. To cope with the poor availability of soil nutrients, improve soil health, and feed the fast-growing global population, the farming community is using millions of tons of expensive chemical fertilizers in their fields to maintain an adequate level of nutrients for crop sustainability as well as to ensure food security. In this scenario, the exploitation of biofertilizers has become of paramount importance in the agricultural sector for their potential role in food safety and sustainable crop production. Bearing in mind the key importance of biofertilizers, this book examines the role of biofertilizers in sustainable management of soil and plant health under different conditions of the changing climate. Finally, it provides a platform for scientists and academicians all over the world to promote, share, and discuss various new issues, developments, and limitations in biofertilizers, crops, and beneficial microbes. Salient Features: Mainly focuses on the role of biofertilizers in managing soils for improving crop and vegetable yields as a substitute for chemical fertilizers. Highlights the valuable information for the mechanism of action, factors affecting, and limitations of biofertilizers in the wider ecosystem. Presents a diversity of techniques used across plant science. Designed to cater to the needs of researchers, technologists, policy makers, and undergraduates and postgraduates studying in the fields of organic agriculture, soil microbiology, soil biology, soil fertility, and fertilizers. Addresses plant responses to biofertilizers.