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 Biofertilizers: Types and Applications (Lebin Thomas, Ishwar Singh)....Pages 1-19
Fungal Inoculants for Native Phosphorus Mobilization (J. C. Tarafdar)....Pages 21-40
Potential Applications of Algae-Based Bio-fertilizer (Probir Das, Shoyeb Khan, Afeefa Kiran Chaudhary, Mohammad AbdulQuadir, Mehmoud Ibrahim Thaher, Hareb Al-Jabri)....Pages 41-65
Ectomycorrhizal Fungi: Role as Biofertilizers in Forestry (José Alfonso Domínguez-Núñez, Marta Berrocal-Lobo, Ada S. Albanesi)....Pages 67-82
Perspectives on the Role of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi in the In Vivo Vegetative Plant Propagation (Ravichandran Koshila Ravi, Thangavelu Muthukumar)....Pages 83-107
Silicon (Si)- and Zinc (Zn)-Solubilizing Microorganisms: Role in Sustainable Agriculture (Narendra Kumawat, Rakesh Kumar, U. R. Khandkar, R. K. Yadav, Kirti Saurabh, J. S. Mishra et al.)....Pages 109-135
Status and Prospects of Bacterial Inoculants for Sustainable Management of Agroecosystems (Rasheed A. Adeleke, Adekunle R. Raimi, Ashira Roopnarain, Sharon M. Mokubedi)....Pages 137-172
Plant Nutrient Management Through Inoculation of Zinc-Solubilizing Bacteria for Sustainable Agriculture (SatyavirSatyavir S. Sindhu, Ruchi Sharma, Swati Sindhu, Manisha Phour)....Pages 173-201
Endophytic Bacteria as a Modern Tool for Sustainable Crop Management Under Stress (Yachana Jha)....Pages 203-223
Biofertilizers in Argentina (Analia Liliana Anriquez, Juan Eduardo Silberman, José Alfonso Dominguez Nuñez, Ada Susana Albanesi)....Pages 225-244
Rhizobial Inoculants for Sustainable Agriculture: Prospects and Applications (Iqra Naseer, Maqshoof Ahmad, Sajid Mahmood Nadeem, Iqra Ahmad, Najm-ul-Seher, Zahir Ahmad Zahir)....Pages 245-283
Biofertilizers and Their Role in Sustainable Agriculture (Pinderpal Kaur, Sukhvinder Singh Purewal)....Pages 285-300
The Use of Microorganisms for the Biodegradation of Sewage Sludge and the Production of Biocompost for Sustainable Agriculture (Loubna El Fels, Bouchra El Hayany, Anas Aguelmous, Aziz Boutafda, Yassine Zegzouti, El Mezouari El Glaoui Ghizlen et al.)....Pages 301-316
Circadian Rhythms in Plant-Microbe Interaction: For Better Performance of Bioinoculants in the Agricultural Fields (Raghavendra Maddur Puttaswamy)....Pages 317-332
Actinobacteria and Their Role as Plant Probiotics (Esther Menendez, Lorena Carro)....Pages 333-351
Organic Fertilizer from Algae: A Novel Approach Towards Sustainable Agriculture (Pooja Baweja, Savindra Kumar, Gaurav Kumar)....Pages 353-370
Phosphate-Solubilising Fungi and Their Potential Role in Sustainable Agriculture (Sanjana Kaul, Supriya Sharma, Apra, Manoj K. Dhar)....Pages 371-393
Fungi as Biological Control Agents ( Savita, Anuradha Sharma)....Pages 395-411
Biocontrol Agents: Potential of Biopesticides for Integrated Pest Management (Archana Singh, Richa Bhardwaj, Indrakant K. Singh)....Pages 413-433
Microbe-Mediated Plant Growth Promotion: A Mechanistic Overview on Cultivable Plant Growth-Promoting Members (Swati Pattnaik, Balaram Mohapatra, Upendra Kumar, Matrujyoti Pattnaik, Deviprasad Samantaray)....Pages 435-463
Mycorrhizae and Tolerance of Abiotic Stress in Citrus Plants (Chun-Yan Liu, Ying-Ning Zou, De-Jian Zhang, Bo Shu, Qiang-Sheng Wu)....Pages 465-487
Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) from Heavy Metal-Contaminated Soils: Molecular Approach and Application in Phytoremediation (Sanjeev Kumar, Saurabh Saxena)....Pages 489-500
The Role of Arbuscular Mycorrhiza in Sustainable Environment and Agriculture (Xiongfei Guo)....Pages 501-520
Microbe-Mediated Removal of Heavy Metals for Sustainable Agricultural Practices (Ivy Mallick, Anupama Ghosh, Abhrajyoti Ghosh)....Pages 521-544 

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