Author(s): K. V. P. KATHULA, K. A. MANOHAR AND L. SAGAR

Abstract: One of the main problems in agriculture due to climatic change is production of enough food on a sustainable basis for a rapidly expanding population. Enhancing soil productivity through nutrient management is a vital method for maintaining food and nutritional security. This is a significant strategy for achieving crop development and productivity and is determined by how readily the nutrients are available to the plant. At present, crop nutrient requirement is mainly supplied through chemical fertilizers. However, perpetual and excessive use of chemical fertilizers to supplement the nutrient requirements of crops witnessed severe deterioration of physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of the soil. Besides, it triggered pressing environmental issues endangering agricultural sustainability. Investigating the latent potential of organic sources as an alternative to chemical fertilizers is required to address this issue. Bio-fertilizer are widely gaining popularity among various organic sources due to their recognized role in improving nutrient use efficiency, reclamation of degraded soil, nitrogen fixation, etc. Microbial bio-fertilizers were reported to enhance the rate of mineralization thus improve soil fertility and biochemical properties of soil. Therefore, it is identified as an ecologically safer and economically viable option that addresses the global demand for green technology in crop production. The primary goal of this study was to investigate how bio-fertilizers might improve soil fertility and promote agricultural sustainability.

DOI: 10.22271/09746315.2023.v19.i3.1746

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