Jun 2026· Buitenzorg: Journal of Tropical Science· 0 citations· 31 references
Abstract
Microalgae exhibit high biodiversity and are found in various habitats, including agricultural soil. The intensification of agriculture by chemical fertilizers results in significant environmental problems, including water pollution, accumulation of xenobiotic chemicals, diminished soil quality and fertility, and adverse effects on human health. Organic farming is highlighted as an effective approach to mitigate these problems. Microalgae offer key functions in agriculture as biostimulants, biofertilizers, biocontrol agents, sources of phytohormones, and soil moisturizers. These roles indicated the importance of microalgae in sustainable and organic agriculture, particularly for CO2 sequestration, nutrient recycling from waste streams, and enhancing crop tolerance to abiotic stress. This review discusses practical application methods, field challenges, sustainable water sources for microalgae biomass production, market trends for biofertilizers made from this biomass, and long-term sustainability factors to establish safety and standardization protocols to ensure their reliability. Microalgae biomass can be produced in photobioreactors or open ponds and applied to agricultural land as wet inoculum, dry biomass, or extracted metabolites. Integration with irrigation and hydroponic systems offers additional potential for efficient nutrient delivery. The global market for microalgae fertilizer is projected to expand significantly due to increasing awareness of sustainable farming and rising demand for organic food. These fertilizers are eco-friendly, reduce nutrient waste and soil degradation, and are suitable for organic crop production as they are natural and free from synthetic chemicals or GMOs. In conclusion, microalgae represent sustainable and effective strategies to enhance soil fertility, stimulate plant growth, and strengthen crop protection in organic farming.
Keywords: biocontrol agents, algal biomass, circular bioeconomy, commercial viability, abiotic stress mitigation
Fertilizers play a central role in sustaining agricultural productivity and food security in India, yet the environmental and economic tradeoffs across fertilizer types remain a pressing policy concern. This study compares chemical, organic, and biofertilizers used in Indian agriculture with respect to nutrient composition, cost efficiency, yield performance, and environmental impact, drawing on secondary data from government reports, research journals, and agricultural institutions. The analysis shows that chemical fertilizers such as urea, DAP, and NPK deliver rapid nutrient availability and higher short term yields in crops like rice, wheat, and vegetables, but their sustained use is linked to soil degradation, water pollution, carbon emissions, and biodiversity loss. Organic fertilizers, including compost, farmyard manure, and vermicompost, enhance soil structure, water retention, and long term fertility, though nutrient release is slower and initial yield gains are modest. Biofertilizers, based on microorganisms such as Rhizobium, Azotobacter, and Azospirillum, improve nutrient availability at low cost with minimal ecological damage, but face storage and shelf life constraints. Fertilizer consumption data from 2013 to 2025 indicate that chemical fertilizers continue to dominate the Indian market, accounting for roughly 83 percent of market share, even as awareness of organic and biofertilizer alternatives grows. The comparative evidence suggests that integrated nutrient management, combining all three fertilizer types, yields better productivity and soil sustainability outcomes than reliance on any single type. The study concludes that balanced and integrated fertilizer policy is essential for achieving productivity growth alongside environmental protection and long term soil health in India.
B. G., A. Ahamed, G. Ramu· International journal of bus...· 0 citations
Sustainable agriculture is increasingly challenged by soil degradation, environmental pollution, and climate change, necessitating the pragmatic and eco-friendly approach. This review systematically synthesizes the role of biochar as multifunctional soil management strategy in enhancing soil health and sustainable environmental management, with particular emphasis on the critical roles of feedstock type and pyrolysis conditions in governing biochar performance. To address existing knowledge gaps, we comprehensively evaluate recent available literature on biochar-based environmental remediation, focusing on key indicators of agricultural sustainability, including nutrients availability, soil biological activity, climate change mitigation, biochar-assisted phytostabilization, and crop productivity. Current evidence indicates that biochar application can achieve a net negative carbon footprint, mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and heavy metal contamination, and improve soil structure, fertility, and overall crop productivity on sustainable-basis. However, these benefits largely depend upon the various important biochar production factors including feedstock source, pyrolysis temperature, biochar stability, residence time, rate of application, and soil pH. Beyond its function as a soil amendment, biochar also serves as a multifunctional resource contributing to bioenergy production, waste reduction, and long-term carbon sequestration. At the same time, this review identifies critical research gaps, including the long-term field performance of biochar, mechanisms underlying the interactions between biochar and agronomic practices, and the environmental and human health risks associated with large-scale agricultural applications. Overall, this work highlights the importance of feedstock selection and pyrolysis parameters in designing biochar for environmental remediation and outlines future research directions to refine biochar engineering, application guidelines, and risk assessment frameworks for its sustainable use.
Ismail Khan, Faming Wang, Abdul Rehman et al.· International journal of phy...· 0 citations
Simple Summary Chemical fertilizers are costly and bring multiple environmental concerns: they contribute to serious ecological issues, including air and groundwater pollution, soil acidification and deterioration, and root damage. Biofertilizers constitute eco-friendly alternatives to conventional chemical fertilizers, and can boost high-yield crop production and improve root development. Microalgae constitute a promising solution and are being increasingly recognized for their high potential as biofertilizers, capable of restoring soil fertility, promoting plant growth, and enhancing the chemical and biological characteristics of soil. Among the microalgae species studied for their economic potential, Chlorella stands out as particularly promising for biofertilizer production after several studies in Petri dishes and in soil. Chlorella is also used to treat wastewater and the resulting biomass and water have considerable biofertilizing effects.
M. Chroho, E. Touloupakis, Cecilia Faraloni et al.· Biology· 0 citations
The Rosaceae family includes some of the most economically important fruit and nut crops worldwide, such as apples, strawberries, and almonds. Increasing market demand and climate constraints have intensified reliance on synthetic fertilizers, leading to environmental degradation and reduced ecosystem resilience. In response, sustainable alternatives, such as organic fertilizers, biofertilizers, and biostimulants, have gained increasing attention. Here, we review recent findings in the application of these ecofriendly inputs in Rosaceae crops, using almonds (Prunus dulcis) as a representative case study. We highlight the roles of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in improving nutrient availability, stress tolerance, soil fertility, and crop productivity through mechanisms including biological nitrogen fixation, phosphate solubilization, siderophore production, phytohormone modulation, and enhanced plant defense responses. Evidence from field, greenhouse, and controlled experimental studies has indicated that rhizobacteria and mycorrhizal fungi, as well as organic fertilizers, enhance nutrient uptake, photosynthetic efficiency, fruit yields, and quality while supporting soil biodiversity and long-term orchard sustainability. Despite their demonstrated benefits, the adoption of biofertilizers and biostimulants in almond orchards remains limited. This review discusses the current challenges, knowledge gaps, and future perspectives for integrating microbial-based solutions into sustainable Rosaceae cultivation systems.
Z. Bouabidi, A. Saber, Najat Manaut et al.· Sustainability· 0 citations
Soil fertility is one of the most critical factors influencing agricultural productivity and food security worldwide. Rapid population growth, intensive farming, excessive use of chemical fertilizers, and climate change have significantly reduced soil quality in many agricultural regions. Biochar, a carbon-rich material produced through the pyrolysis of organic biomass, has emerged as an environmentally friendly soil amendment that improves soil fertility while contributing to climate change mitigation. This review paper explores the effects of biochar on soil physical, chemical, and biological properties and its role in sustainable agriculture. It discusses biochar production methods, nutrient retention capacity, carbon sequestration, crop productivity, water conservation, and environmental benefits. Additionally, the paper highlights current challenges, future research opportunities, and policy recommendations for promoting biochar-based farming systems. The findings suggest that biochar application can significantly improve soil health, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and increase long-term agricultural sustainability.
Noor ul Huda, Aiman Siddiqui, Hassan Tariq· Jana Nexus: Journal of Agric...· 0 citations
Biochar, a carbon-rich product resulting from the thermochemical transformation of organic biomass under limited oxygen condition, is currently drawing much worldwide attention due to its multiple applications in carbon sequestration, soil improvement, environmental remediation, and biomass waste management. Initially, the focus of research was primarily on the technical possibilities of biochar production, its economic aspects, and its contribution to climate change mitigation through carbon sequestration and the promotion of sustainable agriculture. Nevertheless, recent research indicates the high complexity and dynamics of biochar interactions with the environment, driven by a combination of factors like feedstock type, process conditions, biochar properties, and other factors. While biochar exhibits multiple beneficial effects, including improving soil structure, enhancing nutrient retention, promoting microbial activities, and remediating contaminants, several environmental risks associated with biochar application have also been identified, namely the formation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), heavy metal contamination, creation of persistent free radicals, changes in soil chemistry, and modification of soil microbial community structure. Such risks are greatly related to production process parameters, treatment methods, and biochar application practices. Moreover, differences in feedstock choice, pyrolysis temperature, reactor design, biochar application rate, and analytical methods used make comparative analysis of results difficult.
O. E. Ojewumi, Gang Chen, M. Ojewumi· Green· 0 citations