Trends in biofertilisation and agroecological practices for the sustainable enhancement of CAM plants growth in arid environment: the case of Opuntia ficus-indica
Microbial biostimulants (MBs) are gaining recognition as an essential component of sustainable agriculture due to their ability to enhance crop productivity, improve resilience to abiotic and biotic stresses, and reduce dependence on synthetic agricultural inputs. As global agricultural systems face increasing challenges from climate change and environmental degradation, MBs offer an environmentally sustainable strategy to improve plant performance and maintain long-term soil health. This review provides a comprehensive overview of recent advances in the development and application of MBs, with particular emphasis on plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). Their mechanisms of action are comprehensively reviewed, including their roles in enhancing nutrient acquisition, stimulating plant growth, and improving tolerance to environmental stresses. The synergistic effects of PGPR–AMF consortia in improving crop productivity and quality under adverse environmental conditions are also discussed. In addition, the review evaluates the direct and indirect mechanisms through which MBs mitigate drought, salinity, nutrient deficiency, and pathogen pressure. Current challenges, including limited mechanistic understanding, inconsistent field performance, and formulation standardization, are critically discussed. To maximize the potential of MBs, future research should focus on elucidating plant–microbe interactions using advanced multi-omics approaches, optimizing microbial consortia and formulations, and validating their efficacy through long-term, multi-location field trials. These advances will facilitate the wider adoption of MBs for improving soil health, enhancing food security, and supporting climate-resilient and resource-efficient agricultural systems.
The article addresses the issues of increasing the sustainability and productivity of agroecosystems under conditions of climatic instability in Northern Kazakhstan, characterized by frequent droughts, uneven precipitation distribution, and increased temperature stress during the growing season. Particular attention is paid to the integration of leguminous crops, especially chickpea, as well as the use of biological preparations within legume–cereal crop rotation systems as a promising direction in the biologization of agriculture. The paper presents the results of field and laboratory studies aimed at a comprehensive assessment of the impact of agrotechnological practices on soil fertility, water regime, and crop productivity. The research examined agrochemical and agrophysical soil parameters, including humus content, macro- and micronutrient availability, soil acidity, bulk density, and water retention capacity, as well as plant biometric characteristics, leaf area development, and biomass accumulation dynamics. It was established that the use of biopreparations and seed inoculation with rhizobial bacteria enhances microbiological activity in the soil, improves nitrogen availability, and increases water use efficiency. A positive effect on soil structure and biological activity was also observed. The application of these approaches ensures a stable increase in chickpea yield, improves product quality, and reduces dependence on mineral fertilizers. The economic evaluation demonstrated increased profitability due to cost optimization and higher productivity. The obtained results confirm the feasibility of implementing biologized technologies as an effective tool for adapting agriculture to changing climatic conditions and ensuring sustainable agricultural development in arid regions.
A. Ansabayeva, M. Makhambetov, Marden Baidalin et al.· 3i: intellect, idea, innovat...· 0 citations
Climate change has escalated the frequency of abiotic stresses such as heat,
drought, salinity, and heavy metal toxicity, which adversely affect the productivity of horticultural
crops and food security. Mangrove ecosystems are home to the Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria
(PGPR) that are specially adapted to survive even in the most extreme environmental conditions.
These PGPRs from mangroves are an eco-friendly way to raise the stress tolerance level of horticultural
crops.
The paper reviews current research on the functional traits of PGPR derived from mangroves,
including nutrient solubilization, phytohormone production, ACC deaminase activity, and
production of metabolites that aid stress alleviation. The paper also highlights recent advancements
in molecular “omics” tools–genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics–used for elucidating
the interaction mechanisms between PGPR and plants. The study was primarily focused on
experiments performed in the lab and greenhouse. Field research is also gaining traction.
Mangrove PGPR employ various mechanisms for stress release, including nitrogen fixation,
siderophore production, EPS synthesis, osmoprotection, and antioxidant enzyme induction. Application
of such PGPR has improved the drought and salinity tolerance of horticultural crops such as
tomato, cucumber, banana, and their close relatives. Omics-based studies unravel the complexity of
the regulatory network that controls both stress signaling and nutritional uptake.
Although the laboratory results are good, a problem remains in open fields due to environmental
variability and crop-specific responses. To ensure reliable performance, PGPR consortia
need optimization of strategy formulation and delivery systems.
Mangrove-associated PGPRs are a promising approach to improve climate change resilience
in horticultural crops. Much work still remains to be done on large-scale field trials, advanced
bioformulations, and deployment of current biotechnology approaches before general agricultural
benefits can be realized.
Suman Mandal, Debasmita Paul, Anushka Sasmal et al.· Current Journal of Microbiol...· 0 citations
This review uniquely integrates the biochemical, physiological, and molecular mechanisms of PGPR in plant nutrition and stress mitigation while critically analyzing contradictory field results and highlighting newly characterized strains and sustainable tools for climate-resilient agriculture.
Pan Qi, Haoyue Liang, Liquan Zhao et al.· Frontiers in Microbiology· 0 citations
The study on the valorization of natural resources through cowpea cultivation represents a challenge to mitigate the negative effects of climate change on the environment and on the food security of the population in drought-affected areas globally, and specifically in the sandy soil area of Romania. Thus, the existence in Romania of an area of approximately 439,000 ha with sands and sandy soils, soils with low natural fertility (below 1.2% humus) and with deficient hydrophysical properties, implies finding solutions for their efficient valorization through ecological modeling of the species/varieties structure, depending on the adaptability of the plant in a given area. In this sense, given the economic importance of cowpea, given by the plant’s properties (drought resistance, source of increasing the organic matter content in sands, source of atmospheric nitrogen fixation, good precursor plant, source of protein for humans and animals), the cultivation of this species in a sustainable agricultural system is outlined, as an alternative solution to the cultivation of other leguminous plants. Considered a crop suitable for a climate change scenario, the conservation of genetic biodiversity and the establishment of technological inputs are essential objectives for promoting cowpea in a sustainable agricultural system, given the increasing drought in the world and the increasing need for protein.
R. Drăghici, Valentina Ancuța Stoian, A. Croitoru et al.· Agronomy· 0 citations
Combining modern science with traditional ecological knowledge, biological control techniques can improve disease resistance and promote sustainable agriculture practices in traditional Jhum farming systems.
A. N. Tiameren, B. Susanta· Plant Science Today· 0 citations
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