The increasing demand for sustainable and environmentally responsible agricultural practices has accelerated the search for alternatives to chemical fertilizers. Microbial biofertilizers, particularly plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), offer a promising strategy to enhance crop productivity while maintaining soil health. Among these, Bacillus species have gained significant attention due to their ecological versatility and functional diversity. This review provides a comprehensive evaluation of the biofertilization potential of Bacillus spp. in sustainable agriculture. Prominent species such as Bacillus subtilis, B. megaterium, and B. amyloliquefaciens contribute to improved nutrient acquisition through nitrogen fixation, phosphate solubilization, and potassium mobilization. In addition, Bacillus spp. produce phytohormones, siderophores, and volatile organic compounds that stimulate plant growth and enhance tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses. Their endospore-forming ability ensures high survival, prolonged shelf life, and reliable performance under diverse field conditions, supporting their commercial application as biofertilizers. This review also discusses interactions between Bacillus spp. and native soil microbiota, their influence on rhizosphere dynamics, and their role in improving soil fertility and crop productivity. However, inconsistent field performance, formulation challenges, and regulatory constraints remain key barriers to large-scale adoption. Recent advances in genomics, strain improvement, and formulation technologies present new opportunities to enhance the efficacy of Bacillus-based biofertilizers. Integrative approaches combining microbiology, agronomy, and policy frameworks are essential to realize their full potential in sustainable agricultural systems and global food security.
Chrysanthemum (Dendranthema grandiflora) is one of the most important ornamental crops because of its aesthetic value, diverse flower forms and commercial significance in the floriculture industry. Sustainable chrysanthemum production has received increasing attention owing to concerns about excessive dependence on chemical fertilizers and the need to maintain soil health and environmental quality. Biofertilizers provide a biologically based approach to improving nutrient availability, plant growth and soil fertility through the activity of beneficial microorganisms, including nitrogen-fixing bacteria, phosphate- and potassium-solubilizing microorganisms, plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), mycorrhizal fungi and microbial consortia. These microorganisms enhance nutrient cycling, root development, nutrient uptake and plant growth, while also contributing to improved tolerance to abiotic stresses such as drought, salinity and temperature extremes. Biozymes, as organic biostimulant formulations, further support physiological and metabolic processes that promote nutrient utilization, plant vigor and overall crop performance. The combined application of biofertilizers and biozymes through suitable methods, including soil application, seed or cutting treatment, foliar spray and drip irrigation, offers considerable potential for sustainable chrysanthemum cultivation. However, their effectiveness may vary depending on microbial strain, formulation quality, soil characteristics, crop stage and environmental conditions. This review summarizes the mechanisms, applications and benefits of biofertilizers and biozymes in chrysanthemum production and highlights current knowledge gaps and future research needs for developing efficient, climate-resilient and environmentally sustainable floriculture systems.
S. Garcha, N. Kaur, Parminder Singh· Archives of Current Research...· 0 citations
The growing pressure exerted by global food demand, combined with the excessive use of chemical and synthetic inputs, is prompting the agricultural sector to seek innovative and sustainable solutions to improve, or at least maintain, crop yields in a context of increased abiotic stress linked to climate change. Among the promising approaches, biostimulants are attracting growing interest, particularly those derived from natural sources such as seaweed extracts, humic acids, and beneficial microorganisms. These products work through various mechanisms, including osmotic regulation, activation of antioxidant systems, stimulation of root growth, and improvement of nutrient absorption. Many recent research and review articles have explored the optimal combinations of raw materials, formulation processes, target crops, and environmental conditions to maximize beneficial effects on plant growth, soil health, and tolerance to abiotic stresses. As a result, a growing range of commercial products is emerging, with diverse chemical compositions, formulations, and modes of application. However, the precise relationships between the biochemical composition of biostimulants and their physiological effects remain poorly understood, suggesting a key role for molecular synergies. This review provides a concise overview of recent advances in biostimulant research and their potential to enhance food security by improving crop resilience in the context of climate change.
Boujemaa Fassih, Raja Ben-Laouane, Abdessamad Fakhech et al.· Sustainability· 1 citation
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
Modern agricultural practices have boosted crop yields but have also intensified pressure on the food system, along with environmental and health issues linked to overreliance on chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Soil degradation, loss of biodiversity, pesticide resistance, pollution, and human health hazards are the serious negative consequences imposed due to intensive agricultural practices, necessitating the shift towards biological agents to boost productivity and safeguard environmental and human health. Beneficial organisms, especially Trichoderma species, have emerged as effective beneficial fungi due to their versatile roles in sustainable agriculture for disease suppression through mycoparasitism, competition, production of secondary metabolites, and entomopathogenesis. In addition to pathogen suppression, Trichoderma spp. induce defence mechanisms in plants, produce growth hormones, mobilize unavailable nutrients, and increase nutrient uptake, making plants tolerant to biotic and abiotic stress and facilitating the bioremediation of toxic soil. However, problems related to strain specificity, field performance, environmental conditions and shelf-life stability limit its widespread adoption. Future studies should focus on producing stress-tolorent and highly efficient strains, Trichoderma strains that can tolerate broader environmental conditions, exploring synergetic effects with other beneficial micro-organisms, and application methods. Overall, this review presents the versatile function of Trichoderma spp. in increasing crop yield and preventing negative consequences on environmental and human health, and also highlights challenges and the need for advance future studies.
Sujata Nepal, Surakshya Sharma, Niraj Mahato· Journal of Soil, Plant and E...· 0 citations
ABSTRACT The use of plant growth-promoting microorganisms (PGPM) is a promising strategy to enhance crop productivity while improving soil functionality. This study evaluated the efficacy of fungal-bacterial consortium of Trichoderma asperellum, Pseudomonas fluorescens, and Bacillus subtilis, for promoting the growth of soybean and maize cultivated under distinct edaphoclimatic conditions across Brazil. Field trials were conducted in five locations within Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina, São Paulo, and Minas Gerais. Treatments consisted of a fungal-bacterial consortium (200 g ha-¹, in-furrow at planting) combined with 50% or 100% of the recommended nitrogen rate. Shoot dry biomass, foliar nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) concentrations, grain yield, and soil microbial activity determined by fluorescein diacetate hydrolysis were assessed. The fungal-bacterial consortium significantly improved all variables in both crops. In soybean, shoot biomass increased by 10.7-13.4% and grain yield by 9.2-9.9%, while foliar N and P rose by 10.2-12.4%, and soil enzymatic activity increased up to 11.0%. In maize, biomass increased by 10.4-11.8% and grain yield by 13.1-13.9%, with foliar N and P increasing by 9.5-14.1% and soil enzymatic activity by up to 12.5%. Notably, positive responses were maintained under 50% nitrogen fertilization. These findings demonstrate that fungal-bacterial consortium enhances nutrient acquisition and soil microbial activity, improving crop performance under variable environmental conditions and reduced N input, supporting its potential as a biological tool for sustainable nutrient management in soybean and maize systems.
A.C.C. Bortolassi, Anna Flávia Neri de Almeida, E. Meyer et al.· Ciência e Agrotecnologia· 0 citations
Microorganism inoculants are becoming increasingly essential in sustainable agriculture because they improve nutrient availability, promote plant growth, inhibit disease, and increase crop tolerance to environmental stresses. Nonetheless, their field performance is frequently hampered by poor storage survival, low rhizosphere establishment, and susceptibility to harsh climatic conditions. Encapsulation technologies provide an effective solution by encapsulating microbial cells in a biodegradable matrix, extending shelf life, increasing vitality, and allowing for controlled release in the soil. This review focuses on four agriculturally significant microorganisms: Azotobacter chroococcum, Azospirillum brasilense, Pseudomonas brassicacearum, and Trichoderma harzianum. Their modes of action, including nitrogen fixation, phytohormone synthesis, pathogen inhibition, and stimulation of plant defense responses, are reviewed alongside recent advances in encapsulation strategies. Alginate-based formulations and proposed potential multi-species microbial consortia are discussed as promising strategies for improving inoculant performance. However, the successful development of multifunctional potential microbial formulations requires further investigation of microbial compatibility, formulation stability, synchronized release behaviour, and long-term storage performance before broad agricultural implementation can be achieved.
M. Vinceković, Karla Gašparić, N. Jalšenjak et al.· Agronomy· 0 citations