Plant-microbe interactions: PGPM as microbial inoculants/biofertilizers for sustaining crop productivity and soil fertility

Abstract

Plant-microbe interactions play pivotal roles in sustaining crop productivity and soil fertility, offering promising avenues for sustainable agricultural practices. This review paper explores the multifaceted interactions between plants and various microorganisms, highlighting their significance in enhancing crop productivity, combating pathogens, and promoting soil health. Understanding these interactions is crucial for harnessing their potential in agricultural systems to address challenges such as food security and environmental sustainability. Therefore, the introduction of beneficial microbes into agricultural ecosystems by bio-augmentation reduces the negative effects of intensive, non-sustainable agriculture on the environment, society, and economy, into the mechanisms underlying the application of plant growth promoting microbes as microbial inoculants/biofertilizers; their interactions, the factors influencing their dynamics, and the implications for agricultural practices, emerging technologies and strategies that leverage plant-microbe interactions for improving crop yields, soil fertility, and overall agricultural sustainability.