Rhizosphere Microbiome Modulators: Contributions of Nitrogen Fixing Bacteria towards Sustainable Agriculture

Nicholas Ozede Igiehon and Olubukola Oluranti Babalola
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Nicholas Ozede Igiehon: Food Security and Safety Niche, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Science, Private Mail Bag X2046, North West University, Mmabatho 2735, South Africa
Olubukola Oluranti Babalola: Food Security and Safety Niche, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Science, Private Mail Bag X2046, North West University, Mmabatho 2735, South Africa

IJERPH, 2018, vol. 15, issue 4, 1-25

Abstract: Rhizosphere microbiome which has been shown to enhance plant growth and yield are modulated or influenced by a few environmental factors such as soil type, plant cultivar, climate change and anthropogenic activities. In particular, anthropogenic activity, such as the use of nitrogen-based chemical fertilizers, is associated with environmental destruction and this calls for a more ecofriendly strategy to increase nitrogen levels in agricultural land. This feat is attainable by harnessing nitrogen-fixing endophytic and free-living rhizobacteria. Rhizobium , Pseudomonas , Azospirillum and Bacillus , have been found to have positive impacts on crops by enhancing both above and belowground biomass and could therefore play positive roles in achieving sustainable agriculture outcomes. Thus, it is necessary to study this rhizosphere microbiome with more sophisticated culture-independent techniques such as next generation sequencing (NGS) with the prospect of discovering novel bacteria with plant growth promoting traits. This review is therefore aimed at discussing factors that can modulate rhizosphere microbiome with focus on the contributions of nitrogen fixing bacteria towards sustainable agricultural development and the techniques that can be used for their study.

Keywords: microbiome; next generation sequencing; plant yield; rhizobacteria; rhizosphere; sustainable agriculture (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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