Linking Soil Microbial Diversity to Modern Agriculture Practices: A Review

Amrita Gupta, Udai B. Singh, Pramod K. Sahu, Surinder Paul, Adarsh Kumar, Deepti Malviya, Shailendra Singh, Pandiyan Kuppusamy, Prakash Singh, Diby Paul, Jai P. Rai, Harsh V. Singh, Madhab C. Manna, Theodore C. Crusberg, Arun Kumar and Anil K. Saxena
Additional contact information
Amrita Gupta: Plant-Microbe Interaction and Rhizosphere Biology Lab, ICAR-National Bureau of Agriculturally Important Microorganisms, Maunath Bhanjan 275103, India
Udai B. Singh: Plant-Microbe Interaction and Rhizosphere Biology Lab, ICAR-National Bureau of Agriculturally Important Microorganisms, Maunath Bhanjan 275103, India
Pramod K. Sahu: Plant-Microbe Interaction and Rhizosphere Biology Lab, ICAR-National Bureau of Agriculturally Important Microorganisms, Maunath Bhanjan 275103, India
Surinder Paul: Plant-Microbe Interaction and Rhizosphere Biology Lab, ICAR-National Bureau of Agriculturally Important Microorganisms, Maunath Bhanjan 275103, India
Adarsh Kumar: Plant-Microbe Interaction and Rhizosphere Biology Lab, ICAR-National Bureau of Agriculturally Important Microorganisms, Maunath Bhanjan 275103, India
Deepti Malviya: Plant-Microbe Interaction and Rhizosphere Biology Lab, ICAR-National Bureau of Agriculturally Important Microorganisms, Maunath Bhanjan 275103, India
Shailendra Singh: Plant-Microbe Interaction and Rhizosphere Biology Lab, ICAR-National Bureau of Agriculturally Important Microorganisms, Maunath Bhanjan 275103, India
Pandiyan Kuppusamy: ICAR-Central Institute for Research on Cotton Technology, Ginning Training Centre, Nagpur 440023, India
Prakash Singh: Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, Veer Kunwar Singh College of Agriculture, Bihar Agricultural University, Dumraon 802136, India
Diby Paul: Pilgram Marpeck School of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, Truett McConnel University, 100 Alumni Dr., Cleveland, GA 30528, USA
Jai P. Rai: Department of Mycology and Plant Pathology, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005, India
Harsh V. Singh: Plant-Microbe Interaction and Rhizosphere Biology Lab, ICAR-National Bureau of Agriculturally Important Microorganisms, Maunath Bhanjan 275103, India
Madhab C. Manna: Soil Biology Division, ICAR-Indian Institute of Soil Science, Nabibagh, Berasia Road, Bhopal 462038, India
Theodore C. Crusberg: Department of Biology and Biotechnology, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
Arun Kumar: Department of Agronomy, Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour, Bhagalpur 813210, India
Anil K. Saxena: Plant-Microbe Interaction and Rhizosphere Biology Lab, ICAR-National Bureau of Agriculturally Important Microorganisms, Maunath Bhanjan 275103, India

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 5, 1-29

Abstract: Agriculture is a multifarious interface between plants and associated microorganisms. In contemporary agriculture, emphasis is being given to environmentally friendly approaches, particularly in developing countries, to enhance sustainability of the system with the least negative effects on produce quality and quantity. Modern agricultural practices such as extensive tillage, the use of harmful agrochemicals, mono-cropping, etc. have been found to influence soil microbial community structure and soil sustainability. On the other hand, the question of feeding the ever-growing global population while ensuring system sustainability largely remains unanswered. Agriculturally important microorganisms are envisaged to play important roles in various measures to raise a healthy and remunerative crop, including integrated nutrient management, as well as disease and pest management to cut down agrochemicals without compromising the agricultural production. These beneficial microorganisms seem to have every potential to provide an alternative opportunity to overcome the ill effects of various components of traditional agriculture being practiced by and large. Despite an increased awareness of the importance of organically produced food, farmers in developing countries still tend to apply inorganic chemical fertilizers and toxic chemical pesticides beyond the recommended doses. Nutrient uptake enhancement, biocontrol of pests and diseases using microbial inoculants may replace/reduce agrochemicals in agricultural production system. The present review aims to examine and discuss the shift in microbial population structure due to current agricultural practices and focuses on the development of a sustainable agricultural system employing the tremendous untapped potential of the microbial world.

Keywords: agricultural sustainability; soil microbial diversity; agriculture practices; tillage practices; microbial recruitment; pesticide effects (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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