Biofertilizers as low external input for sustainable agriculture and environmental quality

Abstract

Biofertilizers like Rhizobium, Azotobacter, Azospirillium, PSM, VAM and PGPRs etc. perform significant improvement in productivity and quality of crops. They accelerate certain microbial processes which augment availability of nutrients in a form easily assimilated by plants.Biofertilizers are gaining importance due to increasing emphasis on soil health, minimize environmental pollution and cut down the use of chemical in agriculture. Application of biofertilizers supplements the chemical fertilizers and restores soil fertility. Therefore, it is an ecofriendly low cost technology to conserve the natural resources besides maintaining food safety and environmental quality in a sustainable manner.