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Microbial Utilization to Nurture Robust Agroecosystems for Food Security
1
Department of Botany, Abdul Wali Khan University, Mardan 23200, Pakistan
2
Department of Food Science & Technology, Abdul Wali Khan University, Mardan 23200, Pakistan
3
Department of Agronomy, Abdul Wali Khan University, Mardan 23200, Pakistan
4
School of Breeding and Multiplication (Sanya Institute of Breeding and Multiplication), Hainan University, Sanya 572000, China
5
Agricultural Ecology and Resources Protection Station of Hainan Province, Haikou 570228, China
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
†
These authors contributed equally to this work.
Agronomy 2024, 14(9), 1891; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14091891 (registering DOI)
Submission received: 22 June 2024
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Revised: 12 August 2024
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Accepted: 21 August 2024
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Published: 24 August 2024
Abstract
In the context of anthropogenic evolution, various sectors have been exploited to satisfy human needs and demands, often pushing them to the brink of deterioration and destruction. One such sector is agrochemicals, which have been increasingly employed to achieve higher yields and bridge the gap between food supply and demand. However, extensive and prolonged use of chemical fertilizers most often degrades soil structure over time, resulting in reduced yields and consequently further exacerbating the disparity between supply and demand. To address these challenges and ensure sustainable agricultural production, utilization of microorganisms offers promising solutions. Hence, microorganisms, particularly effective microorganisms (EMs) and plant growth-promoting microbes (PGPMs), are pivotal in agricultural biomes. They enhance crop yields through active contribution to crucial biological processes like nitrogen fixation and phytohormone synthesis, making vital nutrients soluble and acting as natural enemies against pests and pathogens. Microbes directly enhance soil vigor and stimulate plant growth via the exudation of bioactive compounds. The utilization of EMs and PGPMs reduces the need for chemical inputs, leading to lower costs and reduced environmental pollutants. Furthermore, beneficial soil microflora produces growth-related metabolites and phytohormones that augment plant growth and support stress resilience. Microbes also help plants tolerate various abiotic stresses, including metal stress, salt stress, and drought stress, through various mechanisms. Understanding the interactions and activities of microorganisms provides valuable insights into their potential use to manage stress in plants. Thus, by leveraging the full potential of microorganisms, we can develop healthier agroecosystems that contribute sustainably to meet the growing global food demands.
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MDPI and ACS Style
Qadir, M.; Hussain, A.; Iqbal, A.; Shah, F.; Wu, W.; Cai, H.
Microbial Utilization to Nurture Robust Agroecosystems for Food Security. Agronomy 2024, 14, 1891.
https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14091891
AMA Style
Qadir M, Hussain A, Iqbal A, Shah F, Wu W, Cai H.
Microbial Utilization to Nurture Robust Agroecosystems for Food Security. Agronomy. 2024; 14(9):1891.
https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14091891
Chicago/Turabian Style
Qadir, Muhammad, Anwar Hussain, Amjad Iqbal, Farooq Shah, Wei Wu, and Huifeng Cai.
2024. "Microbial Utilization to Nurture Robust Agroecosystems for Food Security" Agronomy 14, no. 9: 1891.
https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14091891
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