Harnessing of Soil Microbiome for Sustainable Agriculture

Dear Colleagues,

Soil microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, protozoa and archaea, collectively known as the soil microbiome, play a vital role in plant health and crop productivity. By incorporating microbial inoculants, biofertilizers and biopesticides into agricultural practices, farmers can enhance soil health, promote resilience to climate change and reduce environmental impacts. Biofertilizers and soil inoculants containing beneficial microorganisms can increase nutrient availability and plant uptake. The use of diverse microbial communities over single strains can lead to more effective and resilient agricultural systems. Certain microorganisms can act as natural enemies of pests, reducing the need for synthetic pesticides in integrated pest management strategies. Soil microorganisms also contribute to carbon cycling, storing atmospheric carbon dioxide in soil organic matter, which can mitigate climate change by sequestering carbon in agricultural soils. Microbial bioremediation techniques can clean up contaminated soils by using microorganisms to break down pollutants. Advances in soil microbiome research and biotechnology are crucial for promoting sustainable agriculture. Technologies such as metagenomics and microbial ecology provide insights into soil microbial communities in agroecosystems. This Special Issue emphasizes the potential of the soil microbiome to improve agricultural sustainability, increase crop yields and reduce environmental damage, thereby supporting food security and ecosystem stability for future generations.

Dr. Debasis Mitra
Dr. Marika Pellegrini
Dr. Leonard Koolman
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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• microorganisms
• soil microbiome
• plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR)
• arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi
• plant microbe interaction
• rhizospheric microenvironment
• environmental impacts
• climate change
• soil nutrient
• nutrient uptake
• microbial inoculants
• pest management 
• bioremediation
• soil organic matter
• metagenomics
• biocontrol
• microbial ecology 
• food security
• sustainable agriculture