Introduction
To meet the food security needs of
the 21st century, this book focuses on ecofriendly and sustainable production
technologies based on plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR). It is
estimated that the global population could increase to 9 billion by 2050.
Further, the amount of land devoted to farming has decreased. Soil is a living
entity, and is not only a valuable natural resource for agricultural and food
security, but also for the preservation of all life processes. Agricultural
productivity rests on the foundation of microbial diversity in the soil, and in
recent years, PGPR have emerged as an important and promising tool for
sustainable agriculture.
The injudicious use of
agrochemicals by farmers has created a range of negative impacts, not only
threatening the environment, but also destroying useful microorganisms in the
soil. The efficient use of PGPR reduces the need for these chemicals while simultaneously
lowering production costs. In turn, increased yields could provide a more
favourable environment and encourage sustainability. This book assesses the
impacts of PGPR on crops, environmental and socio-economic sustainability, and
demonstrates these ecofriendly technologies’ three critical advantages, namely
(a) enhanced crop productivity, (b) reduced application of agrochemicals, and
(c) increased incomes for farmers. Besides offering an economically attractive
and ecologically sound means of augmenting the nutrient supply and combatting
soil-borne pathogens, PGPR play an important part in boosting soil fertility,
bioremediation and stress management for the development of ecofriendly and
sustainable agriculture.