Khalid Rehman Hakeem Gowhar Hamid Dar Mohammad Aneesul Mehmood Rouf Ahmad Bhat Editors Microbiota and Biofertilizers A Sustainable Continuum for Plant and Soil Health Microbiota and Biofertilizers Khalid Rehman Hakeem Gowhar Hamid Dar Mohammad Aneesul Mehmood Rouf Ahmad Bhat Editors Microbiota and Biofertilizers A Sustainable Continuum for Plant and Soil Health Editors Khalid Rehman Hakeem Gowhar Hamid Dar Department of Biological Sciences Department of Environmental Science King Abdulaziz University Sri Pratap College Jeddah, Saudi Arabia Cluster University Higher Education Department Mohammad Aneesul Mehmood Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India Department of Environment & Water Management, Sri Pratap College Rouf Ahmad Bhat Cluster University Division of Environmental Sciences Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir-Srinagar Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India ISBN 978-3-030-48770-6 ISBN 978-3-030-48771-3 (eBook) https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-48771-3 © Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021 This work is subject to copyright. All rights are reserved by the Publisher, whether the whole or part of the material is concerned, specifically the rights of translation, reprinting, reuse of illustrations, recitation, broadcasting, reproduction on microfilms or in any other physical way, and transmission or information storage and retrieval, electronic adaptation, computer software, or by similar or dissimilar methodology now known or hereafter developed. The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, service marks, etc. in this publication does not imply, even in the absence of a specific statement, that such names are exempt from the relevant protective laws and regulations and therefore free for general use. The publisher, the authors, and the editors are safe to assume that the advice and information in this book are believed to be true and accurate at the date of publication. Neither the publisher nor the authors or the editors give a warranty, expressed or implied, with respect to the material contained herein or for any errors or omissions that may have been made. The publisher remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. This Springer imprint is published by the registered company Springer Nature Switzerland AG The registered company address is: Gewerbestrasse 11, 6330 Cham, Switzerland Dedicated to our parents and teachers. Foreword Undoubtedly, the agricultural industry feeds an enormous population globally. Numerous techniques and technologies along with modern strategies have been employed in order to increase the agricultural yield. The faith of agriculturists to rely on synthetic substances has enhanced agricultural yield, but this has been achieved at the cost of the environment. Synthetic substances have a history of dete- riorating the quality of different environs significantly and these substances not only degrade the ecosystem but have led to human health hazards. There are numerous traditional methods available to control the overuse of these substances. However, microbiota as biofertilizers is a viable option to deal with grave issues that rose due to application of synthetic chemicals and may act as a solution against the discrimi- nate use of synthetic substances. Furthermore, exploring these sustainable approaches can eliminate the accumulation of persistent contaminants from envi- rons in a versatile and eco-friendly manner. The book contains coherent topics, relevant to the trustworthiness of microbiota as biofertilizer and for the safeguard of the environment. The book is an assembly of 15 chapters covering different regions of the world. Chapter 1 entitled ‘Chemical fertilizers, formulation, and their influence on soil health’ by a group of authors from Pakistan presents information on intensive land use with continuous and inju- dicious application of high doses of inorganic fertilizers. The authors stress the fact vii viii Foreword that these chemical substances intensively affect soil properties, and keeping in view the grave concerns on using synthetic substances, an understanding of chemi- cal fertilizer formulations and their effect on soil health is necessary to overcome high synthetic fertilizer applications. The scientists from northern part of India pro- vide a valuable picture about ‘Organic agriculture: principles, current status, and significance’ in Chap. 2. The authors have skillfully drawn a picture regarding the impacts of population growth on agricultural industry and highlighted the major challenges to exploring organic agriculture globally. In Chap. 3 on the ‘Responses of soil properties to organic amendments’ by scientists from India, the authors pres- ent information pertaining to the synthetic fertilizers and chemicals which persis- tently pose a threat not only to human lives but create ecological imbalance too. Otherwise, they put forth an argument that organic amendments not only improve the soil organization by enhancing aggregate stability, hydrophobicity, soil porosity and soil permeability, but also help in reducing bulk density. However, they lay emphasis on the fact that application of organic amendments should follow refer- ences in order to get desirable results. In Chap. 4 a team of workers from India while addressing a trending topic in their work entitled ‘Vermicomposting: Sustainable tool for agricultural environs’ have added information on compost, a quality product containing ingredients beneficial for plants that prevents environmental degrada- tion. Chapter 5 ‘Application and viability of macrophytes as green manure’ is writ- ten by a group of researchers from the USA and Mexico. The authors investigated that the increase in the human population is an important challenge to food security in the world and it is important to develop agro-industrial and biotechnological strategies that are eco-friendly and to avoid the use of chemical fertilizers. Therefore, they urge using themacrophytes as green manure because of their eco-friendly nature. The scientists again from India present their work on ‘Role of microorgan- isms as biofertilizers’ in Chap. 6, wherein authors demonstrate that microbes pro- mote growth, productivity and physiological properties of plants either directly or indirectly. Furthermore, authors highlight that bio-fertilizers increase the growth as well as development of plants by building up the accessibility of plants to mineral nutrients, biological nitrogen fixation, solubilizing phosphorus and growth hor- mones. A group of authors from India have expanded the information on the title ‘Nano-agriculture: A novel approach in agriculture’ in Chap. 7 and established the fact that nanotechnology has a great potential to enhance the quality of life explored in various regions of agro-industry and the food system. Again the researchers from India have shared their thoughts and information on the title ‘Biofertilizers: sustain- able approach for growing population needs’ in Chap. 8. The authors enumerate that biofertilizers offer an economically and environmentally attractive route to increase the supply of nutrients. Furthermore, they suggest that information acquired from the literature evaluated will assist in comprehending the physiological foundation of biofertilizer for viable farming in order to reduce the issues of utilizing chemical fertilizers. Chapter 9, titled ‘Role of recombinant DNA technology in biofertilizer Foreword ix production’ written by a scientist from India highlights important features with respect to biofertilizer production by using the tools of molecular biotechnology, like recombinant DNA technology, which can improve the metabolic pathways and production of important plant growth promoting factors like phytohormones and enzyme activity. Another group of authors from India prepared Chap. 10, titled ‘Root-associated ectomycorrhizal mycobionts as forest biofertilizers: Standardized molecular methods for characterization of ectomycorrhizal wood wide web’. This chapter highlights the role of root-associated ectomycorrhizal fungi as biofertilizers in forest ecosystems and efficient molecular methods specially optimized for char- acterization of ectomycorrhizal fungi associated with conifers. Scientists from Pakistan have pooled up the information on the ‘Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) as biofertilizers and biopesticides’ in Chap. 11. The authors report that plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) play an important role in sustainable agriculture through the improvement of plant growth via different pro- cesses like biological nitrogen fixation, phosphate solubilization, siderophore pro- duction and phytohormone synthesis. Furthermore, PGPR can work as biocontrol agents providing protection to the plants, enhancing the plant growth through the synthesis of antibiotics. Chapter 12 titled ‘Halotolerant microorganism reclamation industry for salt-dominant soils’ has been prepared by researchers from India. The authors provide a detailed picture on bacterial domain halophiles, which are consid- ered moderately tolerant and a good choice for reclamation of salt affected soils. The chapter also highlights the role of Bacillus species to maintain the friendly behaviour of plant root zone changes under stressed environs and accelerate plant development. Chapter 13 entitled ‘Allelopathic bacteria as an alternate weedicide: progress and future standpoints’ has been critically overviewed by workers from Pakistan. The chapter deals with grave effects of chemical substances on different environs utilized in agricultural industries. Otherwise, it focuses on allelopathic bacteria as an alternative and more effective weed control approach which not only eradicates the weed problem but also enhances the growth of the crops. A group of scientists from India have presented a valuable description under the title ‘Azotobacter as biofertilizer for sustainable soil and plant health under saline envi- ronmental conditions’ in Chap. 14. The authors report that application of Azotobacter as biofertilizer has had a positive impact on the germination of seeds, growth and increased proliferation of root and shoot length, and yield of different crops in isola- tion and in consonance with other bacterial biomass under saline conditions. It has also proven beneficial with other phosphate solubilizing microbes for improving the quality of compost. Chapter 15 deals with the topic ‘Role of microbiota in compost- ing’ as the closing chapter, presented by researchers from India, and highlights the importance of composting and the role of microbiota in it. The authors mention that composting helps to reduce the waste dumped in landfills, recycles humus and nutrients, protects and improves the microbial diversity of the cultivated soils and thus reduces the overall contamination in soil environs. x Foreword The order of chapters included and information established in this book cover the highly sensitive issues related to sustainable agriculture practices, and many crucial aspects of scientific valuation are addressed in this volume. The book can act as a repository of knowledge on the subject and can act as a source of attraction to the scientific community. The editors must be highly praised and appreciated for their creditable hard work in bringing forth this book. Prof. Dr. Javeed Iqbal Ahmad Bhat Division of Environmental Science Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India Preface In the current era, an increasing population has put tremendous pressure on agricul- tural productivity to fulfil the demands of the huge population. Numerous agricul- tural activities and techniques have been developed to raise yearly crop production globally. No doubt, agriculturists have succeeded in the scenario to enhance yearly crop productivity at the cost of environmental degradation by applying synthetic persistent substances, viz., synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides since chemical fertilizers are nearly as destructive as productive, like monocultures and consequences associated with the elimination of key biota, nutrient pollution, as evidenced by an algae bloom, eutrophication, water quality issues, lower oxygen levels and danger to fish stocks. Therefore, the scientific approach to maintain sus- tainable fertility in soil and plants is to switch over to biofertilizers. Biofertilizers are compounds of organic matter that are applied to crops for growth and health. Their constituent microorganisms interact with the soil, root and plant seed in an eco-friendly manner, promoting the growth of micro-flora that enhance soil fertility. They are known to play several vital roles in soil fertility, crop productivity and production in agriculture. The application of biofertilizers results in increased mineral and water uptake, root development, vegetative growth and nitrogen fixation. They liberate growth-promoting substances plus vitamins and help in maintaining soil fertility. They act as antagonists and play a pivotal role in neutralizing the soil-borne plant pathogens and thus, help in the bio-control of dis- eases. The application of biofertilizers in lieu of synthetic fertilizers could be a promising technique to raise agricultural productivity without degrading the envi- ronmental quality. The book highlights grave consequences and enumerates plenty of examples on the degradation of different environs due to synthetic substances. Interestingly, vari- ous eco-friendly agricultural practices, which have been proven a vital asset and an alternative production system that principally disallows the usage of synthetic sub- stances in farm fields, have been discussed in a coherent manner. Besides, modern approaches, especially recombinant DNA technology, for food production that aim to promote and maintain edaphic factors, human health and ecological balance have been elaborated logically. The book also deals with the role of earthworms and xi