Biofertilizers: A sustainable approach for rabi crops

摘要

One of the major challenges for agriculture in the 21st century is the production of agricultural crops in an environmentally sound and sustainable way. An enhanced production of crops is necessary to provide sufficient food for the ever-increasing human population. To get higher productivity, chemical fertilizers and pesticides are used extensively which impose extensive burden on agriculture. New and novel solutions are sought to maintain balance between productivity and sustainability of agriculture.Current trends in agriculture are focused on reduction in the use of inorganic fertilizers and chemical pesticides to lessen the burden imposed on our natural resources and environment. Therefore, ecologically-safe, efficient and cost-effective alternatives are required. Plant beneficial microorganisms used as biofertilizers improve soil fertility, plant growth and plant health.