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Agronomy
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From Soil-Plant-Microbial Interactions to New-Concept Biopesticides and Biofertilizers
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From Soil-Plant-Microbial Interactions to New-Concept Biopesticides and Biofertilizers

A special issue of Agronomy (ISSN 2073-4395). This special issue belongs to the section "Soil and Plant Nutrition".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 January 2025) | Viewed by 14462

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Nazrul Islam

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC), Morden Research and Development Centre, 101 Route 100, Morden, MB R6M 1Y5, Canada
Interests: soil and crop microbiomes; sustainable agriculture; metagenomics; microbial inoculants; biofertilizers; biopesticides; nutrient cycling; disease suppression; plant growth promotion; climate change resilience; biodiversity; environmental impact; food security; farming practices
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

A growing worldwide concern is the injudicious use of agrochemicals such as fertilizer, fungicide, insecticide or soil treatments in intensive crop production systems, posing major threats to environmental pollution, health hazards and global food security. Researchers are striving to find alternatives to synthetic inorganic chemicals for sustainable agriculture. A diverse group of microorganisms, including fungi, bacteria, archaea, protists and nematodes, have shown potential and are being promoted as commercial biofertilizers (bioinoculants) to enhance soil fertility, abiotic stress resilience, pathogen/disease suppression/control and crop productivity. Little is known about the survival, persistence, establishment, mode of action and functions of microbial inoculants, and their impacts on indigenous microbial communities and agroecosystems are poorly understood.

The aim of this Special Issue is to publish original research and review articles on the understanding of the interactions among microbiomes, soils, environments, above- as well as belowground climates and crop varieties. We are particularly interested to apprehend the agronomic challenges and prospects of these biotechnological products in growers’ field and greenhouse conditions. Therefore, the submission of research articles that examine innovative approaches, not limited to the formulation of biofertilizer/inoculant, bioefficacy, bioremediation and environmental consequences at the molecular, cellular and metagenomics levels, are welcome.

Dr. Nazrul Islam
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Agronomy is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • plant–microbiome–climate interactions
  • biofertilizers and bioinoculants
  • crop productivity

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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24 pages, 1867 KiB  
Article
Enhancing Soil Microbial Activity and Spelt (Triticum spelta L.) Yield in Organic Farming Through Biofertilizer and Green Manure Applications
by Rafał Górski, Alicja Niewiadomska, Anna Płaza, Agnieszka Wolna-Maruwka, Dorota Swędrzyńska, Katarzyna Głuchowska and Robert Rosa
Agronomy 2024, 14(12), 2845; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14122845 - 28 Nov 2024
Viewed by 768
Abstract
At present, there is growing consumer interest in Triticum spelta L., which has high nutritional value. This species is recommended for cultivation in organic farming. In this system of agriculture, biofertilizers are an alternative to mineral fertilization. Biofertilizers stimulate plant growth by providing [...] Read more.
At present, there is growing consumer interest in Triticum spelta L., which has high nutritional value. This species is recommended for cultivation in organic farming. In this system of agriculture, biofertilizers are an alternative to mineral fertilization. Biofertilizers stimulate plant growth by providing nutrients through the biological fixation of molecular nitrogen from the air or by increasing the availability of insoluble nutrients in the soil and by synthesizing substances that stimulate plant growth. Green manure biomass and root secretions provide growth material for soil microorganisms, and microorganisms return nutrients to the soil and plants through nutrient decomposition and conversion. Considering the many benefits of using biofertilizers and growing cereals with cover crops for green manure in cereal rotations, field research was carried out on an organic farm to evaluate the soil microbes and the amount of biomass from green manures and their follow-up effect on Triticum spelta L. yields using biofertilizers. Two factors were researched: (I) biofertilizers: control object (no biofertilizer), Azotobacter chroococcum + Azospirillum lipoferum Br 17, Arthrobacter agilis + Bacillus megaterium var. phosphaticum, and combined application of atmospheric nitrogen-fixing bacteria with phosphate solubilizing bacteria; (II) green manures: control object (no green manure application), Trifolium pratense L., Trifolium pratense L. + Lolium multiflorum L., and Lolium multiflorum L. The results show that the most favorable abundance of microorganisms determined in the soil after harvesting Hordeum vulgare L. was recorded after the application of biofertilizers containing atmospheric nitrogen-fixing bacteria with phosphate-solubilizing bacteria under a mixture of Trifolium pratense L. with Lolium multiflorum L. Plowing green manure from a mixture of Trifolium pratense L. with Lolium multiflorum L. resulted in an average increase of 39% in grain yield of Triticum spelta L., while the application of a biofertilizer containing Azotobacter chroococcum + Azospirillum lipoferum Br 17 + Arthrobacter agilis + Bacillus megaterium var. phosphaticum resulted in an average increase of 63%. The proposed spelt wheat cultivation technique can be recommended for agricultural practice due to the positive response of grain yield, but it may also be an important direction for further research to reduce the negative impact of agriculture on the environment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue From Soil-Plant-Microbial Interactions to New-Concept Biopesticides and Biofertilizers)
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16 pages, 5588 KiB  
Article
Potential Biofertilizers for Alkaline Soil: Bacteria Isolated from the Rhizosphere of Potatoes
by Zhongchen Yu, Caiding Chen, Zhou Li, Yunjie Song, Chunhong Yan, Xinyu Jiang, Heng Jia, Yi Shang and Mengqing Tian
Agronomy 2024, 14(6), 1241; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14061241 - 7 Jun 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1428
Abstract
Root-associated microorganisms, which can be recruited specially by plants to cope with environmental stress under extreme conditions, are one of the major mediators of nutrient exchange between plants and the environment. To obtain more crop-beneficial microbes, rhizosphere bacteria of Désirée potatoes cultivated in [...] Read more.
Root-associated microorganisms, which can be recruited specially by plants to cope with environmental stress under extreme conditions, are one of the major mediators of nutrient exchange between plants and the environment. To obtain more crop-beneficial microbes, rhizosphere bacteria of Désirée potatoes cultivated in poor and alkaline soil have been studied. The screening of 83 strains with incomplete identical 16S rDNA sequences showed that 47 strains produced indole acetic acid (IAA), with contents ranging from 0.2 to 42 mg/L, and seven strains were phosphorus-solubilizing, among which six strains significantly increased the growth rate of potato plants. Thirty-seven strains produced siderophore and four strains were zinc-solubilizing, among which three strains significantly alleviated the chlorosis of potato plants. In all of the isolates, the species Variovorax soli (ST98) and Cellulomonas biazotea (ST118) were first found to possess an IAA-secreting ability; the species Leifsonia aquatica (ST172) and Leifsonia naganoensis (ST177) and the genus Sutcliffiella (ST11) were first discovered to be capable of phosphorus solubilization; the species Chryseobacterium daecheongense (ST32) was the first reported to be capable of zinc solubilization; and the species V. soli (ST98), C. biazotea (ST118) and L. naganoensis (ST177) were first found to be capable of plant growth promotion. The discovery of multiple functional bacteria enriched the resources of plant growth-promoting bacteria and provided a foundation for biofertilizer production to improve soil conditions and crop production. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue From Soil-Plant-Microbial Interactions to New-Concept Biopesticides and Biofertilizers)
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Review

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22 pages, 881 KiB  
Review
Increasing Application of Multifunctional Bacillus for Biocontrol of Pests and Diseases and Plant Growth Promotion: Lessons from Brazil
by Natalia Caetano Vasques, Marco Antonio Nogueira and Mariangela Hungria
Agronomy 2024, 14(8), 1654; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14081654 - 27 Jul 2024
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 4305
Abstract
The microbial genus Bacillus inhabits a diverse range of environments and is widespread across all global biomes, with a significant presence in soil habitats. In agriculture, Bacillus strains play multifaceted roles, serving as biocontrol agents against pests and diseases, and promoting plant growth [...] Read more.
The microbial genus Bacillus inhabits a diverse range of environments and is widespread across all global biomes, with a significant presence in soil habitats. In agriculture, Bacillus strains play multifaceted roles, serving as biocontrol agents against pests and diseases, and promoting plant growth by facilitating nutrient availability and enhancing stress tolerance. Through mechanisms such as phosphate solubilization, ACC-deaminase activity, and synthesis of phytohormones and siderophores, Bacillus spp. contribute to soil health and crop productivity, in a new approach of regenerative agriculture. The ability of Bacillus spp. to solubilize phosphate makes essential nutrients more accessible to plants, while ACC-deaminase activity helps plants withstand environmental stresses. Additionally, the synthesis of phytohormones can stimulate plant growth and development, and siderophores may facilitate the uptake of nutrients such as iron by plants. As the agricultural industry embraces Bacillus-based formulations for pest management and crop enhancement, future research holds promising prospects for optimizing their applications and harnessing their full potential in agroecosystems. Continued exploration of Bacillus spp. diversity and their interactions with plants and soil microbiota will further advance sustainable agricultural practices. This review contributes to understanding how Bacillus strains can revolutionize agriculture by enhancing soil health, increasing crop productivity, and providing effective biological solutions against pests and diseases. The successful application of Bacillus-based technologies in millions of hectares in Brazilian agriculture demonstrates the synergy between the need for more sustainable agricultural practices and the use of bio-inputs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue From Soil-Plant-Microbial Interactions to New-Concept Biopesticides and Biofertilizers)
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17 pages, 900 KiB  
Review
Microbial Metabolomics Interaction and Ecological Challenges of Trichoderma Species as Biocontrol Inoculant in Crop Rhizosphere
by Saleh Ahmed Shahriar, M. Nazrul Islam, Charles Ng Wai Chun, Parwinder Kaur, Md. Abdur Rahim, Md. Mynul Islam, Jasim Uddain and Shafiquzzaman Siddiquee
Agronomy 2022, 12(4), 900; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12040900 - 8 Apr 2022
Cited by 20 | Viewed by 5838
Abstract
The fungal species belonging to the genus Trichoderma has been globally recognized as a potential candidate of biofertilizer and biocontrol agent to prevent devastating soil-borne fungal pathogens and enhance growth and productivity of agricultural crops. The antagonistic activity of Trichoderma to pathogenic fungi [...] Read more.
The fungal species belonging to the genus Trichoderma has been globally recognized as a potential candidate of biofertilizer and biocontrol agent to prevent devastating soil-borne fungal pathogens and enhance growth and productivity of agricultural crops. The antagonistic activity of Trichoderma to pathogenic fungi is attributed to several mechanisms including antibiosis and enzymatic hydrolysis, which are largely associated with a wide range of metabolites secreted by the Trichoderma species. Besides suppressing target pathogens, several metabolites produced by Trichoderma species may act against non-pathogenic beneficial soil microbial communities and perform unintended alterations within the structures and functions of microbial communities in the crop rhizosphere. Multiple microbial interactions have been shown to enhance biocontrol efficacy in many cases as compared to bioinoculant employed alone. The key advances in understanding the ecological functions of the Trichoderma species with special emphasis on their associations with plant roots and other microbes exist in the crop rhizosphere, which are briefly described here. This review focuses on the interactions of metabolites secreted by Trichoderma species and plant roots in the rhizosphere and their impacts on pathogenic and non-pathogenic soil microbial communities. The complex interactions among Trichoderma–plants–microbes that may occur in the crop rhizosphere are underlined and several prospective avenues for future research in this area are briefly explored. The data presented here will stipulate future research on sustainably maximizing the efficiency of Trichoderma inoculation and their secondary metabolites in the crop soil ecosystem. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue From Soil-Plant-Microbial Interactions to New-Concept Biopesticides and Biofertilizers)
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