Search Results (3)

Phosphorus is a macronutrient crucially important for plant growth and development; its limited amount in soil and water poses bewildering concerns amongst agronomists. Externally applied phosphorus fertilizers can fulfil crops’ phosphorus needs throughout essential growth stages; however, the overapplication of phosphorus fertilizers leads to diminished phosphorus acquisition efficiency (PAE), disrupts the delicate balance of nutrients in soil and water, leads to deficiencies in other essential elements, poses significant environmental risks, and accelerates the loss of phosphorus mineral supplies. Moreover, much of the applied phosphorus may become fixed as insoluble phosphates by combining with calcium, iron, aluminum, manganese, etc., present in soil, making it unavailable for the plants. Phosphate solubilizing bacteria (PSB) can render insoluble phosphate accessible to plants by solubilization and mineralization, hence enhancing crop yields while ensuring environmental sustainability. Earthworms are vital soil invertebrates that interact continuously with soil and soil microorganisms and play an essential role in maintaining soil fertility. The present study aims to screen and identify potential phosphate solubilizing bacteria from the intestinal tract of the earthworm Aporrectodea rosea. The experimental results indicate that the strain PSEG-1 was effective in phosphate solubilization, with a solubilization index of 1.6 in Pikovskaya (PVK)’s medium. The strain produced organic acid in the National Botanical Research Institute (NBRIP)’s medium. Phenotypic and genotypic studies of the isolate showed that the strain PSEG-1 belongs to Klebsiella variicola. Our results suggest that the vermi-bacterial strain Klebsiella variicola PSEG-1 possesses intrinsic abilities to solubilize phosphate, which could be exploited for formulating potential microbial biofertilizers to enhance crop production. Full article

The implementation of cutting-edge agricultural practices provides tools and techniques to drive climate-smart agriculture, reduce carbon emissions, and lower the carbon footprint. The alteration of climate conditions due to human activities poses a serious threat to the global agricultural systems. Greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) from organic waste management need urgent attention to optimize conventional composting strategies for organic wastes. The addition of various inorganic materials such as sawdust and fly ash mitigate GHG during the vermicomposting process. This paper critically investigates the factors responsible for GHG emissions during vermicomposting so that possible threats can be managed. Full article

The ability of microorganisms to detoxify xenobiotic compounds allows them to thrive in a toxic environment using carbon, phosphorus, sulfur, and nitrogen from the available sources. Biotransformation is the most effective and useful metabolic process to degrade xenobiotic compounds. Microorganisms have an exceptional ability due to particular genes, enzymes, and degradative mechanisms. Microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi have unique properties that enable them to partially or completely metabolize the xenobiotic substances in various ecosystems.There are many cutting-edge approaches available to understand the molecular mechanism of degradative processes and pathways to decontaminate or change the core structure of xenobiotics in nature. These methods examine microorganisms, their metabolic machinery, novel proteins, and catabolic genes. This article addresses recent advances and current trends to characterize the catabolic genes, enzymes and the techniques involved in combating the threat of xenobiotic compounds using an eco-friendly approach. Full article