the global food demands. However, the main method for this was conducted by the
intensive application of agrochemicals to improve nutrient availability and control
crops from different types of pests. This has created different environmental, economic as well as social problems. Among these problems, the soil is an environmentally most sensitive part. Extensive and unjustified agrochemicals application
has also caused vast soil pollution.
Agrochemicals do affect the functional and structural variability of microbe’s
populations. The effects may be range from short reversible to long irreversible
changes. Generally, agrochemical’s inputs seem to give fast benefit for crop-yield
improvement so far their constant usage results in a radical impact on soil parameters. Therefore, looking at other ecofriendly biotechnological approaches is the only
choice to ensure sustainable agricultural rehearses via keeping soil quality. This
chapter by addressing the present status of agrochemicals’ impact on soil health
focused on recent biotechnological approach for identification of biofertilizer microbial spp., identification of genes from microbial strains involved in biofertilizers
application, the role of plant molecular breeding, genomics, and genetic engineering
to minimize agrochemical impact on sustainable agriculture.
2 Effect of Synthetic Fertilizers on Soil Parameters
For standard yield and growth plant requires 16 vital elements in the right proportions. Constant crop cultivation leads to a reduction of these nutrients from the
soil whereas their availability is a prerequisite to sustaining crops. The common
method to add the nutrients in cultivated soils is via the use of artificial fertilizers.
Parallel with increasing food productions, the demand for chemical fertilizer has
been continuously growing with time. Global fertilizer demand of the three main
fertilizer nutrients phosphorus, nitrogen, and potassium reached 186.67 million tons
in 2016, increasing by 1.4% over 2015 consumption levels while the need for
nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium is predicted to grow yearly on an average by
1.5, 2.2, and 2.4% respectively from 2015 to 2020 (FAO 2017).
However, the influences of synthetic fertilizers on the soil environment are very
serious. Permanent use of synthetic NPK fertilizers has a noticeable effect on
physical features of soil like texture; chemical characteristics like salinity, pH;
biological parameters like N mineralization, and soil respiration in different crops
like corn and wheat (Wu et al. 2012). NPK fertilizers have also a negative impact on
dehydrogenase enzymatic activities. For instance, in NPK applied soils compared
with organic-manure added soils, the activity of this enzyme in the soil is negatively
distressed via triggering copper contamination (Xie et al. 2009). Considerably lower
enzymatic activities have been detected in soil treated with synthetic fertilizer than
organic fertilizer treated for spring cereals cultivation (Balezentiene and Klimas
2009). Therefore, it indicated that the application of synthetic NPK fertilizers
commonly leads to the declining of most common soil enzyme activities and also
creates unwanted changes in N concentrations and organic carbon in the soil (SOC).
20 The Potential of Biotechnology on Soil Quality by Minimizing Agrochemical. . .
407
intensive application of agrochemicals to improve nutrient availability and control
crops from different types of pests. This has created different environmental, economic as well as social problems. Among these problems, the soil is an environmentally most sensitive part. Extensive and unjustified agrochemicals application
has also caused vast soil pollution.
Agrochemicals do affect the functional and structural variability of microbe’s
populations. The effects may be range from short reversible to long irreversible
changes. Generally, agrochemical’s inputs seem to give fast benefit for crop-yield
improvement so far their constant usage results in a radical impact on soil parameters. Therefore, looking at other ecofriendly biotechnological approaches is the only
choice to ensure sustainable agricultural rehearses via keeping soil quality. This
chapter by addressing the present status of agrochemicals’ impact on soil health
focused on recent biotechnological approach for identification of biofertilizer microbial spp., identification of genes from microbial strains involved in biofertilizers
application, the role of plant molecular breeding, genomics, and genetic engineering
to minimize agrochemical impact on sustainable agriculture.
2 Effect of Synthetic Fertilizers on Soil Parameters
For standard yield and growth plant requires 16 vital elements in the right proportions. Constant crop cultivation leads to a reduction of these nutrients from the
soil whereas their availability is a prerequisite to sustaining crops. The common
method to add the nutrients in cultivated soils is via the use of artificial fertilizers.
Parallel with increasing food productions, the demand for chemical fertilizer has
been continuously growing with time. Global fertilizer demand of the three main
fertilizer nutrients phosphorus, nitrogen, and potassium reached 186.67 million tons
in 2016, increasing by 1.4% over 2015 consumption levels while the need for
nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium is predicted to grow yearly on an average by
1.5, 2.2, and 2.4% respectively from 2015 to 2020 (FAO 2017).
However, the influences of synthetic fertilizers on the soil environment are very
serious. Permanent use of synthetic NPK fertilizers has a noticeable effect on
physical features of soil like texture; chemical characteristics like salinity, pH;
biological parameters like N mineralization, and soil respiration in different crops
like corn and wheat (Wu et al. 2012). NPK fertilizers have also a negative impact on
dehydrogenase enzymatic activities. For instance, in NPK applied soils compared
with organic-manure added soils, the activity of this enzyme in the soil is negatively
distressed via triggering copper contamination (Xie et al. 2009). Considerably lower
enzymatic activities have been detected in soil treated with synthetic fertilizer than
organic fertilizer treated for spring cereals cultivation (Balezentiene and Klimas
2009). Therefore, it indicated that the application of synthetic NPK fertilizers
commonly leads to the declining of most common soil enzyme activities and also
creates unwanted changes in N concentrations and organic carbon in the soil (SOC).
20 The Potential of Biotechnology on Soil Quality by Minimizing Agrochemical. . .
407