decided that the population size and structure of microorganisms in the soil can be
determined by the number of applications, dosage, type of pesticide, soil quality
(nutrient content and physical parameters), and type of microorganisms. However, it
was confirmed all soil parameters (physical, chemicals, and biological) influenced
via the application of any type of pesticide. Generally, agricultural industrialization
needs agricultural management and a critical focus of agrochemical’s impact on soil
parameters. With the help of biotechnological tools, some countries like China
proposed a strategy like zero growth of pesticide and chemical fertilizer use (Shuqin
and Fang 2018). In this chapter within the following topics, the potential of biotechnology is addressed to minimize the impact of agrochemicals on soil qualities.
4 Biotechnological Approach to Resolve Agrochemicals’
Effect on Soil Quality
4.1 Biofertilizers
Biofertilizer is a preparation of latent or live cells of efficient microbial strains like
nitrogen-fixing, phosphate mobilizing, phosphate solubilizing, plant growthpromoting etc., which can be applied on soil, seed, or composting areas to increase
the number of these microorganisms and speed up the different microbial process to
improve the level of the accessibility of nutrients as a form that can be simply taken
by the plant (NIIR BOARD 2004). Microorganisms used for biofertilizer contribute
a very important role in refining soil fertility by solubilizing insoluble components
and fixing atmospheric nitrogen. They also support root development via
augmenting hormonal-synthesis routes and plant tolerance to abiotic and biotic
stress. They are ecofriendly and cost-effective. Microorganisms like fungi, bacteria,
and blue-green algae are used as biofertilizers. To increase their shelf-life, carrier
materials like mulch and lignite powder are applied for packing. Therefore,
biofertilizers have paramount significance in sustainable agriculture in reducing
problems related to the use of synthetic fertilizers. Contrary to synthetic fertilizers,
biofertilizers’usage in soil was proven to enhance several soil properties and functions. The use of biofertilizers for agriculture has a long history which passes to a
different generation of farmers like a conventional approach. However, to get an
appropriate result from biofertilizer we should apply biotechnological techniques
like identification of appropriate microbial species, identification of genes from
microbial strains, which are involved in converting the unavailable form of nutrients
into available forms, and so on. There are different research works which confirmed
the role of a biotechnological approach to increase biofertilizers application for
sustainable agriculture.
410
S. Abera
determined by the number of applications, dosage, type of pesticide, soil quality
(nutrient content and physical parameters), and type of microorganisms. However, it
was confirmed all soil parameters (physical, chemicals, and biological) influenced
via the application of any type of pesticide. Generally, agricultural industrialization
needs agricultural management and a critical focus of agrochemical’s impact on soil
parameters. With the help of biotechnological tools, some countries like China
proposed a strategy like zero growth of pesticide and chemical fertilizer use (Shuqin
and Fang 2018). In this chapter within the following topics, the potential of biotechnology is addressed to minimize the impact of agrochemicals on soil qualities.
4 Biotechnological Approach to Resolve Agrochemicals’
Effect on Soil Quality
4.1 Biofertilizers
Biofertilizer is a preparation of latent or live cells of efficient microbial strains like
nitrogen-fixing, phosphate mobilizing, phosphate solubilizing, plant growthpromoting etc., which can be applied on soil, seed, or composting areas to increase
the number of these microorganisms and speed up the different microbial process to
improve the level of the accessibility of nutrients as a form that can be simply taken
by the plant (NIIR BOARD 2004). Microorganisms used for biofertilizer contribute
a very important role in refining soil fertility by solubilizing insoluble components
and fixing atmospheric nitrogen. They also support root development via
augmenting hormonal-synthesis routes and plant tolerance to abiotic and biotic
stress. They are ecofriendly and cost-effective. Microorganisms like fungi, bacteria,
and blue-green algae are used as biofertilizers. To increase their shelf-life, carrier
materials like mulch and lignite powder are applied for packing. Therefore,
biofertilizers have paramount significance in sustainable agriculture in reducing
problems related to the use of synthetic fertilizers. Contrary to synthetic fertilizers,
biofertilizers’usage in soil was proven to enhance several soil properties and functions. The use of biofertilizers for agriculture has a long history which passes to a
different generation of farmers like a conventional approach. However, to get an
appropriate result from biofertilizer we should apply biotechnological techniques
like identification of appropriate microbial species, identification of genes from
microbial strains, which are involved in converting the unavailable form of nutrients
into available forms, and so on. There are different research works which confirmed
the role of a biotechnological approach to increase biofertilizers application for
sustainable agriculture.
410
S. Abera