Chapter 1 - Mechanisms of the phytomicrobiome for enhancing soil fertility and health

Abstract

The phytomicrobiome, mainly including the plant growth–promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), has a huge potential for the promotion of soil fertility and health. When there is nutrient availability, these bacteria may also have the potential to control pests and diseases. The phytomicrobiome induces and/or synthesizes various growth-promoting substances, which are indispensable for sustainable agriculture, reducing (partially or totally) the need to use synthetic products. These natural products include plant hormones, antibiotics, enzymes, and nutrient solubilizing and transporting elements, which act in the soil-plant system, providing better health for plants and soil. The phytomicrobiome uses direct or indirect mechanisms that interfere in certain soil properties providing better soil health, which further enhances soil fertility, followed by increasing plant growth, production rates, and yield. Soil health and fertility are modulated by the activity of the plant and soil microbiome, in addition to reducing the cost for the farmers. Those microbiomes are responsible for increasing soil fertility and productivity and are indispensable for sustainable agriculture, since they are necessary day by day for crop and forest management and public politics for environmental preservation and ecosystem services.