Consequence of phosphate solubilising microbes in sustainable agriculture as efficient microbial consortium: A review

Abstract

Phosphorus is an essential nutrient for plant growth and yield. Currently, phosphorus fixation in soil is a major problem throughout the world as available phosphorus in soil is highly reactive with cationic elements to form complex compounds. Rock phosphate is one of the cheapest fertiliser and most abundant; however, its direct application in soils is not much effective for the availability of phosphorus to plant growth due to its low reactivity. Further, phosphorus is present as a fixed or complex form in soils, which is unavailable for plants. Phosphate solubilising microbes (PSMs) have potential to solubilise the complex form of phosphate in the available form of phosphorus to plants. PSMs have different mechanisms for solubilisation of phosphate by producing various acids and enzymes. Other mechanisms of phosphate solubilisation and mineralisation follow chelation and immobilised cell technology. All such phosphate solubilisation mechanisms by PSMs have been discussed in this article. The current need to develop genetically modified PSM as efficient PSMs strains for sustainable agricultural production is also discussed in the present review. The PSMs is known as effective biofertiliser for enhancing the plant growth, yield and nutrient content in crops as well as improve the soil fertility under sustainable agriculture. The main aim of this review was to elaborate the phosphate solubilising activities and their consequences for sustainable agriculture.