Phosphate-solubilising Microorganisms as Potential Biofertilizer: A Review

Abstract

After the nitrogen phosphorus is the second most important plant nutrient to necessary for plant development and growth. The use of excess phosphate fertilizers potentially causes surface and ground water pollutions and soil fertility depletation and accumulation of phosphate in soil which is unavailable for plant. Biofertilizers play a very significant role in improving soil fertility by fixing atmospheric nitrogen, both, in association with plant roots and without it, solubilized insoluble soil phosphates and produces plant growth substances in the soil. There have been a number of reports on plant growth promotion by microorganisms that have the ability to solubilize inorganic and organic P from soil. There is a dynamic and complex relationship among the different forms of P involving soil, plant and microorganisms. Microorganisms can enhance the capacity of plants to acquire P from soil through various mechanisms. They are able to solubilize unavailable form of unsolubilized phosphate in available form. Purpose of this review is to focuses on the understanding of the mechanism of phosphate solubilisation their role of PSMs(phosphate solubilizing microorganisms) in crop production as biofertilizers.