Plant Growth-Promoting Soil Microbiomes: Beneficial Attributes and Potential Applications

Abstract

Soil microbiome constitutes an integral component of plant–soil–microbe associations and has a key impact on the ecosystem. The soil microbiome influences key biological processes namely bio-geochemical cycling, plant nutritional uptake and carbon sequestration. The present era has witnessed the emerging significance of soil microbiome as a dynamic system influencing plant productivity and conferring stress tolerance to the plants, having a major impact on the ecosystem. Comprehensive knowledge about plant–soil microbiome is essential for increasing agricultural output, maintenance of soil health towards more sustainable agriculture. Discussing the emerging significance of soil microbiomes in the recent perspective, this chapter extensively focuses on the soil microbiome diversity and distribution in nature, providing an overview of its integral association and dynamics in association with the plants. Moreover, the beneficial attributes of the soil microbiome and its socio-economic applications in a biotechnological perspective are herein discussed. Recent approaches in bioengineering soil microbiomes provide a key platform to enhance food security and sustainable agriculture for millions across the globe.