​​The Biofertilizer Production for Salinity Stress in Plants: A Review

Abstract

Biotic and abiotic factors are environmental factors that play a vital role in plant growth and productivity. Abiotic stress like drought, salinity environmental pollution has done major damage to the productivity of crops. According to the study by the United Nations Environment Program approximately 20% of agricultural land and 50% of cropland in the world is under the salt-stress. Salinization of soil converts agricultural land to barren land. There is an estimate that every year 1-2% decrease in agricultural land. Salinity affects plant photosynthesis, protein synthesis, lipid metabolism. The growing population in the whole world demands a simple low-cost method to reduce the effect of salinity on lands. The tremendous use of chemical fertilizers has created environmental problems such as deterioration of soil quality and surface as well as groundwater quality. Reduced biodiversity and suppressed ecosystem function are side effects of using chemical fertilizers. Thus, to overcome this ecological crisis, microorganisms that allow more increased nutrient availability in soil, can provide sustainable solutions for current and future agricultural scenarios. Microorganisms that are native in saline soil are having inherent properties such as tolerance to saline conditions and beneficial interaction with the plants, by synthesis of compatible solutes, production of plant growth-promoting hormones. Such microorganisms help in the growth of plants by mechanisms direct or indirect. Some mechanisms are phosphate solubilization and ammonia production, these chemicals act as macronutrients. The bacterial chitinase, siderophores, HCN, production in the rhizosphere suppress hazardous effects resulting from biotic stress thus helping indirectly on plant growth. The isolation of novel microorganisms can be a useful tool to deal with the salinity stress and thus these organisms should be examined further to have a greater understanding of the stress management mechanism by PGPR and also their role in biodiversity. This competent microorganism can be converted to biofertilizers and the local farmers can be helped by educating about this efficient environment safe biofertilizers.