Abstract
In order to maintain crop yields, modern agricultural systems are highly dependent on continual inputs of Phosphate-based fertilizers. These fertilizers are processed from phosphate rock, which is a non-renewable natural resource. Therefore, the world could soon face a resource scarcity crisis that might affect global food security. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, which form a symbiosis with the roots of nearly all vascular plants, could play a key role in solving the phosphate shortage problem. Mycorrhizal symbioses are recognized for their importance in plant nutrition, particularly in phosphorus uptake. Also, by improving the efficiency of nutrients uptake, and by increasing plant resistance to pathogens and abiotic stresses, mycorrhizal symbiosis can enhance plant growth and therefore reduce the need for Phosphate-based fertilizers. In this review, we provide an update of recent findings and reports on inorganic phosphorus and on mycorrhizae as the cornerstone of a second green revolution.
Highlights
Fertilizer utilization to supplement soil nutrients, to promote plant growth and to increase crop productivity and food quality is prevalent in modern agriculture
Phosphorus constitutes a critical component because on one hand it is limiting for crop yield on a large proportion of global arable land and, on the other hand, it is a non-renewable resource [1,2,3]
Modern agricultural systems are highly dependent on continual inputs of phosphate-based fertilizers: for example, the use of phosphate-based fertilizers has increased from 9 million tons per year in 1960 to 40 million tons in 2000 [3]
Summary
Fertilizer utilization to supplement soil nutrients, to promote plant growth and to increase crop productivity and food quality is prevalent in modern agriculture. Crop production and global food security are highly dependent on fertilizers input to agricultural lands [1]. Fertilizer provide the three major nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium) required by plants.
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