A Promising Approach for Utilising Phosphate Solubilizing Microbial Inocula to Enhance Sustainable Plant Growth: A Review

Abstract

Introduction: Phosphorous serve as strategic factor to cater various physiological and developmental needs of a plant, like photosynthesis, carbon metabolism, and membrane formation. However, majority of natural phosphorus occurs in conjugated form complexes with metal ions present in the soil, which is usable only in free form. Hence despite its abundance in soils in both inorganic and organic forms, it has emerged as primary plant growth-limiting nutrient. To surmount this phosphorous necessity of plants, application of synthetic fertilizers is practised, which is not recommended due to risk of environmental degradation. Hence it is vital to look out for an alternative which have a higher efficacy while also aiding sustainable plant growth. Several soil microorganisms, like bacteria, fungi, and actinomycetes solubilize bound phosphorus through various metabolic activities like excreting organic acids, enzymes and siderophores causing chelation of metal ion to increase phosphorus bioavailability. These microbial fauna also exert a constructive influence on crop yield by fabricating various phytohormones.

Conclusion: Therefore, the use of these microorganisms alone or in amalgamation as bio inoculants, can be economic as well as eco-friendly approach. The content covered in this review paper focuses on the strategies adopted by these phospho-solubizers and their use as sustainable growth promoters.