Zn-solubilizing microorganism: A novel perspective for sustainable agriculture

Abstract

In the route to achieve higher production, intensive agricultural practices are followed, which are casting a negative impact on sustainability of the agroecosystem. Moreover, food security for a burgeoning population also demands the quality improvement in agricultural produce. According to an estimate, in developing countries ~33% of the population is deficient for zinc due to cereals-based food habits. However, an intensive production system and indiscriminate use of NPK-based chemical fertilizers also reduces the micronutrient content in soil and plant system. Among different micronutrients, deficiency of zinc (Zn) in the soil is most frequent, which reduces the agricultural production and also affects the normal growth and development of living beings. Therefore, to improve the Zn content in food grain and its availability in the soil system, some effective strategies are required to follow for sustainable agricultural production. Recently, the use of zinc-solubilizing microorganisms (ZnSMs) has been reported as a viable technology to enhance the bioavailability of native and applied Zn content in soil. In this regard, bacterial species such as Pseudomonas, Rhizobium, and Bacillus are found efficient and environmentally friendly in various studies. However, before presenting microbial approach as an alternative to synthetic fertilizers, comprehensive investigation regarding production aspects, marketing, availability to end user, quality, and application technology needs to be studied carefully. In this book chapter, we discuss the current knowledge, status, Zn-solubilizing mechanism, production, application, and marketing-related aspects of zinc-solubilizing microorganisms to explore them as green technology for sustainable agricultural production. © 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.