Beneficial microorganisms play several vital roles in agriculture, especially in crop productivity enhancement and soil fertility improvement. For example, plant growth-promoting rhizosphere (PGPR) microorganisms such as plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) and plant growth-promoting fungi (PGPF) are some of the beneficial microorganisms. They contribute numerous attributes for sustainable crop productivity and soil fertility improvement. In line with this, when we take plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) as an example, their attributes include:

Among plant growth-promoting rhizo­bacteria (PGPR), symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria mutually exist with crops (legumes) and are excellent stimulators of plant growth, nutrition, and production and are used as biocontrol agents. As a result, these symbiotic bacteria have a crucial role to play in sustainability of yields and soil fertility with minimal external inputs.

Among plant growth-promoting rhizo­bacteria (PGPR), symbiotic nutrient-solubilizing rhizobacteria influence crop productivity and soil fertility by boosting plant and soil health by availing macro and micro-nutrients in soil solutions for plant uptake. Nutrient availability in soil solutions for plant uptake is often collectively termed a bio-fertilizer. Because these bacteria transform readily unavailable forms of organic P into plant-available forms by using their extracellular enzymes like phosphatase, phytase, etc., which increase P uptake by growing plants. Symbiotic nutrient solubilizing rhizobacteria not only participate in P solubilizing but also participate in nutrient cycling, i.e., nitrogen, iron, manganese, zinc, and copper, and determine their availability for plants and the soil microbial community, which are plant essential macro and micro nutrients.Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria also attributes to crop stress tolerance or PGPR could play a substantial role in mitigation of various stresses in plants by producing exopolysaccharides, plant hormones, and volatile compounds and encouraging buildup of osmolytes, antioxidants, and enzymes, production of siderophore, synthesis of antibiotics and/or fungicidal compounds, and modification in root morphology in response to biotic and abiotic stresses.

Moreover, beneficial plant prowth-promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) have a crucial role in environmental safeguard. For instance, symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria, when co-existing with legume crops, are self-sufficient in nitrogen (N), in sharp contrast to cereal crops that require an external input from N-fertilizers. Also, the co-existence of symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria with crops (legume) reduces or eliminates the use of toxic agrochemicals and lowers the emission of greenhouse gases (GHG) such as CO2 and N2O compared with agricultural systems based on mineral N fertilization. Thus, based on all these important attributes, beneficial microorganisms play a key role in sustainable crop productivity increments and soil fertility improvement.

Dr Alemayehu Madebo thank you for your contribution to the discussion

Absolutely, beneficial microorganisms play a key role in improving crop productivity and soil fertility. They act like tiny helpers in the underground world of plants! Here's how:

Nutrient Powerhouses: Some microbes, like Rhizobium bacteria, have a symbiotic relationship with legumes. They fix nitrogen from the air and convert it into a usable form for plants, reducing reliance on synthetic fertilizers. Mycorrhizal fungi form a network around plant roots, increasing their surface area and boosting nutrient uptake of essential minerals like phosphorus.

Soil Champions: Microbes help break down organic matter in the soil, releasing nutrients trapped within for plants to access. This improves overall soil fertility and structure, promoting healthy plant growth.

Plant Protectors: Certain beneficial microbes act as natural biocontrol agents. They can suppress harmful pathogens that cause plant diseases, reducing reliance on chemical pesticides and promoting a more sustainable agricultural approach.

Stress Busters: Some microbes help plants cope with environmental stresses like drought or salinity. They can improve water use efficiency and enhance tolerance to harsh conditions, leading to better crop resilience.

By promoting a thriving population of beneficial microbes in the soil, farmers can cultivate healthier crops, improve yields, and create a more sustainable agricultural system.

Dear, Dr. Rk Naresh

You asked an interesting question:

Microorganisms In addition to their role in soil fertility, microorganisms play an important role in the food cycle that is essential for life on earth. Fertile soils are full of soil microorganisms. One gram of soil may contain thousands of millions of microorganisms. So the role of these tiny organisms in the production of agricultural products is very important. therefore:

1- They are effective in soil productivity.

2- They have a synergistic role in the soil rhizosphere.

3- They are effective in the life cycle of biodiversity.

Dr Rahma Rahma Jr Jerjir and Dr Seyyed Akbar Sadaty thank you for your contribution to the discussion

Yes, there are many beneficial microorganisms that can be used to improve the quality and yield of crops. Beneficial microorganisms play an important role in sustainable agriculture since they can support plant growth and act against pathogens in an environmentally friendly way. Within food plant cropping systems, microorganisms provide vital functions and ecosystem services, such as biological pest and disease control, promotion of plant growth and crop quality, and biodegradation of organic matter and pollutants. Free-living microbes including filamentous fungi of the genus Trichoderma and a variety of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) are able to suppress soil-borne plant pathogens and to stimulate plant growth by different direct or indirect mechanisms, such as production of phytohormones and mycoparasitism. More importantly, root traits which can promote/ attract beneficial microbes such as mycorrhiza, P-solubilising, N2-fixing and plant growth promoting bacteria can have direct positive impacts on farm productivity. These associations are well documented for their positive impact on plant growth and yield. Beneficial microorganisms have been shown to play a role in atmospheric nitrogen fixation, organic wastes and residues decomposition, detoxification of pesticides, suppression of plant diseases and soil-borne pathogens, enhancement of nutrient cycling, and production of bioactive compounds. Soil microorganisms are responsible for most of the nutrient release from organic matter. When microorganisms decompose organic matter, they use the carbon and nutrients in the organic matter for their own growth. They release excess nutrients into the soil where they can be taken up by plants. Mycorrhizae are the symbiotic fungi that reside in roots of higher plants and increase soil fertility by nitrogen fixation. Microorganisms regulate soil properties and fertility through different pathways: (1) microbes can activate soil nutrients and promote their availability; (2) nitrogen-fixing bacteria improve soil fertility by transforming the nitrogen elements; (3) the extracellular secretions of microbes can enhance the stability of soil quality. They increase soil fertility by incorporating air, minerals and nitrogenous compounds. They contribute in increasing plant growth by providing essential elements, minerals that plants cannot utilize by their Owen. Microorganisms decompose organic matter to simpler form that can be easily uptake by plants.

Rhizobium is a genus of gram-negative soil bacteria that fix atmospheric nitrogen. It belongs to a group of nitrogen-fixing bacteria that are collectively called rhizobia.

Dr Victor Manuel Moya Iglesias thank you for your contribution to the discussion