Elsevier

Pedosphere

Volume 33, Issue 1, February 2023, Pages 129-152
Pedosphere

Prospecting microbial biofilms as climate smart strategies for improving plant and soil health: A review

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pedsph.2022.06.037Get rights and content

Abstract

Microbes and their products play key roles in complementing chemical fertilizers and plant protection chemicals by eliciting defence mechanisms in crop plants, thereby providing immunity and resistance against diverse stresses. Among the different environmental technologies used to mitigate climate change, several microbiological interventions are promising, among which biofilms, both naturally-existing and laboratory-developed, and their application have gained momentum recently. Microbial biofilms are aggregations of microbial cells in a self-generated polymeric matrix, which are produced by several genera of bacteria, yeasts, cyanobacteria, and fungi as a mode of reproductive fitness, thereby advantageous in successful proliferation, even in extreme environments. The propensity of microbial biofilms to grow in diverse niches and adapt to biotic and abiotic stresses illustrates their immense potential as biofertilizers and disease suppression options in various crops across diverse ecologies. In the inhospitable habitats of deserts and denudated land, biofilms play an important role in preventing soil erosion and sustaining vegetation, microflora, and fauna. Biofilms represent a mode of growth for several microbes with plant growth-promoting and biocontrol potential, which are important in seed establishment and the facilitation of exchanging nutrients and metabolites from the environment. In this review, we discuss the prospects of microbial biofilms as a green option in agriculture in general and, more specifically, their potential in mitigating climate change.

Section snippets

INTRODUCTION

Agricultural growth is the most effective and equitable strategy for reducing poverty and increasing food security, but it is greatly influenced by variations in climate and other environmental factors, which can adversely affect plant growth, yields, soil fertility, and the abundance and diversity of microflora and microfaunal communities. It is well-established that net agricultural production can be affected by climate change, particularly, as a result of the accumulation of high

Abiotic factors—Elevated CO2, temperature, and water stress

Changes in climatic factors affect plant growth and physiology and have a direct impact on soil quality; thus, they affect the diversity and functioning of microbial communities. Several studies have shown that elevated CO2 may bring about changes in plant architecture, physiology, and species diversity, which can directly or indirectly modulate soil/rhizosphere biota and activity (Grüter et al., 2006; Lesaulnier et al., 2008). Changes in plant phenology modify root exudate production and

CLIMATE-SMART AGRICULTURE

Climate-smart agriculture refers to expanding the flexibility of agricultural practices to account for the unusual and extreme weather patterns elicited by climate change. It can be undertaken by developing agricultural cropping frameworks that are beneficially versatile and dynamic and that respond positively to environmental changes. Such options either directly aid in reducing the greenhouse gas emissions associated with agriculture, or indirectly provide means to judiciously manage farms in

CASE STUDIES ON THE USE OF MICROBIAL BIOFILMS AS INOCULANTS IN AGRICULTURE

A large number of investigations across multiple crops have been undertaken using laboratory-constructed/naturally occurring biofilms as inoculants, mainly as biofertilizers, plant growth-promoting biocontrol agents, and bioremediation options. A comprehensive summary of the functional roles and underlying mechanisms of microbial biofilms in agriculture and the environment under climate change scenarios is depicted in Fig. 2.

Reducing gaseous emissions and their sequestration

Agricultural food production along with imposed changes in land use has contributed significantly to GHG emissions (Friel et al., 2009). These GHGs are produced at all stages of the food production system, beginning at farming and its inputs, up to the consumption and disposal of wastes (Garnett, 2008). Agriculture alone accounts for 10%–12% of global GHG emissions, while changes in land use patterns such as deforestation, overgrazing, and the conversion of pastures to arable land potential

CONCLUSIONS AND FUTURE OUTLOOK

Agricultural inputs such as fertilizers, herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides help boost crop yields and manage pests/diseases in agriculture. However, their long-term use has led to environmental pollution and ecological imbalance, leading to a resurgence of pests/diseases, apart from related health hazards. An urgent need exists for a sustainable and effective technology to improve crop nutrition and control pests/diseases, without compromising crop yields and soil health. Microbial

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The research findings reported in this review were obtained with partial financial support from the Network Project on Microorganisms—Applications of Microorganisms in Agriculture and Allied Sectors granted by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), New Delhi, to Dr. Radha Prasanna. The authors are thankful to the Division of Microbiology, ICAR, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, for making available the facilities essential for undertaking this review.

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