Microbial Biostimulants for Sustainable Agriculture and Environmental Bioremediation


Book Description

Today, the agriculture industry is confronted with simultaneous issues of how to fully embrace mass production of safer food in terms of both quality and quantity. Most industries are concerned with avoiding significant levels of soil pollution and environmental threats as a result of the excessive and harmful use of synthetic products on crops. Therefore, there is a need to adopt sustainable technological innovations that can ensure the sustainability of agricultural production systems. Microbial Biostimulants for Sustainable Agriculture and Environmental Bioremediation discusses the benefits, challenges, and practical applications of eco-friendly biotechnological techniques using biostimulants derived from beneficial microorganisms. The chapters cover the use of these organisms to increase crop production, enhance soil fertility and maintain soil health, create crop and plant tolerance to different abiotic stressors, release required nutrients to the soil, increase resistance to plant pathogens/pests, improve nutrient use efficiency of crops, and rejuvenate polluted environments. FEATURES Explores the physiological, morpho-anatomical, and biochemical molecular plant rejoinders involved in stimulating crop productivity Provides information on the physiological, cellular, and molecular modes of action underlying microbial biostimulant interfaces Summarizes methods and approaches for executing microbial stimulant technology Outlines numerous environmental management and remediation strategies This book is an ideal resource for researchers, engineers, and academics working in soil science, crop science, water remediation, microbiology, and biotechnology.




Microbial Inoculants in Sustainable Agricultural Productivity


Book Description

How to achieve sustainable agricultural production without compromising environmental quality, agro-ecosystem function and biodiversity is a serious consideration in current agricultural practices. Farming systems’ growing dependency on chemical inputs (fertilizers, pesticides, nutrients etc.) poses serious threats with regard to crop productivity, soil fertility, the nutritional value of farm produce, management of pests and diseases, agro-ecosystem well-being, and health issues for humans and animals. At the same time, microbial inoculants in the form of biofertilizers, plant growth promoters, biopesticides, soil health managers, etc. have gained considerable attention among researchers, agriculturists, farmers and policy makers. The first volume of the book Microbial Inoculants in Sustainable Agricultural Productivity - Research Perspectives highlights the efforts of global experts with regard to various aspects of microbial inoculants. Emphasis is placed on recent advances in microbiological techniques for the isolation, characterization, identification and evaluation of functional properties using biochemical and molecular tools. The taxonomic characterization of agriculturally important microorganisms is documented, along with their applications in field conditions. The book exploresthe identification, characterization and diversity analysis of endophytic microorganisms in various crops including legumes/ non-legumes, as well as the assessment of their beneficial impacts in the context of promotingplant growth. Moreover, it provides essential updates onthe diversity and role of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) and arbuscular mycorrhizal mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). Further chaptersexamine in detailbiopesticides, thehigh-density cultivation of bioinoculants in submerged culture, seed biopriming strategies for abiotic and biotic stress tolerance, andPGPR as abio-control agent. Given its content,the book offers a valuable resource for researchers involved in research and development concerningPGPR, biopesticides and microbial inoculants.




Nanofertilizer Synthesis: Methods and Types


Book Description

Nano-Fertilizer Synthesis and Types?discusses the production of a variety of nano-fertilizers, including biological, chemical, and mechanical types. Nano-fertilizers aid in nutrition control by increasing nutrient consumption efficiency as nutrients are bonded to nano-dimensional adsorbents, which in turn release nutrients considerably more slowly than traditional fertilizers. As the nano-fertilizer sector advances, one approach is to concentrate on macro elements (N, P, K), as switching to nano-fertilizers may result in significant environmental benefits by replacing the majority of these nutrients. Furthermore, the biosynthesis of nanomaterials employing bacteria, algae, yeast, fungus, actinomycetes, and plants has opened up a new field of study for the creation of inorganic nanoparticles as environmentally benign fertilizers. Because of the several-fold increase in the surface-to-volume ratio of nano-forms of nutrients, and their appropriateness for foliar application, where environmental losses are further decreased, nano-fertilizers may achieve higher efficiency. However, before nano-fertilizers are manufactured and commercialized, further research should be conducted to assess their impact for both humans and the environment. While there are some nano-fertilizer products available, the nano-fertilizer production industry still requires additional public and private sector support and development. Nano-Fertilizers Synthesis and Types presents the latest information, highlights the benefits and impacts of each, and provides a single-volume resource to help effectively and efficiently identify options based on use-case. Exploring the topic from the various mechanistic types to the relevant regulatory, safety, and economic aspects, this volume will be appropriate for those working with and researching new nano-fertilizers. Guides in the identification of appropriate nano-fertilizer options based on use-case Addresses both target plant and environmental considerations Includes economic and regulatory insights




Microbial Inoculants in Sustainable Agricultural Productivity


Book Description

The performance of crops in the soil largely depends on the physico-chemical components of the soil, which regulate the availability of nutrients as well as abiotic and biotic stresses. Microbes are the integral component of any agricultural soil, playing a vital role in regulating the bioavailability of nutrients, the tolerance to abiotic and biotic stresses and management of seed-borneand soil-borne plant diseases. The second volume of the book Microbial Inoculants in Sustainable Agricultural Productivity - Functional Applications reflects the pioneering efforts of eminent researchers to explore the functions of promising microbes as microbial inoculants, establish inoculants for field applications and promote corresponding knowledge among farming communities. In this volume, readers will find dedicated chapters on the role of microbes as biofertilizers and biopesticides in the improvement of crop plants, managing soil fertility and plant health, enhancing the efficiency of soil nutrients and establishing systemic phytopathogen resistance in plants, as well as managing various kinds of plant stress by applying microbial inoculants. The impact of microbial inoculants on the remediation of heavy metals, soil carbon sequestration, function of rhizosphere microbial communities and remediation of heavy metal contaminated agricultural soils is also covered in great detail. In this Volume, a major focus is on the approaches, strategies, advances and technologies used to develop suitable and sustainable delivery systems for microbial inoculants in field applications. Subsequent chapters investigate the role of nanomaterials in agriculture and the nanoparticle-mediated biocontrol of nematodes. An overview of the challenges facing the regulation and registration of biopesticides in India rounds out the coverage.




Biofungicides: Eco-Safety and Future Trends


Book Description

The current volume focuses on novel sources of biofungicides, primarily providing complete knowledge of microbial and phytochemical fungicides, studying antifungal activity mechanisms as well as their role in disease management in plants, and fungicide bioremediation. The use of biofungicides as eco-friendly alternative to typical synthetic fungicides is projected to play a significant role in organic farming in the future. Key Features: Discovers novel sources of biofungicides Describes the role of biofungicides in the control of plant diseases Studies antifungal activity mechanisms Explores how to survey and select promising biofungicides




Sewage and Biomass from Wastewater to Energy


Book Description

Written and edited by a team of industry experts, this exciting new volume covers clean energy production from sewage and biomass while achieving a zero-waste strategy. Wastewater treatment plants are critical in protecting both the environment’s resources and human health. A wastewater treatment plant’s technological system focuses not only on the effectiveness of the treatment but on the costs and energy consumption of the entire system. Municipal wastewater treatment produces a significant amount of sewage sludge all over the world. The majority of this sludge’s dry matter content is made up of organic compounds which are not toxic, and they consist of both primary and secondary (microbiological) sludge. There is also a substantial quantity of inorganic substances in the sludge, along with a small quantity of toxic matter. Also, various raw sewage treatment options can include energy production (heat, electricity, or biofuel) to reduce dependence on external energy supply during treatment. The most important options used for energy production from sewage and biomass can use the following approaches: anaerobic digestion, co-digestion, incineration with energy recovery, co-incineration, pyrolysis, gasification, supercritical (wet) oxidation, and hydrolysis. Generally, these processes or methods are cost-effective, but they can still have some setbacks related to the nature of the methods or the raw material used for conversion. There are also operating conditions to comply with to get a successful outcome. This book combines information from many disciplines related to wastewater treatment technologies to show how the circular economy approach can be used to achieve zero waste and produce energy that can be useful for plants and communities. This approach focuses on clean technologies for green energy resources such as biohydrogen, biofuels, and biogas from biomass and sewage sludge for zero waste production. This is aimed to also integrate the issue of energy demand and the one of energy production.




Horticultural Crops


Book Description

Horticultural crops are important for human nutrition. To guarantee successful cultivation for quality and quantity yield, proper identification of pests and diseases, as well as abiotic factors undermining their production, is essential. This ten-chapter textbook describes fungi, bacteria, insects, and nematodes as important issues in horticulture. It documents their epidemiology and management strategies such as genetics and botanical and biological control used for their management. This comprehensive resource is essential for students and researchers of plant genetics, pathology, entomology, and nematology.




Microbes in Land Use Change Management


Book Description

Microbes in Land Use Change Management details the various roles of microbial resources in management of land uses and how the microbes can be used for the source of income due to their cultivation for the purpose of biomass and bioenergy production. Using various techniques, the disturbed and marginal lands may also be restored eco-friendly in present era to fulfil the feeding needs of mankind around the globe. Microbes in Land Use Change Management provides standard and up to date information towards the land use change management using various microbial technologies to enhance the productivity of agriculture. Needless to say that Microbes in Land Use Change Management also considers the areas including generation of alternative energy sources, restoration of degraded and marginal lands, mitigation of global warming gases and next generation -omics technique etc. Land use change affects environment conditions and soil microbial community. Microbial population and its species diversity have influence in maintaining ecosystem balance. The study of changes of microbial population provides an idea about the variation occurring in a specific area and possibilities of restoration. Meant for a multidisciplinary audience Microbes in Land Use Change Management shows the need of next-generation omics technologies to explore microbial diversity. Describes the role of microbes in generation of alternative source of energy Gives recent information related to various microbial technology and their diversified applications Provides thorough insight in the problems related to landscape dynamics, restoration of soil, reclamation of lands mitigation of global warming gases etc. eco-friendly way using versatility of microbes Includes microbial tools and technology in reclamation of degraded, disturbed and marginal lands, mitigation of global warming gases




Biostimulants for Sustainable Crop Production


Book Description

Biostimulants stimulate natural processes in crops to enhance nutrient uptake, nutrient use efficiency (NUE), resistance to abiotic stress and quality traits. This collection reviews key advances in understanding and using biostimulants.




Rhizosphere Engineering


Book Description

Rhizosphere Engineering is a guide to applying environmentally sound agronomic practices to improve crop yield while also protecting soil resources. Focusing on the potential and positive impacts of appropriate practices, the book includes the use of beneficial microbes, nanotechnology and metagenomics. Developing and applying techniques that not only enhance yield, but also restore the quality of soil and water using beneficial microbes such as Bacillus, Pseudomonas, vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhiza (VAM) fungi and others are covered, along with new information on utilizing nanotechnology, quorum sensing and other technologies to further advance the science. Designed to fill the gap between research and application, this book is written for advanced students, researchers and those seeking real-world insights for improving agricultural production. - Explores the potential benefits of optimized rhizosphere - Includes metagenomics and their emerging importance - Presents insights into the use of biosurfactants