Exploiting Biological Nitrogen Fixation: A Route Towards a Sustainable Agriculture

Soumare, A and Diedhiou, A G and Thuita, M and Hafidi, M and Ouhdouch, Y and Gopalakrishnan, S and Kouisni, L (2020) Exploiting Biological Nitrogen Fixation: A Route Towards a Sustainable Agriculture. Plants, 9 (8). pp. 1-22. ISSN 2223-7747

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Abstract

For all living organisms, nitrogen is an essential element, while being the most limiting in ecosystems and for crop production. Despite the significant contribution of synthetic fertilizers, nitrogen requirements for food production increase from year to year, while the overuse of agrochemicals compromise soil health and agricultural sustainability. One alternative to overcome this problem is biological nitrogen fixation (BNF). Indeed, more than 60% of the fixed N on Earth results from BNF. Therefore, optimizing BNF in agriculture is more and more urgent to help meet the demand of the food production needs for the growing world population. This optimization will require a good knowledge of the diversity of nitrogen-fixing microorganisms, the mechanisms of fixation, and the selection and formulation of efficient N-fixing microorganisms as biofertilizers. Good understanding of BNF process may allow the transfer of this ability to other non-fixing microorganisms or to non-leguminous plants with high added value. This minireview covers a brief history on BNF, cycle and mechanisms of nitrogen fixation, biofertilizers market value, and use of biofertilizers in agriculture. The minireview focuses particularly on some of the most effective microbial products marketed to date, their efficiency, and success-limiting in agriculture. It also highlights opportunities and difficulties of transferring nitrogen fixation capacity in cereals.

Item Type:	Article
Divisions:	Research Program : Asia
CRP:	UNSPECIFIED
Uncontrolled Keywords:	BNF, Biofertilizers, Legumes, Yield improvement, Inoculum quality, Biofertilizer market
Subjects:	Others > Fertilizer Applications Others > Legume Crops
Depositing User:	Mr Arun S
Date Deposited:	12 Aug 2020 06:29
Last Modified:	12 Aug 2020 06:31
URI:	http://oar.icrisat.org/id/eprint/11551
Official URL:	https://doi.org/10.3390/plants9081011
Projects:	UNSPECIFIED
Funders:	UNSPECIFIED
Acknowledgement:	UNSPECIFIED
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