Biofertilizers: Potential for Crop Improvement under Stressed Conditions

Biofertilizers are low-cost, renewable source of plant nutrients that supplement chemical fertilizers. Besides promoting increased absorption of nutrients, they also help plant to withstand various biotic and abiotic stresses. They do not directly supply any nutrients to crops what chemical and organic fertilizers do and are cultures of special bacteria and fungi. The installation cost of a biofertilizer unit is very low and production technology is also very simple. Moreover, the long-term use of biofertilizers is economical, eco-friendly, more efficient, productive, and accessible to marginal and small farmers compared to chemical fertilizers. Although there are plenty of evidences of crop improvement under stressed conditions using biofertilizers, a few factors often limit the potential of biofertilizers in fields, which include poor shelf life, lack of suitable carrier materials, susceptibility to high temperature, and problems in transportation and storage. Thus, more field application-based research and outreach activities are required to get optimum results from biofertilizer application and its promotion. © 2013 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA.