Sustainable Agricultural Practices

1st Edition - February 23, 2024
Editors: Ajay Kumar, James F. White, Joginder Singh Panwar
Language: English
Paperback ISBN:
9 7 8 - 0 - 4 4 3 - 1 9 1 5 0 - 3
eBook ISBN:
9 7 8 - 0 - 4 4 3 - 2 3 8 5 5 - 0

Sustainable Agricultural Practices, a volume in the Plant and Soil Microbiome series, presents foundational information into the successful utilization of different biocontrol ag… Read more

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Sustainable Agricultural Practices, a volume in the Plant and Soil Microbiome series, presents foundational information into the successful utilization of different biocontrol agents (especially bacteria and fungi actinomycetes) under field conditions which can help relieve the pressure of overexploitation of synthetic pesticides in agriculture.

The need for sustainable advancement in agriculture practices continues to increase. Traditionally, achieving optimum yields of crops has meant farmers continuously using large amounts of chemical fertilizers or pesticides, but the indiscriminate use of these pesticides has adversely affected the environment, nontarget microorganisms, soil textures, and human health. As many microorganisms, including nitrogen-fixing bacteria and cyanobacteria, can be used as bioinoculants, they offer opportunities not only to enhance the crop productivity but also to maintain the natural properties of agricultural soils.

Sustainable Agricultural Practices explores the multifaceted benefits derived from varieties of microorganisms existing in different components of the ecosystem, many of which could potentially be employed as probiotics for improved human and livestock health.

Researchers seeking to expand their understanding of related fields and students seeking foundational concept coverage will find this volume valuable.

Cover image
Title page
Table of Contents
Copyright
List of contributors
Chapter 1. Multifactorial stress combination, plant microbiome recruitment, and reactive oxygen species/antioxidant feedbacks for plant stress alleviation
Abstract
1.1 Introduction
1.2 Plant responses to multifactorial stress combination
1.3 Plant stress and abscisic acid crosstalk
1.4 Abscisic acid signaling and reactive oxygen species connection to cope with plant stress
1.5 Plant microbiome: the invisible life that helps plants against stress
1.6 Endophyte recruitment (cry for help strategy) under stress: from transitory altered state to plant resilience
1.7 Reactive oxygen species/antioxidants feedback for microbiome modulation, symbiosis, plant stress mitigation, and more: many questions that need further studies
1.8 Conclusions
Acknowledgments
References
Chapter 2. Impact of COVID-19 on global agriculture and food sector
Abstract
2.1 Introduction
2.2 Background
2.3 Control measures
2.4 Immediate impacts
2.5 Conclusions and future perspectives
Acknowledgment
References
Chapter 3. State of the soil health before maize intercropped with Eucalyptus grandis under agroforestry environment in Limpopo Province, South Africa
Abstract
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Materials and methods
3.3 Results and discussion
3.4 Conclusions
References
Chapter 4. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in sustainable agriculture
Abstract
4.1 Introduction
4.2 Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal symbiosis
4.3 Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and sustainable agriculture
4.4 Commercial application of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi
4.5 Future perspectives and challenges
References
Chapter 5. Biodiversity and biotechnological applications of host-specific endophytic fungi for sustainable agriculture and allied sector
Abstract
5.1 Introduction
5.2 Biological characteristics
5.3 Biodiversity and distribution
5.4 Ecology and ecological role
5.5 Sheltering of endophytic fungi
5.6 Association between endophytic fungi and host plants
5.7 Relevance of endophytic fungi for sustainable agriculture
5.8 Applications of endophytic fungi
5.9 Direct benefits
5.10 Indirect benefits
5.11 Endophytic fungi as biofertilizer
5.12 Evaluation of endophytic diversity for sustainable agriculture: technical aspects
5.13 Precautions about utilizing endophytic fungi in the field of agriculture
5.14 Role of endophytic fungi in agriculture allied sectors
5.15 Commercialization of endophytic fungi
5.16 Conclusion and future perspectives
References
Chapter 6. Plant growth-promoting bacteria: sustainable use in abiotic stress management
Abstract
6.1 Introduction
6.2 Rhizosphere
6.3 Plant growth-promoting bacteria
6.4 Stress factors
6.5 Challenges of plant growth-promoting bacteria application
6.6 Conclusion
References
Chapter 7. Plant growth–promoting rhizobacteria: their potential as biological control agents in sustainable agriculture
Abstract
7.1 Introduction
7.2 Definition of plant growth–promoting rhizobacteria
7.3 Plant growth–promoting rhizobacteria in biocontrol of plant diseases and their mechanisms
7.4 Future perspectives and conclusions
References
Chapter 8. Bioprospecting of bacterial endophytes from the tuber of Dioscorea bulbifera
Abstract
8.1 Introduction
8.2 Isolation and identification of bacterial endophytes
8.3 Enzyme activity
8.4 Bioemulsifier production
8.5 Stress tolerance
8.6 Plant growth promotion
8.7 Conclusion and future perspectives
Acknowledgment
References
Chapter 9. Green synthesis of nanomaterials and their applications in sustainable agriculture
Abstract
9.1 Introduction
9.2 Impact of fruit and vegetable consumption
9.3 Impact of agrochemicals’ use on food production
9.4 Nanotechnology in food production
9.5 Green synthesis of nanomaterials
9.6 Properties of nanomaterials used in food production
9.7 Application of green nanomaterials in fruit and vegetable production
9.8 Conclusions and future perspectives
References
Chapter 10. Cyanobacterial biodiversity and their potential application in sustainable agriculture
Abstract
10.1 Introduction
10.2 Cyanobacterial biodiversity across the globe
10.3 Sustainable agriculture and cyanobacteria
10.4 Conclusion and future prospects
References
Chapter 11. Nanotechnology in the agricultural sector
Abstract
11.1 Introduction
11.2 Characteristics of nanoparticles
11.3 Application of nanotechnology in agriculture
11.4 Solution to combat climate change by nanotechnology
11.5 Future perspective
11.6 Conclusion
References
Chapter 12. Microbial consortia application in the sustainable agricultural practices
Abstract
12.1 Introduction
12.2 Role of synthetic or artificial microbial consortia in plant growth and crop production
12.3 Construction of synthetic microbial consortia
12.4 Future prospective
References
Chapter 13. Cyanobacterial mats and their application in sustainable agriculture
Abstract
13.1 Introduction
13.2 Cyanobacteria
13.3 Benthic cyanobacteria
13.4 Cyanobacterial mats
13.5 Application of cyanobacterial mats in sustainable agriculture
13.6 Conclusion
Acknowledgements
References
Chapter 14. Beneficial soil microorganisms and their role in sustainable agriculture
Abstract
14.1 Introduction and definition of concepts
14.2 Change in soil microbial communities as a result of agricultural use
14.3 Plant growth–promoting rhizobacteria
14.4 Nitrogen-fixing bacteria
14.5 Microorganisms from water-deficient soils
14.6 Biologically active substances released by soil microorganisms
14.7 Microbial growth regulators in sustainable agriculture and biological pesticides (biocontrol agent) based on microorganisms isolated from the soil
14.8 Funding
References
Chapter 15. Evaluating chemical and physical properties of soil for maize production under agroforestry environments in South Africa
Abstract
15.1 Introduction
15.2 Material and methods
15.3 Results and discussion
15.4 Conclusion and recommendations
Acknowledgments
References
Chapter 16. Cytological observations of intracellular microbes in plants, their roles in sustainable crop production, and effects of elevated carbon dioxide on rhizophagy in roots
Abstract
16.1 Introduction
16.2 Microbial hormone production and modulation of development of plants
16.3 Mechanism of entry of bacteria into plant cells
16.4 Plant cell cytoplasmic entry by bacteria
16.5 Nutrient absorption via rhizophagy cycle
16.6 The crisis of elevated carbon dioxide in earth’s atmosphere
16.7 Conclusions
References
Chapter 17. Endophytic fungi: diversity and their relevance in sustainable agriculture
Abstract
17.1 Introduction
17.2 Biodiversity and ecology of fungal endophytes
17.3 Biological classification of fungal endophytes
17.4 Endophytic fungi in sustainable agriculture
17.5 Role of phytohormones in agriculture
17.6 Phosphate solubilization
17.7 Siderophore production
17.8 Production of extracellular enzymes
17.9 Protective efforts of endophytic fungi against plant diseases
17.10 Alleviation of abiotic stress on agricultural crops via fungal endophytes
17.11 Conclusion
Acknowledgments
References
Index

Ajay Kumar

Dr. Ajay Kumar is currently working as an assistant professor at Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University, Noida, India. Dr. Kumar recently completed his tenure as a visiting scientist from Agriculture Research Organization, Volcani Center, Israel. He has published more than 175 research, review articles, and book chapters in international and national journals. He serves as an associate editor for Frontiers in Microbiology and as guest editor for various journals such as Plants, Microorganisms, and Sustainability. Dr. Kumar has also edited more than 32 books with the leading publishers such as Elsevier, Springer, and Wiley. Dr. Kumar’s research experience is in the field of plant–microbe interactions, postharvest management, cyanobacterial biology, and so on.

Affiliations and expertise

Assistant Professor, Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University, India

James F. White

Dr. James White is Professor of Plant Biology at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA. Dr. White obtained the B.S. and M.S. degrees in Botany and Plant Pathology/Mycology from Auburn University, Alabama, and the Ph.D. in Botany from the University of Texas, Austin in 1987. Dr. White specializes in symbiosis research, particularly endophytic microbes. He is the author of more than 400 articles, and author and editor of reference books on the biology, taxonomy, and phylogeny of microbial endophytes, including Biotechnology of Acremonium Endophytes of Grasses (1994), Microbial Endophytes (2000), The Clavicipitalean Fungi (2004), The Fungal Community: Its Organization and Role in the Ecosystem (2005; 2016), Defensive Mutualism in Microbial Symbiosis (2009) and Seed Endophytes: Biology and Biotechnology (2019). He and students in his lab are exploring diversity of endophytic and biostimulant microbes and the various impacts that they have on host plants.

Affiliations and expertise

Professor of Plant Biology, Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA

Joginder Singh Panwar

Prof. Joginder Singh is a Professor at the Department of Botany, Nagaland University, Lumami, Nagaland, India. Previously, he worked as a Professor in the School of Bioengineering and Biosciences, Lovely Professional University and also as a Young Scientist at Microbial Biotechnology and Biofertilizer Laboratory, Department of Botany, Jai Narain Vyas University on a research project funded by the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India. He is an active member of various scientific societies and organizations, including the Association of Microbiologists of India, the Indian Society of Salinity Research Scientists, the Indian Society for Radiation Biology, and the European Federation of Biotechnology. He has published extensively with Elsevier and Springer both in journals and books. He serves as a reviewer for many prestigious journals, including Current Research in Engineering, Science and Technology; Journal of Cleaner Production; Science of the Total Environment; Environmental Monitoring and Assessment; Pedosphere; Soil and Sediment Contamination; Symbiosis; International Journal of Phytoremediation; Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety; Annals of Agricultural Sciences; and Annals of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences.

Affiliations and expertise

Professor, Department of Botany, Nagaland University, Nagaland, India

Life Sciences

Physical Sciences & Engineering

Social Sciences & Humanities

Health

Sustainable Agricultural Practices

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Ajay Kumar

James F. White

Joginder Singh Panwar