Biofertilizers: An Emerging Trend in Agricultural Sustainability
Authors:   Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka, Mihintale, Sri Lanka, Yapa Neelamanie , Lakmali Dinuka ,   Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka, Mihintale, Sri Lanka, Zoysa Krishantha S. De ,   Department of Bioprocess Technology, Faculty of Technology, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka, Mihintale, Sri Lanka, Silva Shalika ,   Department of Science and Mathematics, Glenville State University, Glenville, West Virginia, USA, Manawadu Chaminda ,   Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka, Mihintale, Sri Lanka, Herath Bimal M. ,   Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka, Mihintale, Sri Lanka, Madhushan Asanka ,   Department of Plant Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka, Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka, Perera Geethanjana ,   Department of Bioprocess Technology, Faculty of Technology, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka, Mihintale, Sri Lanka, Ratnayakae Oshani ,   Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka, Mihintale, Sri Lanka, Kapilan Ranganathan ,   Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, University of Jaff na, Sri Lanka, Rathnayake Ajith ,   Department of Bioprocess Technology, Faculty of Technology, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka, Mihintale, Sri Lanka, Sirisena Anura I. ,   Department of Plant Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka, Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka, Asad Suhail ,   State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-resources in Yunnan, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming 650201, Yunnan, China, Karunarathna Samantha C. ,   CAS Key Laboratory for Plant Diversity and Biogeography of East Asia, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650201, P.R. China, Bamunuarachchige Chaturanga ,   Department of Bioprocess Technology, Faculty of Technology, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka, Mihintale, Sri Lanka
Published: May 2022

using them to phase out chemical fertilizers. Chemical fertilizers generate environmental pollution and negatively impact benefi cial organisms as well as human and animal wellbeing, causing a paradigm shift towards safer improved biofertilizers. Hence, improving the arsenal of microbial inoculants such as plant-growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) and plant growth-promoting fungi (PGPF), use of microbial consortia, use of uncommon inoculants such as extremophiles and microalgae, development of customized biofertilizers to suit the conditions of the fi elds and their geographical locations, identifying and popularizing other benefi cial aspects of biofertilizers to use them as tools for bioremediation, improved plant physiology and degradation of pesticides have become the trends of biofertilizers. However, soil application of biofertilizers has limited success yet and to be explored. Because of the interactions of soil- introduced PGPR and PGPF can be excluded by the more resilient microbiome in soil. Therefore, different strategies have to be employed to facilitate complex interactions with soil, environment and phytomicrobiomes. New molecular technologies allow for using metagenomics, metatranscriptomics, metaproteomics and metabolomics to spur development. Phytomicrobiome engineering is also used in synthetic biology also may offer new trend. These will be key in developing the next generation of biofertilizers.