Use of Cost-Effective Biofertilizers Interventions for Enhanced food Security and Soil Management Amidst Covid-19 Crisis. Review

Current soil management strategies are mainly dependent on inorganic chemical-based fertilizers, which are expensive and have led to a serious threat to human health and environment. Moreover, COVID-19 pandemic caused economic recession coupling with the effects of climate change. The effect of the pandemic has led to increased prices of inputs particularly chemical fertilizers, resulting in a reduction in crop production. Soil fertility which is a function of agricultural production has declined overtime due to nutrient depletion. The exploitation of cost effective and beneficial microbes as a biofertilizer has become paramount importance in agriculture sector for their potential role in food safety, sustainable crop production and soil fertility improvement. The eco-friendly approaches inspire a wide range of application of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPRs), endo- and ectomycorrhizal fungi, cyanobacteria and many other useful microscopic organisms that have led to improved nutrient uptake, plant growth and plant tolerance to abiotic and biotic stress. The present review highlights; biofertilizers relevance and plant tolerance to environmental stress, biofertilizer exploitation and nutrient profile of crops, potential significance of beneficial microbes in sustainable agriculture. The knowledge gained from the literature appraised herein will help in understand the benefits of biofertilizers towards sustainable agriculture in reducing problems associated with the use of chemicals fertilizers.