In recent decades, agrochemicals have enhanced crop productivity to meet increasing global food requirements. However, prolonged and extensive use of agrochemicals has resulted in contamination that persists in the soil system which can be biomagnified in the food chain. Furthermore, toxic chemicals adversely affect important soil microbial biota, the key drivers of biogeochemical cycles. This concern has raised the need to develop environmentally friendly and cost-effective nano- and micro-biotechnology strategies to minimize the adverse impact of agrochemicals and pesticide residues on soil microbiota, soil fertility, and their biomagnification in food crops.
Nano-bioinoculants - the combination of nano-compounds and bioinoculants - have been increasingly used as soil amendments. They can improve agri-potential and soil health by maintaining soil physico- and biological properties, microbial diversity, and the nutrient-solubilizing microbial population. They also aid in improving crop yields and reducing agrochemical and pesticide residues. Nano-bioinoculants are more efficient than other methods for removing contaminants due to their small size, high reactivity, and catalytic activities. Several types of nano-compounds (chitosan, zeolite, gypsum, and silicon dioxide) have been used in conjunction with beneficial microbes (bacteria fungi, actinomycetes & endophytic bacteria) as nano-bioinoculants.
As well as an increased academic interest in new micro-biotechnological strategies to improve soil health, there has been increased public attention to the responsible management of soil. It is therefore essential to explore the impacts of nano-bioinoculants and identify feasible application strategies for improving soil health toward sustainable agriculture.
This Research Topic aims to publish original research and reviews related, but not limited to, the following themes:
• Prospects, challenges, and potential drawbacks of the use of nano-compounds in conjunction with bioinoculants for sustainable soil management
• The interactions between nano-compounds and bioinoculants and their effects on microbial performance
• The efficacy of bioinoculants in combination with nano-compounds in bioremediation processes and as biofertilizers to maintain soil health
• Translocation and uptake of nano-compounds and nano-fertilizers in the soil-plant system, and their positive and negative aspects on different crops and soil health
In recent decades, agrochemicals have enhanced crop productivity to meet increasing global food requirements. However, prolonged and extensive use of agrochemicals has resulted in contamination that persists in the soil system which can be biomagnified in the food chain. Furthermore, toxic chemicals adversely affect important soil microbial biota, the key drivers of biogeochemical cycles. This concern has raised the need to develop environmentally friendly and cost-effective nano- and micro-biotechnology strategies to minimize the adverse impact of agrochemicals and pesticide residues on soil microbiota, soil fertility, and their biomagnification in food crops.
Nano-bioinoculants - the combination of nano-compounds and bioinoculants - have been increasingly used as soil amendments. They can improve agri-potential and soil health by maintaining soil physico- and biological properties, microbial diversity, and the nutrient-solubilizing microbial population. They also aid in improving crop yields and reducing agrochemical and pesticide residues. Nano-bioinoculants are more efficient than other methods for removing contaminants due to their small size, high reactivity, and catalytic activities. Several types of nano-compounds (chitosan, zeolite, gypsum, and silicon dioxide) have been used in conjunction with beneficial microbes (bacteria fungi, actinomycetes & endophytic bacteria) as nano-bioinoculants.
As well as an increased academic interest in new micro-biotechnological strategies to improve soil health, there has been increased public attention to the responsible management of soil. It is therefore essential to explore the impacts of nano-bioinoculants and identify feasible application strategies for improving soil health toward sustainable agriculture.
This Research Topic aims to publish original research and reviews related, but not limited to, the following themes:
• Prospects, challenges, and potential drawbacks of the use of nano-compounds in conjunction with bioinoculants for sustainable soil management
• The interactions between nano-compounds and bioinoculants and their effects on microbial performance
• The efficacy of bioinoculants in combination with nano-compounds in bioremediation processes and as biofertilizers to maintain soil health
• Translocation and uptake of nano-compounds and nano-fertilizers in the soil-plant system, and their positive and negative aspects on different crops and soil health
