Impact of microbial biofilm on crop productivity and agricultural sustainability

Abstract Agricultural productivity has declined due to reduction in soil fertility, excessive use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, addition of plant stress molecules into the soil, prevalence of pathogenic microbes, and other environmental challenges. The increasing population size and their dependence on agriculture demand a substantial approach to overcome these problems. In this context, microbial biofilm has come up as an interesting alternative tool to combat the challenges faced by agriculture sector. A group of microorganisms, other than planktonic cells, attached to surfaces, living in close assemblies, showing altered phenotypes and regulated by quorum sensing, are termed as biofilms. The use of beneficial microbial biofilms for productive and environmental-friendly agriculture is gaining a lot of interest. This chapter attempts to provide an insight of use of microbial biofilm as biofertilizers, growth promoters, stress busters, biocontrolling agents, bioremediators, and nutrient mobilizers to enhance agricultural productivity.