Application of biofertilizers: Current worldwide status

Abstract The global population has increased, and therefore an increase in crop production is required to meet the demands of the growing population. Chemical fertilizers had been the solution during the past decades. However, excessive and indiscriminate use of these chemicals have resulted in food contamination, weed and disease resistance, and negative environmental outcomes, which together have a significant impact on human health. A reliable alternative to the use of chemical inputs is microbial inoculants that can act as biofertilizers, bioherbicides, biopesticides, and biocontrol agents. Biofertilizers can carry out plant growth promotion, pest and disease and weed control. Therefore, they improve agriculture productivity and crop health in a green manner because they are natural products. It can be expected that in the next years biofertilizers can help reduce chemical fertilizer application. This research summarizes the application of biofertilizers in the last years and their global use. Advances in microbial inoculants and technology and strategies to explore this natural, user friendly biological resource for sustainable maintenance of plant health will be discussed.