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VOL. 8, ISSUE 1 (2026)
Biofertilizer: Effect on soil properties and crop production
Authors
Harsh N Patel, Dr. R D Shinde, V M Parmar, Fensi N Chaudhari
Abstract
The continuous and imbalanced use of chemical fertilizers has led to
declining soil health, low fertilizer use efficiency and environmental problems
such as nutrient losses and soil degradation, highlighting the need for
sustainable nutrient management strategies. Biofertilizers, which contain beneficial
microorganisms, have emerged as eco-friendly inputs capable of improving soil
fertility and crop productivity. This review summarizes the role of
biofertilizers in relation to soil properties, crop production and fertilizer
use efficiency, with emphasis on their integration with recommended fertilizer
practices. Biofertilizers enhance the availability of essential nutrients such
as nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium through biological nitrogen fixation,
nutrient solubilization and mobilization processes. Their application improves
soil physical properties, including aggregation and water holding capacity,
chemical properties such as nutrient availability and pH regulation and
biological properties such as microbial biomass and soil enzyme activities.
Biofertilizers also stimulate root growth and nutrient uptake through
phytohormone production and mycorrhizal associations, resulting in improved
nitrogen use efficiency (NUE), phosphorus use efficiency (PUE) and overall
fertilizer use efficiency (FUE). Evidence indicates that biofertilizers are
most effective when applied in combination with the Recommended Dose of
Fertilizers (RDF) or Recommended Dose of Nitrogen (RDN), rather than when used
alone, leading to higher crop yields and better nutrient recovery. Overall,
integration of biofertilizers with chemical fertilizers under Integrated
Nutrient Management (INM) is recommended for sustainable crop production,
improved soil health and reduced dependence on chemical fertilizers, while
long-term, multi-location field trials are needed to refine recommendations
across diverse agro-climatic conditions.
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Pages:195-200
How to cite this article:
Harsh N Patel, Dr. R D Shinde, V M Parmar, Fensi N Chaudhari "Biofertilizer: Effect on soil properties and crop production". International Journal of Agriculture and Plant Science, Vol 8, Issue 1, 2026, Pages 195-200
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