Vol. 7, Issue 4 (2019)
Conservation agriculture, biofertilizers and biopesticides: A holistic approach for agricultural sustainability and food security: A review
Author(s): Saurabh Tyagi, RK Naresh, Satya Prakash, Gaurav Yadav, Shivanshu Tiwari, Beena Rawat, Snigdha Tiwari, Alpana Joshi, Abhilasha Tyagi and Nidhi Sharma
Abstract: In India intensive farming practices yield high product for which chemical fertilizers are used but these fertilizers are nowadays found harmful because they are creating environmental problems and also they are very expensive. Extensive uses of chemical fertilizers have adverse effects on human health. Dependence on chemical fertilizers and chemical pesticides for the future agricultural growth will result in further loss of soil quality, acidification of soil possibility of ground water contamination and hence loss of ecological balance. These chemical fertilizers and chemical pesticides that are sprayed on vegetables and fruits poses toxicity to the human body. Recent advancement in the field of bio- fertilizers are creating growing level of interest because these fertilizers are use environment friendly and are helping in having sustainable agricultural practice. These bio-fertilizers use living microorganisms that establishes symbiotic relationships with the plants or are an inoculation of microorganisms which promotes the plant growth by increasing the primary nutrient supply to the host plant and also retains the soil fertility. Similarly in the use of chemical pesticides many disadvantages are associated with it like the genetic changes in plant populations, food poisoning and other health problems and has made the bio-pesticides to come in the picture which might reduce the use of these chemical pesticides. Application of vermiwash gave 60, 10, 26 and 27% higher yield in Knol Khol (211.67qha-1), onion (177.81qha-1), French-bean (16.3qha-1 seed yield), Pea (16.3qha-1) and Paddy (28.45qha-1), respectively over control. Panchagavya 6 per cent spray recorded significantly higher Capsicum fruit yield (30.25, 37.49, 48.91, 118.91, 96.15, 86.29, 47.81 q ha-1 at 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 110 and 120 DAT, respectively), N-fixers life (23.68, 25.59 at 60 DAT and 17.77, 17.18 X 103 at harvest during kharif and summer, respectively).
The exploitation of beneficial microbes as a biofertilizer has become a paramount importance in agriculture for their potential role in food security and sustainable productivity. 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. The interactions of these beneficial microbes with environment determine crop health in natural agro-ecosystem by providing numerous services to crop plants thus enhancing soil fertility and maintaining soil heath in eco-friendly manner. Among the major environmental concerns in the world today, contamination of mother’s breast milk through the excessive and injudicious use of agrochemicals is a grave threat to humankind. It has occurred due to the paradigm shift in agricultural practices from conventional natural products to anthropogenic chemicals as fertilizers to sustain the food demand of a rising human population. Though chemical pesticides could contribute substantially to modern agricultural production systems, they alter the ecological balance and an unintended effect of that is irrevocable harm to humans and other species. Ensuring environmentally sound and sustainable crop production without causing detrimental effects to biodiversity, therefore, is the most significant challenge for humankind in this century. The potential of bio-pesticides and bio-fertilizers in promoting sustainable agriculture has been evidenced in recent years. The demand for organic farming products is expected to escalate globally in the near future, as they are a cost-efficient and renewable source for sustainable agriculture. Integrated pest management (IPM) and integrated nutrient management (INM) are two key driving forces for bio-pesticides and bio-fertilizers.
Pages: 3036-3046 | 314 Views 82 Downloads
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How to cite this article:
Saurabh Tyagi, RK Naresh, Satya Prakash, Gaurav Yadav, Shivanshu Tiwari, Beena Rawat, Snigdha Tiwari, Alpana Joshi, Abhilasha Tyagi, Nidhi Sharma. Conservation agriculture, biofertilizers and biopesticides: A holistic approach for agricultural sustainability and food security: A review. Int J Chem Stud 2019;7(4):3036-3046.
