ABSTRACT
Heavy metal pollution in agricultural soils is an established problem throughout the world which stems from anthropogenic activities as well as from natural causes. The problem has been worsened since the evolution of industrial development. In agricultural land, the occurrence of heavy metals adversely affects the health and fertility of soils which lead to physiological and growth abnormalities of crop plants cultivated on such soils. Besides their direct interaction with crops, heavy metals also disturb the ecological stability of beneficial microbes inhabiting the soil. Thus, to protect crop plants and soil’s microbial communities from adversities imposed by heavy metal stress, sustainable practices of remediation techniques are necessary. Several microorganisms and plants are known to extract heavy metals from polluted soils and do not pose environmental or ecological risks. An in-depth search for biological agents that possess bioremediation potential could efficiently manage the problem of heavy metal contamination in agricultural soils. This chapter outlines the problem of heavy metal pollution in agricultural soils and discusses the possibilities of biological agents in remediation processes.
