ABSTRACT
The significant rise in imbalanced use and high cost of chemical fertilizers is a major concern for agriculture. The use of other natural sources, especially biofertilizers, to improve the nutrient value of soil as well as improving the health of plants is the necessity of time. Biofertilizers are environmently friendly inoculants of beneficial microorganisms, which not only minimize our dependency on chemically synthesized fertilizers but also directly benefit the plants by providing macronutrients, micronutrients and plant growth-promoting hormones. This chapter reviews the current trends and recent studies in the field of various plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria, plant growth-promoting microorganisms, production and application of these biofertilizers in recent times. This review also highlights the more active study on the usage of biodegradable solid waste in the production of biofertilizers. The application of biofertilizers is a smart approach for sustainable agriculture.
