Exploiting Plant Microbiome for Sustainable Agriculture and Environment

Abstract

The global population is growing at a rapid pace, and therefore, we need to produce a regular supply of food to manage food security. Because of these needs, traditional farming systems have evolved significantly, heavily reliant on agrochemicals such as chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides. These agrochemicals have come at the cost of soil quality, environmental integrity, and human health, despite their success in enhancing crop production. Environmental degradation, water body pollution, loss of biodiversity, and soil erosion are consequences of the misuse of agrochemicals (Kuppan et al. 2024).