MEGHA VERMA, GULAB PANDOVE* AND ANUREET KAUR
Department of Microbiology, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana-141001 (Punjab), India
School of Organic Farming, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana-141001 (Punjab), India
Punjab Agricultural University, Regional Research Station, Bathinda-151001 (Punjab), India
*(e-mail : gpandove@pau.edu)
(Received : 27 November 2022: Accepted : 30 March 2023)
SUMMARY
Global increase in human population poses a major threat to livestock as the area for the cultivation of fodder crop is shrinking over the time. In addition, biotic and abiotic stresses are other main barriers to the fodder crop yield, quality and global food security for the livestock. For the higher productivity of livestock products such as milk, meat and wool, it is necessary to provide green fodder in ample quantity and quality. It leads to indiscriminate use of agrochemicals for enhanced productivity. Plant Growth Promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR)/microbial inoculants can play pertinent role to counteract the detrimental environmental impacts exerted by chemical fertilizers and other agrochemicals. PGPR are the living micro-organisms which colonizes the rhizosphere and promotes growth by increasing the availability and supply of nutrients by multifarious methods such as biological nitrogen fixation, siderophore production, phosphate solubilization and phytohormone production. Likewise, PGPR releases their metabolites directly or indirectly into the soil, thus improves the soil fertility and sustainability. The potential of PGPR has gained momentum during the last few decades as these can be used in integrated manner to reduce the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides and thereby helping to fulfil the demand of fodder crop in environmental, economical and climate resilient manner. The aim of this review is to discuss the important mechanisms and deliberate the prospects of using PGPR in fodder production.
Key words: Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR), Microbial Inoculants, Livestock, Fodder, Integrated Nutrient Management