Impact of Agrochemicals on Soil Microbiota and Management: A Review (original) (raw)

Impact of Agrochemicals on Soil Biota and Ways to Mitigate it: A Review

International Journal of Environment and Climate Change

Agricultural production is largely based on the use of agrochemicals in order to minimize pests, pathogens, and undesirable weeds toward increase production. In the current situation, however, several threats are emerging that threaten food security, human and environmental health, ecological balance, and soil biodiversity. Agrochemicals may shift beneficial microorganisms in the community over time, with potentially dangerous consequences, such as the development of antibiotic resistance. Farming systems utilizing agrochemicals might adversely affect soil microorganisms responsible for nutrient cycling processes, such as: nitrogen fixation, phosphorus solubilizing, and others. Some agrochemicals reduce soil enzyme activity and biochemical reactions, which are key indicators of soil microbiology. In this review, we explore how applied agrochemicals affect soil microbes and biochemical health attributes under different cropping systems, as well as ways to overcome the negative impact...

Impact of Agrochemicals on Beneficial Microorganisms and Human Health

International Journal of Environment and Climate Change

Agrochemicals, including fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides, are widely used in agriculture to improve crop yields and protect plants from pests and diseases. There is growing concern over their impact on beneficial soil microorganisms and, indirectly, on human health. This review aims to provide an in-depth analysis of the effects of agrochemicals on soil microbial communities and human health, focusing on recent scientific research and case studies. Exploring various agrochemicals can disrupt microbial diversity, population, and functionality, affecting crucial soil processes and, in turn, ecosystem health. We delve into the pathways of human exposure to agrochemicals and the potential health implications. To mitigate the adverse effects of agrochemicals, the review highlights several alternative approaches, including the use of organic fertilizers and pesticides, precision agriculture, and genetically modified crops. Despite these advancements, research gaps persist in under...

Impact of commonly used agrochemicals on bacterial diversity in cultivated soils

Indian Journal of Microbiology, 2009

The effects of three selected agrochemicals on bacterial diversity in cultivated soil have been studied. The selected agrochemicals are Cerox (an insecticide), Ceresate and Paraquat (both herbicides). The effect on bacterial population was studied by looking at the total heterotrophic bacteria presence and the effect of the agrochemicals on some selected soil microbes. The soil type used was loamy with pH of 6.0-7.0. The soil was placed in opaque pots and bambara bean (Vigna subterranean) seeds cultivated in them. The agrochemicals were applied two weeks after germination of seeds at concentrations based on manufacturer's recommendation. Plant growth was assessed by weekly measurement of plant height, foliage appearance and number of nodules formed after one month. The results indicated that the diversity index (Di) among the bacteria populations in untreated soil and that of Cerox-treated soils were high with mean diversity index above 0.95. Mean

Linking Soil Microbial Diversity to Modern Agriculture Practices: A Review

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

Agriculture is a multifarious interface between plants and associated microorganisms. In contemporary agriculture, emphasis is being given to environmentally friendly approaches, particularly in developing countries, to enhance sustainability of the system with the least negative effects on produce quality and quantity. Modern agricultural practices such as extensive tillage, the use of harmful agrochemicals, mono-cropping, etc. have been found to influence soil microbial community structure and soil sustainability. On the other hand, the question of feeding the ever-growing global population while ensuring system sustainability largely remains unanswered. Agriculturally important microorganisms are envisaged to play important roles in various measures to raise a healthy and remunerative crop, including integrated nutrient management, as well as disease and pest management to cut down agrochemicals without compromising the agricultural production. These beneficial microorganisms see...

Microbial intervention in agriculture: An overview

African Journal of Microbiology Research, 2015

With increase in population, rapid urbanization and industrialization, land area under agricultural production is decreasing day by day. In order to feed the huge population, more production is required from lesser area, which triggers continuous applications of higher doses of inorganic fertilizers in an injudicious manner posing serious harm on soil health, further rendering large fraction of land unfit for cultivation every year due to nutrient imbalance. Combustion of fossil fuels during production of inorganics, leaching, loss of excess inorganic nitrate and phosphorus from cropped lands, excessive uplifting of ground water for irrigation purpose also lead to degradation of the quality of environment and natural resources through global warming, eutrophication, heavy metal contamination in ground water, etc. Under such circumstances, some improvised technologies are to be adopted to enhance productivity in a sustainable manner. A great deal of effort focusing on the soil biological system and the agro-ecosystem as a whole is needed to enable better understanding of the complex processes and interactions governing the stability of agricultural lands. The technological advances made in recent times in exploring biodiversity have revealed that microbial diversity has immense potential that can be explored through careful selection of microbes and their successful utilization in solving major agricultural and environmental issues.

Impacts of Agriculture on the Environment and Soil Microbial Biodiversity

Plants

Agriculture represents an important mechanism in terms of reducing plant, animal, and microbial biodiversity and altering the environment. The pressure to cope with the increasing food demands of the human population has intensified the environmental impact, and alternative ways to produce food are required in order to minimize the decrease in biodiversity. Conventional agricultural practices, such as floods and irrigation systems; the removal of undesired vegetation by fires, tilling, and plowing; the use of herbicides, fertilizers, and pesticides; and the intensification of these practices over the last 50 years, have led to one of the most important environmental threats—a major loss of biodiversity. In this study, we review the impact that agriculture and its intensification have had on the environment and biodiversity since its invention. Moreover, we demonstrate how these impacts could be reduced through the use of microorganisms as biostimulants.