Role of Microbial Biostimulants in Mitigating the Effects of Climate Change
There is a strong consensus among the scientific community that various human activities in the past decades have led to climate change issues. This, in turn, has affected the agricultural system by impacting the quality and quantity of crop production and causing soil salinity, drought problems and abiotic environmental stress in plants.
The increasing global population and the consequent rise in global demand for food will further exacerbate the situation. The use of microbial biostimulants has emerged as the best method to mitigate its effects on agriculture.
The unprecedented level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere today is due to human activities like burning fossil fuels, deforestation and resulting emission of greenhouse gases. It has caused extreme events like natural disasters, floods and drought. Such climatic conditions have a substantial negative impact on agricultural systems. It may decrease vegetation productivity, affect plant growth, food quality and security. Experts point out that it directly affects the quality and quantity of plant nutrients as well.
Another factor that requires considerable attention is the soil quality as agricultural productivity depends on it. Soil degradation, soil salinity and low soil moisture can make agricultural land useless. Moreover, climate change issues can cause reduced precipitation leading to drop of soil below the wilting point. It means drying out of leaves, drooping and withering.
Under this context, there is an urgent need for sustainable solutions which can mitigate the effects of climate change on agriculture. Subsequently, it should help in achieving the food security goal of the world in the future. This is where microbial biostimulants can play a vital role to boost agricultural productivity and overcome climate change challenges.
Microbial biostimulants can be defined as the combination of different microorganisms like bacteria and fungi, which when applied to seeds, plants or rhizosphere, provide substantial benefit to the crops. Some of the positive effects include:
- Improves nutrient intake
- Enhances the photosynthesis process
- Regulates plant hormones
- Increases tolerance to abiotic stress
- Boosts crop quality
- Increases crop yield
Water scarcity is one of the major global problems, predicted to severely affect agricultural systems in the future. According to an estimate, a 50% increase in water for irrigation in developing countries and 16% in developed counties would be required, in the coming years. The microbial biostimulants can be helpful in accessing soil pores and reaching water that is not accessible by plants. Various studies and reports have also shown maximized productivity of crops in drought areas using biostimulants. Additionally, it can assist in maintaining soil moisture by improving water retention and the plant’s capacity to handle drought.
Soil and water salinity is another issue related to anthropogenic climate change affecting agriculture. It has caused less rainfall, rising temperature and increasing ground-water salinity. This, in turn, can lead to stunted plant growth due to physiological, biological and chemical changes. Microbial biostimulants are well known for dealing with salinity stress in plants. It boosts yield and increases root and shoot dry weight of plants when under stress.
Today, there are highly advanced and effective solutions using microbial biostimulants to support sustainable agriculture practises that maximize productivity and protects crops from climate change problems.
Organica Biotech is one of the leading companies with a wide range of products with highly innovative microbial biostimulants. They are capable of enhancing soil quality and productivity, leading to crop vigour and better yields. Natural, safe and effective, Organica Biotech products are aimed at promoting sustainable agriculture.
The Magic Gro range of products contains an advanced formulation of microbes that adapt to different geo-climatic conditions. It helps in maintaining a healthy ecological balance in the soil. Additionally, it boosts crop vigour, enhances immunity against biotic and abiotic stress. Thus, you can use Magic Gro products to mitigate the effects of climate change on agriculture.
Also read: The Use of Biostimulants for Enhancing Soil Nutrient Content
Also read: How do Biostimulants Reduce the Requirement of Fertilizers in Agriculture
Also read: The Role of Biostimulants In Modern Agriculture
Also read: Biostimulants in Agriculture: Challenges, Function and Efficacy
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