Actinomycetes: Implications and Prospects in Sustainable Agriculture

Biofertilizers are being considered as a great gift of nature to mankind. The latent microorganisms being active ingredients of biofertilizers have served the purpose of solving environmental and health issues related to indiscriminate usage of harsh chemical fertilizers. Biofertlizers serve as important components of integrated nutrition management system for sustainable agriculture. Among the diverse types of microorganisms in nature, the role of actiomycetes cannot be underrated. Their large population in diverse soil types and their dynamic nature to maintain soil fertility and ecology is of prime importance in agriculture field. Biological management of soil ecosystem by actinomycetes through their diverse features like plant growth-promoting ability, managing plant health and vigor, and production of agro active compounds greatly contributes to the agricultural sector. The capacity of actinomycetes to mitigate unsafe and adverse effects of chemical fertilizers and also to promote positive effects in plants highlights their role in ecosystem resilience. These filamentous bacteria have immense beneficial effects in soil and hence open a great avenue for improved crop production in future.