Plant Growth-Promoting Soil Bacteria: Nitrogen Fixation, Phosphate Solubilization, Siderophore Production, and Other Biological Activities

Abstract

This review covers the literature data on plant growth-promoting bacteria in soil, which can fix atmospheric nitrogen, solubilize phosphates, produce and secrete siderophores, and may exhibit several different behaviors simultaneously. We discuss perspectives for creating bacterial consortia and introducing them into the soil to increase crop productivity in agrosystems. The application of rhizosphere bacteria—which are capable of fixing nitrogen, solubilizing organic and inorganic phosphates, and secreting siderophores, as well as their consortia—has been demonstrated to meet the objectives of sustainable agriculture, such as increasing soil fertility and crop yields. The combining of plant growth-promoting bacteria with mineral fertilizers is a crucial trend that allows for a reduction in fertilizer use and is beneficial for crop production.

Keywords

• plant growth-promoting bacteria
• PGPB
• soil bacteria
• rhizosphere bacteria
• phosphate solubilization
• biofertilizers