ABSTRACT

Biofertilizers are an environmentally friendly alternative to chemical fertilizers, offering numerous benefits in enhancing plant growth and promoting agricultural sustainability. These natural products consist of beneficial microorganisms, including nitrogen-fixing bacteria, phosphorus-solubilizing bacteria, and plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), which improve soil fertility and nutrient availability. Through biological processes such as nitrogen fixation, nutrient mobilization, and disease suppression, biofertilizers help optimize plant growth, increase crop yield, and enhance resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses. Their use significantly reduces the dependency on synthetic fertilizers, thereby mitigating environmental pollution, improving soil structure, and fostering biodiversity. In addition to enhancing nutrient cycling, biofertilizers promote soil health by stimulating beneficial microbial activity and improving soil physical properties. As a result, they contribute to sustainable agricultural practices, ensuring long-term productivity while minimizing the ecological impact of farming. This paper reviews the mechanisms of action, applications, and environmental benefits of biofertilizers, emphasizing their potential to address critical challenges in modern agriculture, such as soil degradation, nutrient deficiencies, and climate change. The integration of biofertilizers into agricultural systems is a promising strategy for achieving sustainable food production and environmental conservation