Beneficial Soil-Born Microorganisms for Weed and Insect Pest Management in Agriculture: Potential and Limitations

Beneficial soil-borne microorganisms have the potential to exert considerable influence on agricultural practices by enhancing plant growth and health, promoting nutrient cycling, and managing pests. In addition, these microorganisms can protect biodiversity as they can reduce the harmful effects of chemicals. However, several factors limit their use in agricultural production. Developing and utilising microbial products cost-effectively and scalable can be challenging due to limited knowledge of soil-borne beneficial microorganisms and their interactions with plants, insects, and weeds, as well as technical difficulties related to their production and application. Additionally, compatibility issues with other soil amendments, regulatory hurdles, and economic viability can further limit the use of beneficial soil-borne microorganisms in agriculture. Research and development expenditures, as well as partnerships between scientists, regulators, and industry stakeholders, will be necessary to address these restrictions. The potential of beneficial soil-borne microorganisms in agriculture may also be unlocked because of technological advancements like genomics and precision agriculture. In this paper, the potential and current limitations of soil-borne beneficial microorganisms in agricultural production were investigated.