Field Applications of Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria for Crop Protection and Nutrient Enhancement

Climate change and soil infertility have affected agricultural activities worldwide. Thus, the search for alternative agricultural inputs to conventional agrochemicals has intensified worldwide. For many years, Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) have continued to attract attention as possible agricultural inputs. Worldwide, several studies have been conducted to evidence enhanced plant growth, improved nutrient availability and uptake, and pathogen suppression. Some studies have also shown that the application of PGPR inoculants can reduce the reliance on synthetic chemical inputs, which are known for several environmental impacts. Recent advances in microbiology and molecular techniques have further expanded the understanding of plant–microbe interactions and revealed different direct and indirect mechanisms through which PGPR inoculants contribute to plant health and growth. The investigation of PGPR as microbial inoculants has expanded in different parts of the world and in different crops as the search for novel inoculants that can be used as biofertilizers and biopesticides continues.

While there is immense literature on the potential of microbial inoculants in agriculture, most reports concern the laboratory screening and application of the inoculants under controlled conditions. Practical use remains limited, and there is limited reporting of the field application or validation of the inoculants and outcomes. Similarly, information on inoculant performance under variable soil conditions, climatic conditions, management practices, and/or in combination with other agricultural inputs is generally scanty. The goal of this Research Topic is to document field-based studies that involve microbial inoculants for crop protection and nutrient enhancement, their performance, and factors influencing success or failure. The broad goal is to increase knowledge about field validation of PGPR inoculants and their functions to promote their scalability as important components of sustainable agricultural systems.

This Research Topic aims to document field applications of PGPR inoculants in agricultural systems. The Research Topic welcomes contributions that incorporate microbial inoculants and inform on their diversity, performance as biofertilizers and biopesticides, effectiveness of consortia, integration with conventional farming inputs, economic viability, extent of adoption, and/or challenges; roles in plant abiotic resilience, quality control and standardization, and regulatory and policy perspectives. All submissions should clearly relate to field applications. Contributions can be original research articles, field trial reports, reviews, mini-reviews, case studies, and policy papers.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Policy and Practice Reviews
• Review
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: PGPR, Microbial Inoculants, Biofertilizers, Bioprotection, Rhizobacteria

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.