Restoration of degraded lands through bioenergy plantations

Abstract

Land degradation has become a worldwide problem. Increasing population, the conversion of forest land into cropland, and its gradual degradation due to unsustainable agricultural practices have led to this prevailing scenario. Unsustainable agriculture practices like use of chemical fertilizers for increasing crop productivity (recorded 281.75 lakh tonnes in the year 2010–2011) also leads to degradation of land. A total of 4.1 million hectares of culturable wasteland was recorded in the same year. Also, crude oil consumption is increasing at a rate of 1.7% which prompts for massive input of crude oil. Thus, biofuel plantations have recently attracted a lot of attention because of several advantages that they present. The genetically engineered bioenergy crops can help in land restoration by increasing the soil fertility, growing in stress conditions, and they also lead to the production of fuels through their various parts. The use of genetically engineered bioenergy crops will not only help in the prevention of degraded land but also yield biofuel as a product and enhance soil fertility and health for further sustainable agricultural practices.

Unlocking the potential plant growth‐promoting properties of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) seed endophytes bio‐inoculants for improving soil health and crop production

“…Therefore, priority should be given to the use of plant growth promoting microorganisms (PGPM) as biofertilizers both for the food security and sustainable crop production by improving soil health and fertility as an eco‐friendly approach to conserve degraded land. Application of the organic manures along with the inorganic fertilizers helps to increase the soil OM, soil structure, improved soil nutrient, maintains the soil cation exchange capacity, soil biological diversity, and restoration of soil (Dubey et al, 2020; Saha et al, 2008; Singh et al, 2020). Though chemical fertilizers and pesticides are important input for agricultural sector to get higher yield, but unbalance and excess application of these agrochemicals affect the soil properties, crop productivity, and causes a serious health issue and land problems such as soil degradation (Hepperly et al, 2009).…”

“…Therefore, priority should be given to the use of plant growth promoting microorganisms (PGPM) as biofertilizers both for the food security and sustainable crop production by improving soil health and fertility as an eco-friendly approach to conserve degraded land. Application of the organic manures along with the inorganic fertilizers helps to increase the soil OM, soil structure, improved soil nutrient, maintains the soil cation exchange capacity, soil biological diversity, and restoration of soil (Dubey et al, 2020;Saha et al, 2008;Singh et al, 2020).…”

Potential of Coupling Heavy Metal (HM) Phytoremediation by Bioenergy Plants and Their Associated HM-Adapted Rhizosphere Microbiota (Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi and Plant Growth Promoting Microbes) for Bioenergy Production

“…Role of PGPR (rhizobacteria) in bioremediation of HM-contaminated soils is gaining importance in enhancing microbe-assisted nano-phytoremediation and phyto-management of contaminated soils [5,20,21]. These microbes play a multitude of roles in environmental protection, and research efforts in this direction have received renewed interest worldwide [22].…”

“…The implications of these root rhizosphere associated symbionts such as mycorrhizal fungi, nitrogen-fixing rhizobia and free-living rhizosphere microbial populations, that enhance plant growth, need to be fully exploited and encouraged by inoculating nutrient poor or abiotically stressed agricultural soils with appropriate microbes [4]. Cultivation of non-agricultural plants to restore derelict and contaminated ecosystems through bioenergy plantation and associated microbes to stimulate plant growth and biomass production for generating bioenergy offers a practical solution for restoring degraded and contaminated derelict ecosystems [5]. This mini review focusses on how to enhance the plant-based remediation, i.e.…”

Unlocking the potential plant growth-promoting properties of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) seed endophytes bio-inoculants for improving the soil health and crop production

“…Therefore, priority should be given to the use of plant growth promoting microorganisms (PGPM) as biofertilizers both for the food security and sustainable crop production by improving soil health and fertility as an eco-friendly approach to conserve degraded land. Application of the organic manures along with the inorganic fertilizers help to increase the soil organic matter, soil structure, improved soil nutrient, helps to maintain the soil cation exchange capacity and soil biological activity and diversity, and restoration of soil (Dubey et al, 2020;Singh et al, 2020;Saha et al, 2008). Though chemicals fertilizers and pesticides are important input for agricultural sector to get higher yield, but unbalance and excess application of these agrochemical affects the soil properties, crop productivity and causes a serious health issue, land problems such as soil degradation (Hepperly et al, 2009).…”