Conventional agriculture methods employ the use of chemicals especially fertilizers and pesticides that pose severe environmental concerns due to the increasing pollution of soil and water bodies.
The ever-increasing population and its rising food requirements have further emphasized the need to identify sustainable agricultural practices and techniques.
Microalgae application in modern agriculture has gained a great deal of interest due to the wide range of benefits they can offer in improving crop yield and crop health yet maintaining environmental balance.
Microalgae have been widely used as biofertilizers and are envisaged to positively impact agriculture as biostimulants, biopesticides, and bioremediating agents.
This article provides an overview of recent research conducted in the areas of microalgal use in improving agricultural productivity and sustainable agriculture, primarily through their use as alternatives to existing harmful chemicals.
In addition, our views on the advantages microalgae can offer in comparison to existing agrochemicals have been discussed.
Source: Gautam, K., Rajvanshi, M., Chugh, N., Dixit, R. B., Kumar, G. R. K., Kumar, C., & Dasgupta, S. (2021). Microalgal applications toward agricultural sustainability: Recent trends and future prospects. Microalgae, 339-379.
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