Browsing by Author "Chaitanya Ramesh"

The soil has a wide variety of microorganisms that are part of a varied ecosystem that includes plants. It has long been understood that some of these microorganisms, such as nitrogen-fixing symbiotic bacteria or mycorrhizal fungi, play significant roles in plant performance by enhancing mineral nutrition. However, only recently have researchers begun to identify the full range of microorganisms connected to plants and their potential to replace artificial agricultural inputs. The understanding of the make-up and behaviour of rhizospheric microbiomes has advanced significantly in recent years. Long-term use of these fertilisers frequently results in a drop in pH and exchangeable bases, rendering them inaccessible to crops and lowering agricultural productivity. Farmers have become increasingly reliant on chemical sources of nitrogen and phosphorus to solve this issue and increase plant yields.