Preface

Modern agricultural practices largely rely on high inputs of mineral fertilizers to high yields and involve the application of chemical pesticides to protect crops from diseases and pests. These practices are now being reevaluated and coming under scrutiny as our awareness of potential health and environmental consequences of excessive mineral fertilizers and chemical pesticide usage improves. It is widely recognized that the application of mineral fertilizers (especially nitrogen) can result in soil sickness and groundwater contamination by nitrates leaching through the soil profiles. To preserve our most precious natural resources like soil and water, this is high time to go for organic agriculture.

Thus, the present condition of soil and groundwater again requires scientists and researchers to maintain their productivity as well as quality. As the world population is increasing enormously, there is a need to sustain agriculture and increase the yield of agricultural products by using biochemicals instead of synthetic chemicals to reduce the negative impact on the soil and water environment. Using these biochemicals not only the productivity of soil will increase due to microorganism activity, but also the ecosystem could be saved.

For the use of soil microorganisms as biochemicals or the bioproducts obtained from them, one should know about the soil microorganisms effectively and their utility, which has been established over the years of research. Various chemicals like enzymes, vitamins, minerals, organic acids, biopigments, antibiotics, etc. have been successfully isolated from these microorganisms and are being exploited in various industrial fields like pharmaceuticals, Agriculture (biofertilizers, biopesticides, etc), food industries, beverages, and dairy industries.

Several studies have been conducted to exploit these microorganisms to produce helpful biochemical for not only humans but also for animals and the environment. However, these research findings are in scattered form. Although, the subject of microbes and their use in agriculture is very important there is a dearth of research-based books. Hence in this text, we have tried to collect the research findings of several eminent scientists and compile them in the form of a book. Therefore, this book will provide exhaustive knowledge about microbes and their uses for the welfare of mankind. The industrialists, professors, extension workers, scientists, and students will get most of the information about these soil microbes and their uses in one place.

The editors are highly thankful to the publisher of this text. Since this is the first edition, it may contain some errors that crept in inadvertently in spite of all editorial care. So, we are always interested to hear comments and suggestions from the learned readers.