Microbial fertilizers in sustainable crop production: Types, functions and regulatory mechanisms.

Microbial fertilizers, including plant growth-promoting bacteria, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, and yeasts, enhance crop yield and stress tolerance by supporting nutrient uptake and root development.

• Why it matters: Reducing excessive fertilizer inputs while maintaining crop productivity is crucial for sustainable agriculture, and microbial fertilizers may offer eco-friendly solutions.
• What they did: The review summarizes the types, functions, and regulatory mechanisms of microbial fertilizers in crop growth, focusing on their roles in alleviating drought, salinity, metal toxicity, and pathogen suppression.
• The result: Understanding these mechanisms can improve strain selection and application strategies, enabling microbial fertilizers to better match crop needs and local conditions for sustainable crop production.