The dependence of present farming on artificial input of 'chemical fertilizers' has caused numerous ecological tribulations associated with global warming and soil contamination. Moreover, there is an essential requirement for realistic agricultural practices on a comprehensive level. Accordingly, biofertilizers including microbes have been recommended as feasible environmentally sound solutions for agricultural practices which not only are natural, and cost-effective but also preserve soil environs and important biota of agricultural land. In addition, it enhances the nutrient quantity of soils organically. Microbial biofertilizers promote plant growth by escalating proficient absorption of nutrients for the plants and by providing an excellent disease-fighting mechanism.Agriculture, the backbone of human sustenance, has been put under tremendous pressure by the ever-increasing human population. Although various modern agro-techniques boosted agricultural production, the excessive use of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides have proven extremely detrimental to agriculture as well as to the environment in which it is carried out. Besides this some faulty agricultural practices like monoculture and defective irrigation, further complicate the scenario by eliminating biodiversity, increasing the efflux of nutrients into the water bodies, the formation of algal blooms, eutrophication, damaging the water quality and lowering fish stocks.

Biofertilizers are the organic compounds applied to crops for their sustainable growth and the sustainability of the environment as the microbiota associated with biofertilizers interact with the soil, roots and seeds to enhance soil fertility. Application of biofertilizers results in the increased mineral and water uptake, root development, vegetative growth and nitrogen fixation besides liberating growth-promoting substances and minerals that help the maintenance of soil fertility. They further act as antagonists and play a pivotal role in neutralising soil-borne plant pathogens and thus, help in the bio-control of diseases. Application of biofertilizers instead of synthetic fertilizers could be a promising technique to raise agricultural productivity without degrading environmental quality.

The present book focuses on the latest research approaches and updates from the microbiota and their applications in the agriculture industry. We believe this book addresses various challenges and shed lights on the possible future of the sustainable agricultural system.

Dr. Khalid Rehman Hakeem is a Professor at King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. He has completed his Ph.D. (Botany) from Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi, India in 2011. Dr. Hakeem has worked as Post Doctorate Fellow in 2012 and Fellow Researcher (Associate Prof.) from 2013-2016 at Universiti Putra Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia. His specialty is Plant Eco-Physiology, Molecular biology, Plant-Microbe-soil interactions, Medicinal plant research and Environmental Sciences and so far has edited and authored more than 25 books with Springer International, Academic Press, etc. He has also to his credit more than 110 research publications in peer reviewed international journals, including 40 book chapters in edited volumes with international publishers. Dr Hakeem is the recipient of many national and international awards and fellowships.
Dr Gowhar Hamid Dar is an Assistant Professor at Pratap College Campus, Cluster University Srinagar, India.  He has been working on the Isolation, Identification and Characterization of microbes for the last several years so to understand their behavioural aspects and to evaluate their industrial, economic aspects and their impact on our life. He has also published many research articles in reputed, referred international and national journals. Further he is involved in the teaching of post-graduate students of Environmental Science and in the teaching of Undergraduate course in Environment and Water Management at SP College campus of Cluster University Srinagar.

Dr Rouf Ahmad Bhat completed his PhD in Environmental Science (specialization: environmental microbiology) from the University of Kashmir, Srinagar under the able guidance of Prof. Azra N, Kamili and Prof. Bashir A. Ganai. Currently he is working as an Assistant Professor (Environmental Science) at the Department of Environmental Science, Sri Pratap College, Cluster University Srinagar.
Dr. Mohammad Aneesul Mehmood is an Assistant Professor in the discipline of Environmental Sciences, Sri Pratap College campus, Cluster University Srinagar, 190001. He has published more than 30 peer-reviewed articles in international journals. His current research focuses on the effect of spatio-temporal dynamics of heavy metal contamination on fishes in an urban Himalayan Lake with particular reference to the endemic fish Shizothorax niger.