Agriculture and food sciences
REVIEWS   (Open Access)

Biopesticides in Sustainable Agriculture: Enhancing Targeted Pest Control and Ecosystem Health

Ayesha Areej1, Muhammad Usama1, Umer Zulfiqar1, Fatima Sarwar1, Maryam1, Aneela Ashiq 1*

+ Author Affiliations

Applied Agriculture Sciences 2 (1) 1-8 https://doi.org/10.25163/agriculture.2110006

Submitted: 14 April 2024 Revised: 05 June 2024  Published: 07 June 2024 


Abstract

The growing demand for environmentally sustainable agriculture has increased the adoption of biopesticides in Integrated Pest Management (IPM). Derived from microorganisms, plants, or biological materials, biopesticides provide a safer, eco-friendly alternative to synthetic pesticides by targeting specific pests without harming non-target species. This review explores the efficacy and role of biopesticides in promoting sustainable agricultural practices. A selection of biopesticides, including Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), neem extract, and insect growth regulators, is reviewed for their preparation and application. Field trials using randomized complete block designs with treatment and control plots are examined to evaluate the impact on pest populations, crop health, and yield. Microbial, biochemical, and plant-based biopesticides demonstrates effective pest population reductions. Microbial biopesticides like Bt exhibits high specificity, preserving beneficial organisms. Biochemical agents, including neem, disrupted pest cycles through non-lethal mechanisms. Combined treatments enhanced pest control and delayed resistance, further supporting their role in IPM. Biopesticides offer a promising alternative in IPM, contributing to improved soil health and reduced chemical pesticide reliance. Despite economic and environmental challenges, ongoing advances in biotechnology are expected to enhance their efficacy and adoption. Integrating biopesticides with biofertilizers provides a holistic approach to sustainable agriculture, promoting ecosystem balance and long-term agricultural resilience.

Keywords: Biopesticides, Integrated Pest Management (IPM), Sustainable agriculture, Microbial pesticides, Eco-friendly pest control.

References


Aasfar, A., Bargaz, A., Yaakoubi, K., Hilali, A., Bennis, I., Zeroual, Y., & Meftah Kadmiri, I. (2021). Nitrogen fixing Azotobacter species as potential soil biological enhancers for crop nutrition and yield stability. Frontiers in Microbiology, 12. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2021.628379

Ammar, E. E., Aioub, A. A. A., Elesawy, A. E., Karkour, A. M., Mouhamed, M. S., Amer, A. A., & EL-Shershaby, N. A. (2022). Algae as bio-fertilizers: Between current situation and future prospective. Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences, 29, 3083. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sjbs.2022.03.020

Bhardwaj, D., Ansari, M. W., Sahoo, R. K., & Tuteja, N. (2014). Biofertilizers function as key players in sustainable agriculture by improving soil fertility, plant tolerance and crop productivity. Microbial Cell Factories, 13, 66. https://doi.org/10.1186/1475-2859-13-66

Bio-Fit. (n.d.). What are biofertilizers? - Page 2. Retrieved May 29, 2023, from https://bio-fit.eu/q8/lo1-why-biofertilizers?start=1

Biomcare. (n.d.). Microbiome analysis service | Research & pro services | Get quote. Retrieved May 28, 2023, from https://biomcare.com/

Britannica. (n.d.). Nitrogen-fixing bacteria | Definition & types. Retrieved May 29, 2023, from https://www.britannica.com/science/nitrogen-fixing-bacteria

BYJU’S. (n.d.). Rhizobium - Role of Rhizobium bacteria in nitrogen fixation. Retrieved May 29, 2023, from https://byjus.com/biology/rhizobium/

Daniel, A. I., Fadaka, A. O., Gokul, A., Bakare, O. O., Aina, O., Fisher, S., Burt, A. F., Mavumengwana, V., Keyster, M., & Klein, A. (2022). Biofertilizer: The future of food security and food safety. Microorganisms, 10. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms10061220

Dwivedi, M. (2020). Gluconobacter. In Beneficial Microbes in Agro-Ecology: Bacteria and Fungi (pp. 521–544). https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-823414-3.00025-3

Emanga Alobwede. (n.d.). The advantages of algae as biofertilisers in agriculture. Retrieved May 29, 2023, from https://grantham.sheffield.ac.uk/journal-club-with-emanga-alobwede/

Hossain, M. N., Hossain, A. K. M. S., Mazumder, M. A. I., & Habib, A. (2022). Challenges and prospects of biofertilizers in sustainable agricultural development: A review. Agriculture, 12, 173. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture12020173

Kour, D., Rana, K. L., Yadav, A. N., Yadav, N., Kumar, M., Kumar, V., Vyas, P., Dhaliwal, H. S., & Saxena, A. K. (2020). Microbial biofertilizers: Bioresources and eco-friendly technologies for agricultural and environmental sustainability. Biocatalysis and Agricultural Biotechnology, 23, 101487. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bcab.2019.101487

Kumar, S., Diksha, Sindhu, S. S., & Kumar, R. (2022). Biofertilizers: An ecofriendly technology for nutrient recycling and environmental sustainability. Current Research in Microbial Science, 3, 100094. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crmicr.2021.100094

Lindström, K., & Mousavi, S. A. (2020). Effectiveness of nitrogen fixation in rhizobia. Microbial Biotechnology, 13, 1314. https://doi.org/10.1111/1751-7915.13517

Mahajan, R., Gupta, P., & Sharma, R. (2019). Biofertilizers: A sustainable approach towards agriculture. Journal of Applied Biology & Biotechnology, 7, 1–8. https://doi.org/10.7324/JABB.2019.70101

Mahmud, A. A., Upadhyay, S. K., Srivastava, A. K., & Bhojiya, A. A. (2021). Biofertilizers: A nexus between soil fertility and crop productivity under abiotic stress. Current Research in Environmental Sustainability, 3, 100063. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crsust.2021.100063

Nelson, L. M. (2004). Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR): Prospects for new inoculants. Crop Management, 3, 1–7. https://doi.org/10.1094/CM-2004-0301-05-RV

Online Biology Notes. (n.d.). Biofertilizer- Advantages, types, methods of application and disadvantages. Retrieved May 29, 2023, from https://www.onlinebiologynotes.com/biofertilizer-advantages-types-methods-of-application-and-disadvantages/

Pedraza, R. O., Filippone, M. P., Fontana, C., Salazar, S. M., Ramírez-Mata, A., Sierra-Cacho, D., & Baca, B. E. (2020). Azospirillum. In Beneficial Microbes in Agro-Ecology: Bacteria and Fungi (pp. 73–105). https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-823414-3.00006-X

Reddy, P. M., James, E. K., & Ladha, J. K. (2002). Nitrogen fixation in rice. In Nitrogen Fixation at the Millennium (pp. 421–445). https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-044450965-9/50015-X

Rodriguez, L. R., & Lichtenstein, J. (2019). The importance of biofertilizers in sustainable agriculture: The case of the genus Bacillus. Sustainability, 11, 3641. https://doi.org/10.3390/su11133641

Sahu, N. K., Padhy, R. N., & Kumar, A. (2021). Microbial biofertilizers: A sustainable alternative for enhancing soil health and crop productivity. Current Science, 121, 571. https://doi.org/10.18520/cs/v121/i4/571-577

Saritha, M., & Prasad Tollamadugu, N. V. K. V. (2019). The status of research and application of biofertilizers and biopesticides: Global scenario. In Recent developments in applied microbiology and biochemistry (pp. 195–207). https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-816328-3.00015-5

Sheteiwy, M. S., Ali, D. F. I., Xiong, Y. C., Brestic, M., Skalicky, M., Hamoud, Y. A., Ulhassan, Z., Shaghaleh, H., AbdElgawad, H., Farooq, M., et al. (2021). Physiological and biochemical responses of soybean plants inoculated with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and Bradyrhizobium under drought stress. BMC Plant Biology, 21. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-021-02949-z

Simin, B. (2019). Nutrient dynamics and microbial interactions in the rhizosphere: Implications for sustainable agriculture. Applied and Environmental Soil Science, 2019, 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1155/2019/8151604

Singh, D. P., Singh, H. B., & Prabha, R. (2016). Microbial inoculants in sustainable agricultural productivity: Vol. 1: Research perspectives (pp. 1–343). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-81-322-2647-5/COVER

Stacey, G. (2006). The Rhizobium-legume nitrogen-fixing symbiosis. In Biology of the Nitrogen Cycle (pp. 147–163). https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-044452857-5.50011-4

Sumbul, A., Ansari, R. A., Rizvi, R., & Mahmood, I. (2020). Azotobacter: A potential bio-fertilizer for soil and plant health management. Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences, 27, 3634. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sjbs.2020.08.004

Wang, Q., Liu, J., & Zhu, H. (2018). Genetic and molecular mechanisms underlying symbiotic specificity in legume-Rhizobium interactions. Frontiers in Plant Science, 9, 313. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2018.00313

Yadav, A. N., Yadav, N., Kaur, J., & Kumar, R. (2020). Exploring the potential of bio-fertilizers in sustainable agricultural practices. Microbial Biotechnology, 13, 1892. https://doi.org/10.1111/1751-7915.13608

Zahran, H. H. (1999). Rhizobium-legume symbiosis and nitrogen fixation under severe conditions and in an arid climate. Microbiology and Molecular Biology Reviews, 63, 968. https://doi.org/10.1128/MMBR.63.4.968-989.1999

Zambrano-Mendoza, J. L., Sangoquiza-Caiza, C. A., Campaña-Cruz, D. F., & Yánez-Guzmán, C. F. (2021). Use of biofertilizers in agricultural production. Technology in Agriculture. https://doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.98264

PDF
Abstract
Export Citation

View Dimensions


View Plumx


View Altmetric




Save
0
Citation
278
View

Share