<p>Sustainable intensification of maize (<i>Zea mays</i> L.) production is one of the strategies to meet rapidly growing global food demand while taking care of the environment. The chronic overuse of synthetic fertilizers on farmlands, which has been a major contributor to the huge increase in maize production, has led to the degradation of soils in general and reduction in soil organic carbon (SOC) in particular. The situation is further worsened by the decreasing of soil microbial diversity and the raising of the soil’s susceptibility to nutrient leaching and aquatic eutrophication. The review highlights the multiple functions of vermicompost and microbial biofertilizers, which, together with other aspects of Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) strategies, have been receiving considerable attention lately. Being a highly porous, nutrient-rich bio-amendment, vermicompost resolves problems of structural degradation as it encourages the establishment of stable micro-aggregates and increases the soil’s water-holding capacity. Microbial biofertilizers such as free-living nitrogen-fixing bacteria (<i>Azotobacter</i>, <i>Azospirillum</i>), phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (PSB), and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) play key roles in restructuring the rhizosphere. These microorganisms enhance nutrient availability through nitrogen fixation and organic acid-mediated mineralization. They also produce phytohormones, particularly indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), which modify root architecture and improve nutrient uptake. By promoting synergistic interactions between organic matrices and beneficial taxa, these strategies offer a scalable pathway to optimize nutrient-use efficiency and bolster crop resilience against abiotic stressors. This review provides a novel approach by integrating recent advances in vermicompost and microbial biofertilizers, with particular emphasis on their synergistic effects on nutrient availability, soil health, and maize productivity.</p> Graphical Abstract <p></p>