Strengthening Tree Nutrition Through the Application of Biofertilizers

The Nutritional requirements of trees have received less attention compared to agricultural crops. Tree species provide a long-term investment for many potential benefits for human well-being. Nutritional supplementation is a requisite for improvement in the growth and quality of planting stock. Biofertilizers are a boon for chemical fertilizers, which produce several environmental hurdles. Certain groups of bacteria and fungi are majorly used as biofertilizers in tree cultivation. It is a sustainable approach to support growth in these higher plants. Heavy reliance on the indiscriminate use of chemical fertilizers results in adverse effects on the soil ecosystem, environmental quality, and human and animal health risks. The practice of inorganic fertilizers can be greatly reduced by substituting them with eco-friendly microbial biofertilizers or bio-inoculants. Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) and mycorrhizal fungi are frequently involved in biofertilizer formulations, providing plants with nutrients required to enhance their growth, increase yield, manage abiotic and biotic stress, and prevent phytopathogens attacks. Being an alternate natural source of nutrients, biofertilizers help sustain soil health, fertility, and productivity while significantly improving the growth of plants. In addition, these microbial inoculants are organic, sustainable, and environmentally friendly, thereby reducing the ill effects on human health and the soil biome. Thus, bio-inoculants form an attractive and pecuniary approach towards the development of sustainable forestry. The availability of pertinent microbial strains can increase the survival as well as the quality of seedlings and other propagation units. Hence, the chapter aims to encompass the importance, roles, and application of biofertilizers in improving tree nutrition.