Benefits and Drawbacks of Microbial Inoculant in Terms of Human Health and the Environment

The application of soil amendment has become very important in recent years for increasing crop production. The need for this practice is owed to the exacerbation of pests and diseases which have become paramount due to climate change and other factors. Chemical amendments, such as pesticides, fertilizers, and stimulants, have played a large role in improving agricultural productivity over the years. However, this role also has a detrimental dimension which includes increased toxicity to the plants, animals, humans, and other aquatic and terrestrial inhabitants. It is therefore expedient to promote the use of biological amendments which would serve the same purpose as their chemical counterparts to ensure a sustainable environment. Despite the existence of different biological amendments made from plants, microbes, and biological nanoparticles, the use of microbes has been preferred because of their ease of production, multiplication, and manipulation. Microbes such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and algae have been useful in the production of biofertilizers and biopesticides to control the pests and diseases on crops. This chapter discusses the pros and cons of microbial inoculants and further recommends how microbial inoculants can be improved to enhance agricultural production.