Bioengineered Microbes for Restoration of Soil Health

The issue of soil health restoration is gaining more attention worldwide as soil quality has deteriorated over the decades, negatively impacting agriculture and human health. Loss of soil health is a significant barrier to sustainable agriculture, affecting food quality, productivity, and ecosystem sustainability. It is caused by extreme rainfall, flooding, erosion, landslides, mining, deforestation, poor farming practices, and the overuse of chemicals like pesticides and fertilizers. One method to stop soil deterioration is the application of bioengineered microbes that enhance soil quality by degrading dangerous pollutants and adding more nutrients to boost soil fertility. The combinatorial approaches employing bioengineered microbes, plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria, and other soil additives may accelerate soil restoration. This chapter provides an overview of bioengineered microbes’ application as biofertilizers to provide nutrients and phytohormones to plants. In addition, it also covers their potential to remove pesticides, heavy metals, and petroleum contaminants. Finally, the prospects of using bioengineered microbes have been elaborated to fasten soil health restoration making it fertile and healthy.