Towards Sustainable Agriculture: Harnessing Azotobacter Species for Enhanced Crop Yield and Environmental Resilience

Abstract

The symbiotic relationship between soil health, agricultural productivity, and environmental sustainability underscores the urgent need for innovative strategies to enhance crop yield while mitigating the adverse effects of modern agricultural practices. This study investigates the potential of Azotobacter species as biofertilizers to address these challenges. Azotobacter species, known for their nitrogen-fixing ability and other beneficial properties, were isolated from rhizosphere soil samples and characterized. Morphological, ecological, and biochemical analyses revealed diverse characteristics among the isolates, including stress tolerance, resistance to heavy metals, pesticides, and antibiotics, as well as enzymatic activities. Furthermore, the isolates exhibited plant growth-promoting properties such as the production of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), siderophores, and hydrogen cyanide (HCN), as well as phosphate mineralization and solubilization. These findings highlight the potential of Azotobacter species as effective biofertilizers for sustainable agriculture