Comparison of Rhizospheric Functional Diversity Between Chemically Fertilized and Bioinoculated Millet

Abstract

Millets are ancient nutritious grains widely used as food and fodder. Millets grow well in most climates and easily yield sufficiently even on nutrient-deficient soils and rain-fed conditions with no chemical inputs. They have been used in intercropping and mixed cropping practices. However, little is known about the rhizosphere-microbe interactions and the type of microbial abundance in the soils of millets. The rhizosphere is a unique niche, where diverse microbes and macroorganisms thrive under the influences of plant roots and in turn are affected by climatic and anthropogenic influences. While chemical fertilizers helped achieve faster growth and yields during the mass famine, continuous and excessive fertilizers create a hazardous environment and thus diminishing soil health, in turn affecting microbial diversity in the plant rhizosphere. Diminishing microbial diversity in the soil in turn affects soil properties, biogeochemical cycles, and reduction in soil flora, leading to nutrient imbalances. Biological solutions such as bioinoculants serve as alternate and sustainable methods in order to engineer the agroecosystems to enhance crop yields and benefit the environment. This chapter highlights and compares the functional microbial diversity between chemically treated and bioinoculated millets. We also discuss future prospects for sustainable methods in order to improve microbial diversity and hence, food security despite climate change.