Realizing the potential of a low-cost technology to enhance crop yields: evidence from a meta-analysis of biofertilizers in India

Biofertilizers could play an important role in India's journey to sustainable agriculture, considering the issues of environmental effects and declining crop response to chemical fertilizers. But consumption has not expanded, and there is no comprehensive, quantitative assessment of their potential of enhancing crop yields. We conducted a meta-analysis to quantify the economic and yield benefits of biofertilizers in different crop categories based on 18 research publications that met our eligibility criteria. Meta-regression confirmed the significant change in effect due to soil organic matter content and pH, soil type, agroecological condition, crop group and biofertilizer type. The meta-analysis found an average yield improvement of 1.59 tonnes per hectare (ha) due to biofertilizer application, and the effect was highest due to the combined application of biofertilizers followed by nitrogen fixers and phosphate solubilizers respectively. The yield improvement among crop groups was highest in cereals, followed by legumes and vegetables.