Biostimulants towards soil health improvement: A review

Biostimulants are organic products made up of peptides and amino acids which are readily available to plants. Changes in farming are being caused by agro-ecological practices that take into account biodiversity and the way soil works. In agriculture, biostimulants can be used to keep plant growth and productivity without use of chemicals. Biostimulants can be used to identify and enhance specific soil microorganisms and they can help them grow and thrive. Soil microbial activity and the activity of important plant growth hormones or enzymes are also considered to help crops grow and yield more. The words “soil health” and “soil tilth” aren’t new in the world of farming. Many factors, many of which are biological, affect the health of soil. With the application of biostimulants soil health gets improved by influencing soil health indicators. Chemical fertilizers affect soil environment, which ultimately affects the human and animal lives. Microbes in the soil called arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) play an important role in maintaining long-term soil fertility by forming mutualistic relationships with the roots of food crops, which help them, grow and thrive. Plants thrive under biotic and abiotic stress, due to the activation of defense mechanisms through these substances. Biostimulants from seaweed extracts are very popular because they help plants to grow and be more resistant to stress. Repeated applications of biochar could make the soil more carbon-rich and productive, which could lead to more crop biomass and biological carbon sequestration over time. This review summarizes the description of biostimulants and their role in soil health.