HARNESSING THE POWER OF BLUE-GREEN ALGAE FOR SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE: A REVIEW
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.69980/bp.v11i1.2479Keywords:
Cyanobacteria, Biofertilizer, nitrogen fixation, pesticides, environmentAbstract
A long-term source of food and energy that doesn't damage the environment is necessary for the well-being of mankind, as the world's population grows and natural energy resources deplete. Excessive use of chemical fertilizers reduces the quality of the environment and food. Cyanobacteria, also known as blue-green algae, have emerged as essential participants in sustainable agriculture due to their distinct capabilities and diverse contributions to soil fertility, nutrient cycling, and overall ecosystem health. Furthermore, they have been recognized as a rich source of bioactive chemicals with antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal properties. Cyanobacteria have been the most successful and long-lasting prokaryotic organisms throughout evolution. Utilization of pesticides is very common in agriculture. Nonetheless, reckless use of pesticides has resulted in biomagnification that is detrimental to soil microorganisms, such as cyanobacteria. There is a great deal of potential for cyanobacterial abundance, quick generation, water-holding capacity, mineralizing capability, and nitrogen fixation to reduce the negative effects of pesticides. This paper investigates the varied importance of cyanobacteria in sustainable agriculture, focusing on their involvement in nitrogen fixation, soil stabilization, biofertilizer production, and potential for alleviating environmental concerns.
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