Salinity Mitigation Using Microbial Inoculants

Salinity is among the most debilitating abiotic factors that affect the plant growth severely through the generation of reactive oxygen species, hormonal imbalance, and reduced nutrient mobilisation. High salinity affects microbial diversity and functioning, besides modulating physicochemical properties of soil, thereby, depleting soil health. The agricultural area under salinity is increasing very rapidly and is anticipated to increase to nearly 40 million acres by 2050. There are a number of salinity mitigation options (physical, chemical, hydrological, and biological), and among these biological strategies, particularly, deploying microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, and algae which can aid plants to fortify themselves against salinity stress is the most efficient. In sustainable agriculture, microbial solutions in particular are in high demand because they offer a natural, affordable, and ecologically safe approach for improving plant growth and productivity. This chapter focuses on different mitigation strategies that help plants to overcome salinity stress and improve the quantum and quality of yield. In addition to highlighting the important role that microorganisms play in salt mitigation, this chapter also discusses the drawbacks and difficulties associated with using them as salinity mitigators, and the path forward.