Microalgal Bioresources For Sustainable Agriculture

Microalgae have recently drawn tremendous worldwide interest due to their vast potential application, notably in the agriculture industry. Microalgae are organic, sustainable, and economical sources of biostimulants, biofertilizers, and biocontrol products. So many microalgae species have been explored for their ability as value-added items of outstanding biological performance. Microalgae biomass produces massive quantities of bioactive compounds, such as phytohormones, polysaccharides, polyamines, and betaines. In agriculture, microalgae have been used in various applications, including amendment, foliar, and/or root application and seed priming. As plant biostimulants, biofertilizers, and biocontrol, microalgae could be used as an appropriate eco-friendly alternative to reduce or manage chemical fertilizers, phytosanitary products (pesticides), and plant growth regulators, generating multiple benefits in terms of enhancing rooting, higher crop yields, and quality and tolerance to biotic and abiotic stress as well. Biostimulants have been used as bioremediants to increase levels of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and phosphatase and urease activity, increasing the rate of soil xenobiotics degradation and improving beneficial microbial soil communities. Biostimulants can also lead to reducing the amount of hazardous agrochemicals, particularly decreasing fertilizer and pesticide consumption for sustainable agriculture. Furthermore, the demand for products based on microalgae is growing at a considerable rate. The most challenging and crucial issues are the advancement of new technologies to facilitate the economic feasibility of algae and biomass products and appropriate market and economic data to support industrial and institutional strategy. This review outlines the benefits, the economic prospects, and the biological activities of microalgae use for plant growth, development, nutrient uptake, and protection against biotic and abiotic stress, as well as to achieve sustainable agriculture.