Bio-fertilizers as sustainable nutrient sources for enhancing growth and biomass production in basil

Abstract

The growing concern over soil degradation, declining nutrient-use efficiency, environmental pollution and excessive dependence on synthetic fertilizers has generated renewed interest in biologically based approaches to plant nutrition. Bio-fertilizers have emerged as an important component of sustainable nutrient management because they employ beneficial microorganisms to improve nutrient availability, stimulate root development and support soil biological activity. Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.), an economically important aromatic and medicinal plant belonging to the family Lamiaceae, requires balanced plant nutrition for satisfactory vegetative growth, biomass accumulation and production of valuable secondary metabolites. The present article examines the potential of bio-fertilizers as sustainable nutrient sources for enhancing the growth and biomass production of basil. Particular attention is given to nitrogen-fixing bacteria, phosphate-solubilizing microorganisms, plant-growth-promoting rhizobacteria and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and their interactions with the basil rhizosphere. The available literature indicates that microbial inoculation can influence plant height, branching, leaf development, root architecture, fresh and dry biomass and nutrient acquisition through mechanisms including biological nitrogen fixation, phosphorus solubilization, mineral mobilization, phytohormone production and improved root–soil interactions. Bio-fertilizers may additionally contribute to long-term soil fertility by strengthening microbial activity and reducing dependence on high levels of synthetic nutrient inputs. Nevertheless, their performance is not universally uniform and may be influenced by microbial strain, soil properties, climatic conditions, cultivar, application method and interactions with native soil microorganisms. From an international perspective, increasing interest in microbial inoculants reflects the broader transition towards resource-efficient, climate-resilient and environmentally responsible agricultural systems. The article concludes that bio-fertilizers should be viewed neither as a simplistic substitute for all conventional fertilizers nor merely as growth stimulants, but as biological components of integrated nutrient-management strategies. Future research should therefore concentrate on basil-specific microbial consortia, multi-location field validation, microbiome-based formulations, precision application techniques and integrated assessment of biomass, essential-oil quality, soil health and environmental performance.