Microbial associations in ecological reclamation and restoration of marginal lands

Abstract Natural ecology has been affected by the cosmetic inclined towards urbanization and industrialization. Water and land resources are the major entities to be affected by this revolution. These resources are not only shrinking but also deteriorating due to a variety of anthropogenic activities. Land degradation possesses a severe threat to sustainable agriculture and food security as it affects 1 to 6 billion hectares of arable land worldwide. Soil salinization, organic and inorganic pollution, soil erosion, waterlogging and poor nutrition are major causes of soil degradation. Ecological remediation and management of land resources is the primary concern all over the world in general and specific for the developing countries. There are many options which are available for remediation of marginal and intensively degraded soils. These include different organic and inorganic compounds which have their residual effects in soils and plants. The microbial association is an alternative concept to economize ecofriendly remediation of marginally degraded soils. Like halophytic plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPR), which help the plants, withstand salinity as it boosts plant nutrient uptake via the production of plant hormones. Similarly, using bacterial consortium to degrade soil organic pollutants and decrease concentrations of inorganic metal has huge economic and ecological benefits. Plant-fungal association (mycorrhizae) is reported to have a significant role in better management of degraded soil by enhancing nutrient and water uptake as well as protecting the plant from root pathogens. Screening of objective specific microorganisms for the management of degraded soil is very important to the discipline of sustainable agriculture. Therefore this chapter is an effort to comprehensively explain all aspects associated with microbial assisted ecology reclamation and restoration of degraded soils with historic literature, recent advances, and possible future prospects.