The role and efficacy of bacterial and fungal

The gap

Evidence profile

Sourced from the future-work section and future work and stated research gap and stated challenges and limitations section and abstract of the source papers, classified as general, drawn from work published between 2023 and 2026, spanning 7 journals. Those papers have been cited 3 times in total.

Supporting evidence — 8 representative gaps

• From Soil Amendment to Fruit Quality: Evidence and Uncertainties in Organic Amendment-Driven Regulation of the Rhizosphere Microbiome in Fruit Tree Systems (2026) · Agriculture · doi

  Priority research directions are proposed, including nutrient-matched controls, isotope tracing, re-inoculation of synthetic microbial communities, and multi-site long-term field trials. These directions aim to provide a scientific basis for reducing chemical fertilizer use while enhancing production efficiency in orchards.

  generalfuture-work section
  Keywords: priority research directions proposed including nutrient-matched controls isotope
• Evaluation of Biofertilizer Application on Soil Physico-Chemical Properties and Plant Growth Parameters: A Review (2026) · International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR) · doi

  Future research should focus on development of efficient microbial region-specific biofertilizer formulations. consortia and Modern molecular techniques can improve understanding of plant–microbe identify efficient microbial strains. interactions and help Integration of biofertilizers with organic amendments will further improve soil fertility and sustainability.

  generalfuture workevidence 5/5
  Keywords: efficient microbial improve future focus development region specific biofertilizer formulations consortia modern molecular techniques understanding
• Consecutive melon monocropping is associated with microbial community homogenization and reduced bacterial network complexity (2026) · Frontiers in Microbiology · doi

  The long-term associations between bio-organic fertilizers and microbial community structure and ecosystem functioning are not fully understood. The effects of consecutive melon monocropping on soil microbial communities, using Bacillus subtilis-based bio-organic fertilizer, are not well studied.

  generalstated research gapevidence 5/5
  Keywords: long-term associations between bio-organic fertilizers microbial community structure
• Synergistic effects of nitrogen, sewage sludge, and poultry manure on integrative fertilization for wheat and sugar beet in marginally saline soil (2026) · Frontiers in Plant Science · doi

  There remains a critical gap in field-based evidence regarding the synergistic integration of biofertilizers and organic amendments. The individual effects of biofertilizers or organic amendments have been widely studied, but not their combined use.

  generalstated research gapevidence 5/5
  Keywords: there remains critical gap field-based evidence regarding synergistic
• Microbial communities and pharmaceutical contaminants in the water-soil–plant continuum of sugarcane crops irrigated with contaminated waters from the Cauca River Valley, Colombia (2026) · Environmental Science and Pollution Research · doi

  The challenge is to mitigate the risks of microbial contamination and pharmaceutical active compound accumulation in agricultural ecosystems. The study highlights the need for integrated environmental and microbiological assessments. The biotechnological potential of the resident microbiome must be harnessed for sustainable agriculture practices.

  generalstated challengesevidence 5/5
  Keywords: challenge mitigate risks microbial contamination pharmaceutical active compound
• Evaluation of Biofertilizer Application on Soil Physico-Chemical Properties and Plant Growth Parameters: A Review (2026) · International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR) · doi

  Variability in field performance and formulation challenges remain important constraints. Long-term studies evaluating changes in soil physico-chemical properties under biofertilizer application are still limited.

  generallimitations sectionevidence 5/5
  Keywords: variability field performance formulation challenges remain important constraints
• Organic amendments as partial replacements for synthetic fertilizers in foxtail millet (2026) · BMC Plant Biology · doi

  The excessive application of synthetic fertilizers has led to a decline in crop productivity and severe disruption of soil ecological multifunctionality. There is a need for a viable strategy for advancing sustainable agricultural practices.

  generalstated research gapevidence 5/5
  Keywords: excessive application synthetic fertilizers has led decline crop
• Intercropping medicinal plants is a new idea for forage production: A case study with ajowan and fenugreek (2023) · Food and Energy Security · cited 3× · doi

  Abstract Biofertilizers has potential to improve crop productivity in a sustainable manner yet their impact on forage crops yields and forage quality indices have not been extensively explored.

  generalabstractevidence 4/5
  Keywords: forage abstract biofertilizers potential improve crop productivity sustainable manner impact crops yields quality indices extensively

Questions about this gap