Microalgae have emerged as valuable assets in agriculture, serving as biofertilizers and soil conditioners. In tropical lowland rice cultivation, nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria-based biofertilizers have proven effective, while eukaryotic, unicellular, green microalgae find application in temperate zones for soil conditioning, particularly in sprinkler-irrigated farmland for erosion control. The potential of microalgae technologies is substantial, yet their success varies due to challenges such as the absence of quality inoculates and a limited understanding of soil microbial ecology. These obstacles hinder the development of integrated management schemes crucial for maximizing the effective exploitation of microalgae in crop production. This review delves into the current state of microalgae applications in agriculture, addressing prospects and challenges across various domains, including crop production, protection, and natural resource management. It emphasizes the need for concerted screening and strain improvement programs, coupled with advancements in product formulation technologies, to overcome existing limitations. Furthermore, the review provides an overview of recent advances, novel technologies, their commercialization status, and outlines future directions. By shedding light on the potential and hurdles, this comprehensive analysis aims to guide efforts towards realizing the full spectrum of benefits that microalgae can offer in enhancing agricultural practices.
Pandey et al. (Thu,) studied this question.