Influence of bio fertilizers on growth and yield of oats (Avena sativa L.): A comprehensive review

Abstract

An important cereal crop grown worldwide, oats (Avena sativa L.) are prized for their health, nutritional, and fodder qualities. Biofertilizers—microbial inoculants that improve nutrient availability—are being researched more and more as sustainable alternatives to intensive chemical fertilizer use due to its negative effects on the environment and the economy. The results of indexed literature evaluating the effects of biofertilizers (nitrogen fixers, phosphate solubilizers, and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi) on oats are summarized in this review. Critical evaluations are conducted on soil health, nutrient uptake, growth performance, yield enhancement, and integration with chemical fertilizers. Despite the demonstrated significant increases in production and quality, obstacles such as farmer acceptance, field variability, and strain-soil compatibility still exist. Multi-strain consortia, agro-ecological specialization, long-term ecological effects, and participatory extension to mainstream biofertilizer use in oat production systems must be the key topics of future research.