514
harsh conditions. However, there is a need to select abiotic stress adapted/tolerant
microbial strains preferably from stressed ecosystems. A microbial strain with mul-
tiple PGP traits is preferred over strains with one or two PGP traits and, once intro-
duced as bioinoculant in soil, must be able to colonize and efficiently promote plant
growth under stressed ecosystems. Management practices such as conservation
agriculture or reduced tillage, which favor better soil biological health, should be
promoted. Diverse cropping systems, with minimum fallow periods and include
legumes as rotation/mixed crops, improve the biological and nutritional status of the
soil system. Further, the effects of various management practices on soil microbial
communities need to be understood in dryland agroecosystems.
Acknowledgements The authors of this manuscript are thankful to Indian Council of Agricultural
Research for providing support under AMAAS (Application of Microorganisms in Agriculture
and Allied Sectors) project.
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