Potentials of microbe-plant assisted bioremediation in reclaiming heavy metal polluted soil environments for sustainable agriculture

Crop intensification has increased as human population growth drives the demand for food. However, urbanization, industrialization, and contamination of soil by heavy metal (HM) have become significant challenges to agricultural production. Urbanization activities jeopardize and harm soil health, which is critical for the environment, ecosystems, sustainable agriculture, and the global economy. Smelting, mining, and other industrial activities that release toxic HMs into the environment significantly reduce soil health, with serious consequences for both plants and humans. Furthermore, the achievement of sustainable agriculture is severely inhibited by the presence of HM in the soil. Hence, to combat the subsequent reduction in crop output brought on by HM contamination, it is necessary to engage plants and suitable microbes to remove these pollutants. This will result in a more productive agriculture, the safety of foods, and the realization of food security. Therefore, this study explored the efficacy, advantages, and limitations of current conventional methods of soil HM remediation as well as the potential of plants and microbes like Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Alyxia rubricaulis, and Maytenus bureaviana in the reclamation of HM polluted soil for sustainable agriculture. Employing natural and non-hazardous methods to remove these contaminants, as highlighted in this review, would help to improve soil health and quality, increase crop production, and promote sustainable agriculture, as outlined in the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals.