Bioencapsulation of Microbial Inoculants: Mechanisms, Formulation Types and Application Techniques

The excessive use of agrochemicals in the field to increase production and counteract the negative effects caused by biotic and abiotic factors has led to a deterioration in soil fertility, plus an increment in negative impacts on the environment and human health. Therefore, the application of beneficial microorganisms as bioinoculants is an eco-friendly alternative to agrochemicals. Plant growth-promoting bacteria and fungi have been effective in promoting plant growth and production, as well as reducing the action of pathogens in multiple crops. However, successful application of such beneficial microorganisms in the agricultural field has faced several difficulties, such as survival, colonization efficiency and short periods of shelf storage. Therefore, it is essential to explore novel ways to encapsulate, formulate and apply bioinoculants. To obtain the expected quality in bioencapsulated products, it is essential to determine the type of polymer, capsule size, encapsulation technique and use the correct chemical and physical cofactors involved in the production process. Thus, this review highlights the various formulation types and application techniques, as well as discussing the multiple advantages of using microbial encapsulates to have better results in agricultural production.