The Role of Rhizobacteria in Climate ChangeMitigation: Mechanism, Application, and Future Prospect
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.68050/JAMS.2026.578Keywords:
: Greenhouse gas, biofertilisers, biostimulants, metagenomics, microbial engineering, carbon sequestration, climate changeAbstract
Rhizobacteria root-associated microorganisms inhabiting the rhizosphere are increasingly recognized as key biological agents in climate change mitigation due to their multifunctional roles in soil ecosystems and plant health. This review explores the mechanisms through which rhizobacteria contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and enhancing carbon sequestration. These mechanisms include biological nitrogen fixation, phytohormone production, induced systemic resistance, and the modulation of soil organic matter dynamics. Certain plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) enhance plant biomass and root architecture, thereby increasing carbon inputs into the soil and improving soil structure. Additionally, some rhizobacteria influence the emission of nitrous oxide (N₂O) and methane (CH₄) by regulating microbial pathways involved in nitrification, denitrification, and methanotrophy. The application of rhizobacteria in sustainable agriculture is gaining momentum through the development of biofertilizers and biostimulants that reduce reliance on chemical inputs while improving crop resilience to abiotic stresses such as drought, salinity, and temperature extremes. Field-level implementation, however, remains constrained by variability in environmental conditions, microbial survival, and host specificity. Looking forward, advances in genomics, synthetic biology, and microbiome engineering present promising avenues to enhance the efficacy and consistency of rhizobacterial applications. Integrating rhizobacteria into climate-smart agricultural practices could play a significant role in achieving global sustainability targets. Future research should focus on large-scale field validation, formulation technologies, and policy frameworks to support widespread adopt
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