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Although chemical fertilizers are effective in increasing the crop yield, however, these may cause some problems such as soil structure deterioration, ground water pollution and high nitrates in vegetables. Their excessive use has contributed to reduction in soil organic matter content, with a consequent reduction in the quality of agricultural soils. There is a strong conviction among researchers to probe into alternatives of chemical based agriculture. In view of its economic, social and environmental benefits, there is a worldwide trend towards the promotion of organic agriculture, which tends to eliminate the use of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides and genetically modified organisms. The present study was, therefore, carried out to investigate the effect of different types of beneficial microorganisms viz. nitrogen fixing Bradyrhizobium japonicum, symbiotic arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, and EM (Effective Microorganisms), a mixture of coexisting beneficial microorganisms, on growth, yield, nodulation and nutrition of mungbean in different soil amendment systems. This book is particularly beneficial for those who are involved in organic farming.

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Dr Arshad Javaid is working as Assistant Professor in Institute of Plant Pathology University of the Punjab Lahore, Pakistan. His research areas are biofertilizers and biopesticides. He published over 200 research publications in journals of national and international repute. He is also the author of five chapters in international books.

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