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

As human population growth drives the demand for food, crop intensification has increased. However, urbanization, industrialization, and contamination of soil by heavy metals (HM) have become significant challenges to agricultural production. Urbanization activities jeopardize and/or 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 presence of HM in the soil severely hinders sustainable agriculture. Therefore, to counteract the subsequent decrease in crop yield due to HM contamination, we must involve plants and appropriate microbes in eliminating these pollutants. This will lead to a more productive agriculture, food safety, and food security realization. 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.