Abstract:
Groundnuts (Arachis hypogaea) are an important crop globally but face a dual challenge of low productivity and
aflatoxin contamination, threatening food security, farmer livelihoods, and public health. Conventional miti gation methods have proven inadequate, triggering the need for more efficient and sustainable methods. The
review aimed to examine the effects of biofertilizer application on aflatoxin production levels in groundnuts and
to assess its impact on groundnut yield and overall productivity. A structured search was conducted across
several databases like Google Scholar, PubMed, Scopus, and Connected Papers, using keywords such as ‘bio fertilizers,’ ‘aflatoxin,’ ‘groundnut productivity,’ and ‘sustainable agriculture’ and Boolean operators (AND, OR,
NOT) to refine the search results. Studies were included if they provided quantitative data on the impact of
biofertilizers on groundnut yield or aflatoxin reduction, addressing the dual challenge of improving crop pro ductivity while reducing aflatoxin contamination. Reviewed studies indicated productivity gains ranging from
2.69 t/ha to 7.42 t/ha, alongside aflatoxin reductions of 56 %–100 % following biofertilizer application. The
findings highlight that biofertilizers present a sustainable solution, simultaneously boosting crop productivity,
enhancing soil health, and reducing aflatoxin contamination contributing to improved food security and safety.
