Soil Microbial Activity and Diversity
It is generally accepted that a robust and thriving soil microbiome can lead to a more sustainable and resilient agricultural future. Thus, nurturing and enhancing the soil microbiome is a vitally important component in ensuring long-term food security across the globe.
An article titled Unlocking the Secrets of Soil: Exploring the Microbiome and Its Applications by Ghimire et al. appears in two parts. These articles provide a summary of 1) the components and applications of the soil microbiome, 2) the interaction of the rhizosphere [interface between the soil and plant roots] and soil microbes, 3) environmental factors that determine the interactions among the soil, soil microbial community, and plants growing in the soil, and 4) the need for research that will determine the plant-soil-microbe interactions that are essential for enhancing agriculture and conservation practices that will increase carbon sequestration in the soil, reduce emissions, and sustain a food supply that will be needed to feed a growing world population. Major environmental factors that affect these interactions are soil characteristics, climate and weather, practices used for crop production, and the plant species and species diversity at a particular site.
An article titled Fostering microbial activity and diversity in agricultural systems appears in three parts.
• Part I. The importance of soil microbial diversity is discussed, along with how this diversity is affected by the properties of the soil at a particular site. The effect on soil microbial diversity of climatic factors such as precipitation and temperature, the species of crop being grown, and the cultural practices that are used at a site are also discussed.
• Part II. Farming practices such as crop diversification, cover crops, and reduced tillage that foster microbial activity and diversity at a site are discussed.
• Part III. The importance and ways of monitoring and quantifying microbial diversity in agricultural production systems are discussed, along with the challenges producers may/will face as they seek to adopt practices that will foster soil microbial diversity. Also, the importance of government policy related to the enhancement of soil microbial activity and diversity is highlighted.
An article titled How does soil biology impact nutrient availability? from Decode 6 provides the following points.
• Soil biology influences nutrient cycling and transformation in the soil, thus affecting subsequent nutrient uptake by plants as a result of the mobilization of affected nutrients.
• Soil microbes, especially those in the soil rhizosphere, are involved in the solubilization of otherwise inaccessible minerals such as phosphorus, iron, and zinc so they can be available to plants.
• It is well known that some soil bacteria have the ability to convert atmospheric N into forms that both soil microbes and plants can use.
• Nitrifying bacteria in the soil convert ammonium into nitrate that is more readily available to plants.
• Some soil microbes such as mycorrhizal fungi form mutualistic associations with plant roots, and this can increase a plant’s nutrient and water absorption capability.
• Some soil microbes can influence soil pH by secreting acidic or alkaline compounds during their metabolic processes, and this can influence the availability of some nutrients to plants.
• Conservation agriculture practices such as cover cropping and no- or minimum-tillage play a pivotal role in preserving the health of the soil microbiome so that microbial processes that affect nutrient availability to plants are optimized.
Click here and here for articles that contain additional information about the importance of soil biology.
Composed by Larry G. Heatherly, May 2025, larryh91746@gmail.com