
Role of soil microbes in sustainable crop production and soil health: A review
Author(s) -
Kabita Kumari Shah,
Santosh Kumar Tripathi,
Injila Tiwari,
Jiban Shrestha,
Bindu Modi,
Naya Sharma Paudel,
Bappa Das
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
agricultural science and technology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1314-412X
pISSN - 1313-8820
DOI - 10.15547/ast.2021.02.019
Subject(s) - soil biodiversity , soil health , biofertilizer , agronomy , soil fertility , environmental science , beneficial organism , soil quality , soil biology , biology , soil organic matter , soil ecology , nutrient , agriculture , microorganism , soil water , ecology , bacteria , genetics
. Global food production needs to be increased in order to feed the world’s growing population and at the same time, the reliance on inorganic fertilizers and pesticides should be minimized. To accomplish this goal, the various beneficial associations between plants and soil microorganisms should be explored. The soil microbes are bacteria, actinomycetes, viruses, fungi, nematode, and protozoa. They have an important soil function that has fulfilled several useful tasks in the soil system. Microbes support biological nitrogen fixation of different biological transformations that support the accumulation and utilization of key nutrients, support root and shoot growth processes, disease control, and improve soil quality in crop cultivation. Soil microbes offer nutrient-dense nourishment improved crop production and recycle soil solutions. They play an essential role in decomposing organic matter, cycling nutrients, and fertilizing the soil. Besides, they improve plant growth on various physiological parameters of plants by a number of mechanisms. The mechanism involved in growth promotion includes plant growth regulators, production of different metabolites, and conversion of atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia in direct and indirect ways. In addition, soil microbes offer resistance against diseases. This review outlines the significant impact of soil microbes on sustainable agricultural growth, the benefits of microbes in maintaining soil health, and their interactions.