Abstract
The effect of different farming systems on microbial communities in agricultural environment was investigated in the present study. Depending on the present farming trend, the microbial distribution in agricultural soils treated with organic, semi-organic and conventional fertilizers was analyzed. A total of 20 soil samples were collected from different types of agricultural fields of Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI, Gazipur). Microorganisms playing beneficial roles in soil such as nitrogen fixation (e.g. Rhizobium sp., Azotobacter sp.), phosphate solubilization (e.g. Bacillus sp., Pseudomonas sp., Phosphobacteria) and auxin production (e.g. Pseudomonas sp., Serratia sp. and Bacillus sp.) were evaluated from each of the samples. The results revealed that agricultural fields treated with chemical fertilizers showed lower microbial count than that of organic fertilizer treated agricultural fields’ soil samples. In addition, organic fertilizers amended field soils have higher phytohormone (Auxin) activities, phosphate solubilization bacteria and other bacterial richness compared to chemical fertilizer applied field soil.
Highlights
Soil microorganisms play a very important role in soil fertility because of their ability to carry out biochemical transformation and due to their importance as a source and sink of mineral nutrients [1]
The results revealed that agricultural fields treated with chemical fertilizers showed lower microbial count than that of organic fertilizer treated agricultural fields’ soil samples
Such as organic farming, semi-organic farming and chemical farming. Organic farming means those farms which are applying only organic fertilizers like pile or heap compost, vermi compost, quick compost, tricho compost, cow dung etc. in their crop production. Those farmers are applying both organic fertilizers and chemical fertilizers are treated as semi-organic farming and those who are applying only chemical fertilizer in their crop fields are treated as chemical farming
Summary
Soil microorganisms play a very important role in soil fertility because of their ability to carry out biochemical transformation and due to their importance as a source and sink of mineral nutrients [1]. The living part of soil organic matter, function as a transient nutrient sink and are responsible for releasing nutrients from organic matter for use by plants (e.g., N, P and K). Chemical fertilizers have been extensively applied to sustain global agricultural production since the first Green Revolution [3]. On one hand, the production and use of these chemicals impart various negative effects on the agricultural ecosystem [4] [5]. Application of organic compost enhances soil microbial activities, increase organic matter the levels and improve soil porosity, structural stability, moisture, and nutrient availability, as well as biological activity that increase the product yield [6]
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