Microorganisms, Organic Matter Recycling and Plant Health

Abstract

Organic manures play a very crucial role in maintaining the good nutrient and soil health. With the need for quality products, there has been an implication to address qualitative traits and in turn influence soil microbial biomass and thus depict the soil health. Importance of organics is increasingly felt these days in sustainable crop production systems as nutrient management in soil and maintenance of soil health are important parameters. Organic matter availability is the major constraint; hence all possible sources of organic matter, namely, the agricultural residues, urban residues, and agro-industrial residues, could be explored for utilization as humus source. Organic additives serve as a long-lasting source of plant nutrients, influencing water-air regimes, minimize degradation, and aid in sustaining soil health. Soil microbial biomass is the living component of soil which is ultimately a source of various nutrients. The soil microbial biomass is an essential component of organic matter turnover. The varieties of microorganisms found in the environment, supporting healthy growth of plants, are in a state of dynamic equilibrium due to balance in the sum total of associative and antagonistic physiological activities of the soil microflora. In this dynamic state, the beneficial microflora decompose organic residues; help the root system in nitrogen fixation, mineralization, and immobilization of nutrients; and also contribute to soil health and texture by secretion of vitamins, growth factors, and extracellular products as soil binding factors along with suppressing soil-borne pathogens. Application of antagonistic microbes through soil amendments in the form of organic manures is one of the effective methods of biocontrol. Therefore among the various attributes, organic matter content also determines the soil quality including its fertility and productivity, since it serves as a long-lasting source of nutrients, minimizes degradation, and aids in sustaining soil health.