Multiple Functions of Microbes to Improve Food and Soil Nutrition in Support of Environment Management to Maintain Global Agricultural Practices

Abstract

Plant-microbe interactions are interesting phenomena Soil microbial biomass is considered the living part of the soil organic matter, which acts as an agent of transformation of organic matter and is a source of available nutrients. Activities of soil microbes can change the soil environment rapidly and influence the rate of nutrient cycling. Soil microbes also play a significant role in the formation of macro aggregates. The potential of soil microorganisms has been recognized widely for the improvement of soil quality, soil formation, aggregation, and revegetation. Soil microbes are involved in various ecosystem processes, such as litter decomposition, phosphate solubilization, nitrogen fixation, oxidation of various inorganic components of soil or mineralization of inorganic components, and mycorrhizal symbiosis. Implications of plants and their symbionts like mycorrhizal fungi, nitrogen-fixing bacteria, and free-living rhizosphere populations of bacteria promote plant establishment and growth. Therefore, active soil microbial biomass is an essential component for long-term soil fertility. The application of microbial technology which we can refer to as green technology has become an integral element of forestry as well as agriculture and has substantially contributed to forest and agricultural productivity and ensuring the ecosystem’s sustainability. This article reviews some of the important aspects of microbial applications in agriculture and forestry and discusses different facets of microbial functions, their interaction with plants and soil, and their role in the sustainability of natural resources, forests, and agroecosystems.