In disease-inducing soils, plant pathogenic microorganisms such as Fusarium fungi can comprise 5 to 20 percent of the total microflora. If fresh organic matter with a high nitrogen content is applied to such a soil, incompletely oxidized products can arise that are malodorous and toxic to growing plants. Such soils tend to cause frequent infestations […]
The photosynthetic bacteria, which perform incomplete photosynthesis an aerobically, are highly desirable, beneficial soil microorganisms because they are able to detoxify soils by transforming reduced, putrefactive substances such as hydrogen sulfide into useful substrates. This helps to ensure efficient utilization of organic matter and to improve soil fertility. Photosynthesis involves the photo catalyzed splitting of […]
The processes of putrefaction, fermentation, and synthesis proceed simultaneously according to the appropriate types and numbers of microorganisms that are present in the soil. The impact on soil quality attributes and related soil properties is determined by the dominant process. The production of organic sub stances by microorganisms results from the intake of positive ions, […]
The term “synthesis” as used here refers to the biosynthetic capacity of certain microorganisms to derive metabolic energy by “fixing” atmospheric nitrogen and/or carbon dioxide. In this context we refer to these as “synthetic” microorganisms , and if they should become a pre dominant part of the soil microflora, then the soil would be termed […]
Soil microorganisms can be classified into decomposer and synthetic microorganisms. The decomposer microorganisms are subdivided into groups that perform oxidative and fermentative decomposition. The fermentative group is further divided into useful fermentation (simply called fermentation) and harmful fermentation (called putrefaction). The synthetic micro organisms can be subdivided into groups having the physiological abilities to fix […]
The application of beneficial microorganisms to soil can help to define the structure and establishment of natural ecosystems. The greater the diversity of the cultivated plants that are grown and the more chemically complex the biomass, the greater the diversity of the soil microflora as to their types, numbers and activities. The application of a […]
Most soils are classified on the basis of their chemical and physical properties; little has been done to classify soils ac cording to their microbiological proper ties. The reason for this is that a soil’s chemical and physical properties are more readily defined and measured than their microbiological properties. Improved soil quality is usually characterized […]
A New Dimension for a Sustainable Agriculture and Environment Many microbiologists believe that the total number of soil microorganisms can be increased by applying organic amendments to the soil. This is generally true because most soil microorganisms are heterotrophic, i.e., they require complex organic molecules of carbon and nitrogen for metabolism and biosynthesis.Whether the regular […]
Chemical-based conventional fanning methods are not unlike symptomatic therapy. Examples of this are applying fertilizers when crops shows symptoms of nutrient-deficiencies, and applying pesticides whenever crops are attacked by insects and diseases. In efforts to control the soil microflora some scientists feel that the introduction of beneficial micro organisms should follow a symptomatic approach. However, […]
It is noteworthy that most of the microorganisms encountered in any particular soil are harmless to plants with only a relatively few that function as plant pathogens or potential pathogens. Harmful microorganisms become dominant if conditions develop that are favorable to their growth, activity and reproduction. Under such conditions, soil borne pathogens (e.g., fungal pathogens) […]
