Skip to content
Research Article Open access CC BY 3.0

Microbial Contributions in Alleviating Decline in Soil Fertility

Keston Oliver Willard Njira

Microbiology Research Journal International · pp. 724–742 · Published 3 Sep 2013

10.9734/BMRJ/2013/5577

Abstract

The continued decline in soil fertility, high fertilizer costs and the need to implement environmental friendly agricultural systems are some of the world’s major strategic concerns. Soil microorganisms are part of the soil ecosystem and are reported to contribute in soil fertility improvement. This paper is aimed at highlighting their contributions in alleviating soil fertility decline. The Rhizobium/legume symbiosis, a well known association contributes substantial amounts of biologically fixed nitrogen to cropping systems and significant benefits on yields of crops that follow in rotation. Soil microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi contribute to plant phosphorus nutrition through solubilization of sparingly soluble Al, Fe and Ca phosphates, and mineralization of phosphorus from organic substances. Solubilization is mainly achieved through production of organic acids, chelation and ligand exchange, and other pH lowering mechanisms whereas mineralization is achieved through production of enzymes such as phytases and phosphatases. Mycorrhizal associations are reported to contribute to plant phosphorus nutrition through increasing root surface area for soil exploration, production of phosphorus solubilizing enzymes and acids. Mycorrhizal fungi and bacteria also solubilize other nutrients such zinc, copper, potassium and calcium from their precipitated or sparingly soluble forms. Microorganisms also contribute to soil fertility improvement through their roles in composting. They are currently isolated, studied and packaged as biofertilizers and used to supplement chemical fertilizers. It can be noted that thorough exploitation of microbial activities can contribute to balanced plant nutrition. However, poor soil management practices limit realization of potential benefits from soil microorganisms whereas biofertilizer technology development in developing countries such as Sub-Saharan African countries is derailed because of lack of awareness, infrastructure and human capacity. From this study it can be noted that intensifying soil management practices that maximize microbial activities can go a long way in improving soil fertility with minimal use of chemical fertilizers. On the other hand there is a need to improve both human and infrastructure capacity in poor countries such as those in Sub-Saharan Africa so as to manage research in biofertilizer technologies. Awareness and dissemination of information on the importance of biofertilizers, intensifying effective microbial inoculation where it deemed to give good response and systematic evaluation of economic viability of biofertilizer technologies are other areas that need to be addressed.

Soil microorganisms biofertilizers nitrogen fixation mycorrhizae soil fertility composting

References (83)

  1. 1 The Nature and Properties of Soils [DOI]
  2. 2 Phosphate solubilizing bacteria and their role in plant growth promotion [DOI]
  3. 3 Soil Fertility and Fertilizers: An Introduction to Nutrient Management
  4. 4 A new fungal phylum, the Glomeromycota: phylogeny and evolution [DOI]
  5. 5 Conservation agriculture and smallholder farming in Africa: The heretics’ view [DOI]
  6. 6 Nutrient uptake in mycorrhizal symbiosis [DOI]
  7. 7 Principles and Applications of Soil Microbiology [DOI]
  8. 8 Nitrogen fixation in tropical cropping systems [DOI]
  9. 9 Soil Microbiology, Ecology, and Biochemistry [DOI]
  10. 10 Soil Fertility and Hunger in Africa [DOI]
  11. 11 A critical review on the role of mycorrhizal fungi in the uptake of phosphorus by plants [DOI]
  12. 12 Mycorrhizal Fungi Can Dominate Phosphate Supply to Plants Irrespective of Growth Responses [DOI]
  13. 13 Role of phosphate-solubilizing microorganisms in sustainable agriculture — A review [DOI]
  14. 14 Growth Promotion of Plants Inoculated with Phosphate-Solubilizing Fungi [DOI]
  15. 15 Revised classification of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (Zygomycetes): a new order, Glomales, two new suborders, Glomineae and Gigasporineae, and two new families, Acaulosporaceae and Gigasporaceae, with an emendation of Glomaceae [DOI]
  16. 16 Organic phosphorus compounds as a phosphorus source for higher plants through the activity of phosphatases produced by plant roots and microorganisms [DOI]
  17. 17 Diversity and classification of mycorrhizal associations [DOI]
  18. 18 Microbial producers of plant growth stimulators and their practical use: A review [DOI]
  19. 19 Improved tolerance of maize plants to salt stress by arbuscular mycorrhiza is related to higher accumulation of soluble sugars in roots [DOI]
  20. 20 Application of a High-Density Oligonucleotide Microarray Approach To Study Bacterial Population Dynamics during Uranium Reduction and Reoxidation [DOI]
  21. 21 Two Phosphate- and Potassium-solubilizing Bacteria Isolated from Tianmu Mountain, Zhejiang, China [DOI]
  22. 22 Carbon Uptake and the Metabolism and Transport of Lipids in an Arbuscular Mycorrhiza1 [DOI]
  23. 23 Growth promotion of maize by phosphate-solubilizing bacteria isolated from composts and macrofauna [DOI]
  24. 24 Potassium Solubilization by Rhizosphere Bacteria: Influence of Nutritional and Environmental Conditions
  25. 25 INTEGRATED NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT, SOIL FERTILITY AND SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE: CURRENT ISSUES AND FUTURE CHALLENGES [DOI]
  26. 26 Bioconversion of rice straw and certain agro-industrial wastes to amendments for organic farming systems: 1. Composting, quality, stability and maturity indices [DOI]
  27. 27 Composting as a way to convert cellulosic biomass and organic waste into high-value soil amendments: A review [DOI]
  28. 28 Soil science and management
  29. 29 Natural resources management in African agriculture: understanding and improving current practices [DOI]
  30. 30 Adoption of renewable soil fertility replenishment technologies in the southern African region: Lessons learnt and the way forward [DOI]
  31. 31 Isolation and characterization of potassium solubilizing bacteria in some Iranian soils [DOI]
  32. 32 Yield and economic benefits of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) and soybean (Glycine max) inoculation in northern Tanzania [DOI]
  33. 33 Arbuscular Mycorrhizas in Sustainable Soil-Plant Systems [DOI]
  34. 34 Enzymatic Evidence for the Key Role of Arginine in Nitrogen Translocation by Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi [DOI]
  35. 35 Agro-industrial waste materials and wastewater sludge for rhizobial inoculant production: A review [DOI]
  36. 36 Biological nitrogen fixation and socioeconomic factors for legume production in sub-Saharan Africa: a review [DOI]
  37. 37 Isolation and Identification of Potential Phosphate Solubilizing Bacteria from the Rhizoplane of Oryza sativa L. cv. BR29 of Bangladesh [DOI]
  38. 38 MICROBIAL POPULATIONS DURING COMPOSTING PROCESS OF ORGANIC FRACTION OF MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE [DOI]
  39. 39 The African Network for Soil Biology and Fertility: New Challenges and Opportunities
  40. 40 Ability of Emericella rugulosa to mobilize unavailable P compounds during Pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.] crop under arid condition [DOI]
  41. 41 Initiatives to encourage farmer adoption of soil-fertility technologies for maize-based cropping systems in Southern Africa. [DOI]
  42. 42 Phosphate Solubilization and Mobilization in Soil Through Microorganisms Under Arid Ecosystems [DOI]
  43. 43 Residual benefits of promiscuous soybean to maize (Zea mays L.) grown on farmers’ fields around Minna in the southern Guinea savanna zone of Nigeria [DOI]
  44. 44 USE OF COMPOST WITH MICROBIAL INOCULATION IN CONTAINER MEDIA FOR MUNGBEAN (Vigna radiata L. Wilckzek ) AND PECHAY (Brassica napus L.)
  45. 45 Compost and Manure Effects on Fertilized Corn Silage Yield and Nitrogen Uptake under Irrigation [DOI]
  46. 46 Rapid assessment of acid phosphatase activity in the mycorrhizosphere and in arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal hyphae [DOI]
  47. 47 Isolation and Characterization of Cellulase Secreting Bacterium from Cattle Manure: Application to Composting [DOI]
  48. 48 Review on role of vam fungi in crop plant-soil system.
  49. 49 Combined Use of Organic and Inorganic Nutrient Sources for Soil Fertility Maintenance and Replenishment [DOI]
  50. 50 The quality of our nation's waters: Nutrients in the nation's streams and groundwater, 1992-2004 [DOI]
  51. 51 Coevolution of roots and mycorrhizas of land plants [DOI]
  52. 52 Phosphate solubilizing bacteria from subtropical soil and their tricalcium phosphate solubilizing abilities [DOI]
  53. 53 Phosphate-solubilizing microorganisms associated with the rhizosphere of mangroves in a semiarid coastal lagoon [DOI]
  54. 54 Degradation and resilience of soils [DOI]
  55. 55 Bacterial biofertilizers for sustainable crop production: a review.
  56. 56 Assessing in vitro solubilization potential of different zinc solubilizing bacterial (zsb) isolates [DOI]
  57. 57 Appropriate technologies to replenish soil fertility in southern Africa [DOI]
  58. 58 Compost, Manure and Synthetic Fertilizer Influences Crop Yields, Soil Properties, Nitrate Leaching and Crop Nutrient Content [DOI]
  59. 59 Emission of volatile organic compounds from composting of different solid wastes: Abatement by biofiltration [DOI]
  60. 60 Perspectives in Biological Nitrogen Fixation Research [DOI]
  61. 61 Isolation of phosphate solubilizing microorganism (PSMs) from soil.
  62. 62 Effect of Tilemsi phosphate rock-solubilizing microorganisms on phosphorus uptake and yield of field-grown wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in Mali [DOI]
  63. 63 Biofertilizers: A novel tool for agriculture [DOI]
  64. 64 Effective factors on biological nitrogen fixation [DOI]
  65. 65 Plant growth regulators and amino acids released by Azospirillum sp. in chemically defined media [DOI]
  66. 66 Effect of phosphorus on root colonization and growth promotion of maize by bioluminescent mutants of phosphate-solubilizing Rhizobium leguminosarum biovar phaseoli [DOI]
  67. 67 Phosphate Solubilizing Bacteria and Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Impacts on Inorganic Phosphorus Fractions and Wheat Growth
  68. 68 Hydrolysis of Organic Phosphate Forms by Phosphatases and Phytase Producing Fungi of Arid and Semi Arid Soils of India
  69. 69 Role of Glomalin Related Soil Protein Produced by Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi : A Review
  70. 70 Grain legume impacts on soil biological processes in sub-Saharan Africa [DOI]
  71. 71 The preparation and use of compost
  72. 72 Bench‐scale removal of odor and volatile organic compounds at a composting facility [DOI]
  73. 73 Studies on phytohormone producing ability of indigenous endophytic bacteria isolated from tropical legume crops
  74. 74 The agronomic potential of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhiza (VAM) in cereals – legume mixtures in Africa [DOI]
  75. 75 Importance of indigenous arbuscular mycorrhiza for growth and phosphorus uptake in tropical forage grasses growing on an acid, infertile soil from the Brazilian savannas
  76. 76 Soil and Crop Management Effects on Soil Microbiology [DOI]
  77. 77 Effectiveness of inoculation with isolated Anoxybacillus sp. MGA110 on municipal solid waste composting process [DOI]
  78. 78 Effects of Winter Legumes on the Nitrogen Economy and Productivity of Succeeding Cereals [DOI]
  79. 79 Sustainability of maize-based cropping systems in rural areas of Zimbabwe: an assessment of the residual soil fertility effects of grain legumes on maize (Zea mays [L.]) under field conditions [DOI]
  80. 80 Enhancement of Bio-Degradation of Bio-Solids Via Microbial Inoculation in Integrated Composting and Vermicomposting Technology [DOI]
  81. 81 Nitrogen movement, retention and uptake in the corn (Zea mays L.) root zone as influenced by cultivation and water management
  82. 82 Soil Organic Matter in Sustainable Agriculture [DOI]
  83. 83 Fertilizer subsidies in sub-Saharan Africa [DOI]

Cited by 19

Distribution, Characterization and the Commercialization of Elite Rhizobia Strains in Africa

C. Wekesa, A. Jalloh, J. Muoma · International Journal of Molecular Sciences · 2022

Showing 12 of 19 known citations — external sources report more than can currently be individually listed.

Article metrics

Real usage data collected on this platform.

123

Page views

0

PDF downloads

53

Outbound clicks

19

Citations

Views over time

Views by country

Approximate, from request IP at view time — not citizenship or institution. Countries with fewer than 5 views are grouped as "Other".

Traffic sources

Referring site, by host.

Views and downloads exclude known bots/crawlers. Citations combines this platform's own DOI-resolved index with each external source's own reported total — see Cited by above for individually listed citing works. Last refreshed 0 seconds ago.