Soil Microbial Ecology

Soil hosts diverse microbial communities, including fungi, protists, and bacteria.

Soil microbes primarily reside on soil particles and within pore spaces formed by the soil’s structure and texture.

Fungi and bacteria are the primary decomposers. They secrete extracellular enzymes that break down cellulose into absorbable sugars.

Protists indirectly contribute to the decomposition of plant material by feeding on bacteria and fungi and recycling nutrients.

Ultimately, decomposition releases carbon dioxide and contributes to the formation of soil organic matter, which stores nutrients and stabilizes the soil.

Several factors can influence the composition of soil microbial communities.

Environmental conditions such as rainfall can saturate pore spaces, rapidly shifting the soil environment from oxic to anoxic, affecting microbial diversity, metabolism, and gas concentrations, particularly near plant roots.

Soil contaminated with hydrocarbons often contains a high abundance of bacteria from the phylum Actinomycetota.

Additionally, nitrogen and phosphorus pollution can reduce microbial diversity and biomass, impacting soil health.