Types Rhizosphere Microorganisms & Factors

Affecting Rhizosphere Microorganisms

1. Types of Rhizosphere Microorganisms
1. Types of Rhizosphere Microorganisms
Beneficial microorganisms: These do not harm the root system
• Include:

Mycorrhizal fungi N2 fixing bacteria

1. Types Rhizosphere Microorganisms

Role of beneficial microorganisms:

• Fixes nitrogen
• Helps in solubilizing inorganic phosphate, iron
• Helps in root nodulation
• Colonize the root system
• Promotes plant growth
1. Types of Rhizosphere Microorganisms
Deleterious microorganisms: These harm the root system of soil
• Includes the pathogenic fungi, bacteria, nematodes etc.

Role: Cause diseases in plant

Invades nutrient
1. Types of Rhizosphere Microorganisms
Neutral microorganisms: These show a neutral effect
actinomycetes algae

Role: Helps in soil aggregation

Shows antagonistic property against other organisms
2. Factors Affecting Rhizosphere Microorganisms
Type of soil
• A microbial population is very high in
sandy soil and least in humus soil.
The moisture
content of soil • Low moisture favours the
growth of organisms.
Soil amendments
• No quantitative and qualitative effect
on microbial growth and activity.

The pH of soil
• Inversely proportional to the microbial
growth
2. Factors Affecting Rhizosphere Microorganisms
Plant Microorganisms vary with different plant species
species respective to their rooting habits, composition

The proximity
Rhizosphere effect is more when there is a less
of root with
distance between the soil and root
hair
It decides the degree and magnitude of rhizosphere
Age of plant effect. R:S effect is directly proportional to the age of
the plant

Root It influences the microbial activity by providing a

excretion sufficient amount of organic and inorganic matter
to the rhizospheric microorganisms.