Soil Microbiology

Department of Bioinformatics and Biosciences,

Capital University of Science and Technology,
Islamabad.
Microorganisms found in Soil
 Introduction
The soil is not a mass of dead debris, merely resulting from the physical and
chemical weathering of rocks; it is a more or less homogeneous system which
has resulted from the decomposition of plant and animal remains. A normal soil
is made up of solid, liquid, and gaseous constituents. These can be broadly
divided into five groups:
1. Mineral Particles.
2. Plant and Animal Residues.
3. Living Systems.
4. Water.
5. Gases.
 Soil Microbiology
There are two basic approaches to soil microbiology:
– The first approach is to study the organisms by examining their physiology and taxonomy.
– The second approach focuses on microbial processes, i.e., what microorganisms do in soil.
•Soil is a heterogeneous habitat with constantly changing environmental conditions
for microbial growth
•Soil microorganisms are present in high numbers and have a wide range of
metabolic activities and physiological properties that play a vital role in the cycling
of nutrients within the soil and are essential for the removal of pollutants from soil.
•The soil contains a wide range of substrates for microorganisms, from simple
sugars to the most complex materials, such as humus.
•Soil also consists of numerous microsites with nutrient, moisture, pH levels
varying in very short distances and overtime.
•The consequence of chemical and physical heterogeneity of soil is that soil harbors
the greatest diversity of life.
Soil organisms can be grouped on the basis of:
–Size: how big they are
–Species: who they are related to
–Function: how they make their living

One gram of topsoil may contain:

 as many as one billion bacteria
 up to 100 million actinomycetes
 one million fungi
 100 nematodes
 Importance of Soil Organisms
• Responsible for cycling of C, N and other nutrients
• Enhance soil structure
• Relocate and decompose organic materials
• Maintain soil quality and health
• Increase soil aeration and penetrability
• Involved in disease transmission and control
 Soil Microbiology
• Rhizosphere is the zone of plat roots. The rhizosphere is the region of soil
immediately adjacent to and affected by plant roots.
• It is a very dynamic environment where plants, soil, micro-organisms, nutrients
and water meet and interact.
• The rhizosphere differs from the bulk soil because of the activities of plant
roots and their effect on soil organisms.
The major Functions of soils:
Soil organisms are responsible for carrying out many vital functions in the soil.
The major Functions of soils are:
• Anchor plant roots
• Supply water to plant roots
• Provide air for plant roots
• Furnish nutrients for plant growth
• Release water with low levels of nutrients
 Soil Biology
Soil life are classified into 3 groups as:
•Macrofauna: Mice, moles, etc.; Earthworms and other worms; Ants, beetles,
termites, spiders
•Mesofauna: Nemaodes, arthropods (mites, centipedes, and springtails),
molluscs
•Microfauna: Protozoa
 Macrofauna
• Members of species classed as macrofauna are visible to the naked eye
(which are generally> 2 mm in diameter).
• Macrofauna includes vertebrates that primarily dig within the soil for
food or shelter, and invertebrates that live in and feed in or upon the
soil, the surface litter and their components.
• The vertebrates includes snakes, lizards, mice, rabbits, moles, etc The
invertebrates includes snails, earthworms and soil arthropods such as
ants, termites, millipedes, centipedes, caterpillars.
• In both natural and agricultural systems, soil macrofauna are important
regulators of decomposition, nutrient cycling, soil organic matter
dynamics, and pathways of water movement as a consequence of their
feeding and burrowing activities.
 Mesofauna
• Mesofauna (0.1-2 mm in diameter) includes
mainly micro-arthropods, such as pseudo-
scorpions, springtails, mites.
• Mesofauna have limited burrowing ability and
generally live within soil pores, feeding on
organic materials, microflora, microfauna and
other invertebrates.
• Nematodes are tiny filiform roundworms that are
common in soils everywhere.
 Microfauna
• The microfauna (<0.1 mm in diameter) includes
mainly protozoa.
• These generally live in the soil water films and
feed on microflora, plant roots, other microfauna.
• There may be sometimes larger which feed on
insects and other larger invertebrates.
• They are important to release nutrients
immobilized by soil microorganisms.
 The Soil Flora
• Macroflora:
Vascular plants, Mosses, etc.
• Microflora:
Bacteria, Actinomycetes, Fungi, Algae
 Soil organisms are involved in nearly
every aspect of soil quality
Structure/Aggregation

Organic
Humification matter
Soil
Community

Nitrate Decomposition
Leaching
Nutrient cycling
Who’s there?

Macrofauna:
Soil ‘Engineers’
 Soil Animals Pseudoscorpion

Termite

Earthworm

Centipede

Snail

Vole
Who’s there?

Mesofauna:
Soil predators,
pathogens,
herbivores
Soil mesofauna

Nematodes

Mites

Protozoa
Soil mesofauna

Nematodes
Soil mesofauna are important for

1. Residue decomposition Mites

1. Predation

1. Pathogenesis QuickTime™ and a

Protozoa TIFF (LZW) decompressor

are needed to see this picture.
Relationship to soil quality?
Diversity may be important in response to management