Abstract
Soil fertility is the inherent capacity of a soil to provide the essential plant nutrients in adequate amounts and proper proportions for plant growth. There is an immense possibility to enhance soil fertility through microbes, as microbes are “built-in” soil regulators and catalysts contributing to recycling of nutrients into available inorganic forms and provide early warning of land degradation. The focus of this chapter is on the prospect of using microbes as decomposers (cellulose, protein and lignin), formers (humus, nitrate and nitrite), nitrogen fixers, ammonifiers, oxidizers (iron, hydrogen and sulfur), phosphorus solubilizers and denitrifiers. In this context, the factors viz. environmental contaminants and climate change that limit the enhancement of soil fertility through microbes are also discussed. In the latter part of the chapter, the strategies like practising organic farming, zero-tillage, mixed cropping, nano-biofertilizer, biopesticides and soil carbon sequestration for management of soil fertility through microbes are highlighted.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Aliasgharzadeh N, Saedi S, Zamzami S (1998) Efficiency of acidophilic Thiobacillus in sulfur oxidation and pH reducing in soil. Agric Sci 8:75–91
Brady NC (1995) The nature and properties of soil, 13th edn. Prentice Hall of India Private Ltd., New Delhi
Castellano SD, Dick RP (1991) Cropping and sulphur fertilization influence on sulphur transformations in soil. Soil Sci Soc Am J 55:114–121
Chhonkar PK, Pareek RP (2002) Organisms in soil and their activities. Fundamental of soil science. ISSS, New Delhi, pp 433–454
Coyne MS (1999) Soil microbiology: an exploratory approach, 1st edn. Delmar, New York
Dhillon KS, Dhillon SK (1997) Distribution on seleniferous soils in north-west India and associated toxicity problems in the soil plant animal-human continuum. Land Contam Reclam 5:313–322
Dotaniya ML (2013) Impact of various crop residue management practices on nutrient uptake by rice-wheat cropping system. Curr Adv Agric Sci 5(2):269–271
Dotaniya ML (2015) Impact of rising atmospheric CO2 concentration on plant and soil process. In: Mohanty M, Sinha NK, Hati KM, Chaudhary RS, Patra AK (eds) Crop growth simulation modelling and climate change. Scientific, pp 69–86
Dotaniya ML, Datta SC (2014) Impact of bagasse and press mud on availability and fixation capacity of phosphorus in an Inceptisol of north India. Sugar Tech 16(1):109–112
Dotaniya ML, Kushwah SK (2013) Nutrients uptake ability of various rainy season crops grown in a Vertisol of Central India. Afr J Agric Res 8(44):5592–5598
Dotaniya ML, Meena VD (2013) Rhizosphere effect on nutrient availability in soil and its uptake by plants—a review. Proc Natl Acad Sci India Sect B Biol Sci 85(1):1–12
Dotaniya ML, Prasad D, Meena HM, Jajoria DK, Narolia GP, Pingoliya KK, Meena OP, Kumar K, Meena BP, Ram A, Das H, Chari MS, Pal S (2013a) Influence of phytosiderophore on iron and zinc uptake and rhizospheric microbial activity. Afr J Microbiol Res 7(51):5781–5788
Dotaniya ML, Pingoliya KK, Meena HM, Prasad D (2013b) Status and rational use of rock phosphate in agricultural crop production—a review. Agric Sustain Dev 1(1):103–108
Dotaniya ML, Sharma MM, Kumar K, Singh PP (2013c) Impact of crop residue management on nutrient balance in rice-wheat cropping system in an Aquic hapludoll. J Rural Agric Res 13(1):122–123
Dotaniya ML, Datta SC, Biswas DR, Meena BP (2013d) Effect of solution phosphorus concentration on the exudation of oxalate ions by wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Proc Natl Acad Sci India Sect B: Biol Sci 83(3):305–309
Dotaniya ML, Das H, Meena VD (2014a) Assessment of chromium efficacy on germination, root elongation, and coleoptile growth of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) at different growth periods. Environ Monit Assess 186:2957–2963
Dotaniya ML, Datta SC, Biswas DR, Meena HM, Kumar K (2014b) Production of oxalic acid as influenced by the application of organic residue and its effect on phosphorus uptake by wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in an Inceptisol of north India. Natl Acad Sci Lett 37(5):401–405
Dotaniya ML, Meena VD, Das H (2014c) Chromium toxicity on seed germination, root elongation and coleoptile growth of pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan). Legum Res 37(2):225–227
Dotaniya ML, Saha JK, Meena VD, Rajendiran S, Coumar MV, Kundu S, Rao AS (2014d) Impact of tannery effluent irrigation on heavy metal build up in soil and ground water in Kanpur. Agrotechnology 2(4):77
Dotaniya ML, Datta SC, Biswas DR, Kumar K (2014e) Effect of organic sources on phosphorus fractions and available phosphorus in Typic Haplustept. J Indian Soc Soil Sci 62(1):80–83
Dotaniya ML, Kushwah SK, Rajendiran S, Coumar MV, Kundu S, Subba Rao A (2014f) Rhizosphere effect of kharif crops on phosphatases and dehydrogenase activities in a Typic Haplustert. Natl Acad Sci Lett 37(2):103–106
Dotaniya ML, Pingoliya KK, Lata M, Verma R, Regar KL, Deewan P, Dotaniya CK (2014g) Role of phosphorus in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) production. Afr J Agric Res 9(51):3736–3743
Dotaniya ML, Meena VD, Rajendiran S, Coumar MV, Saha JK, Kundu S, Patra AK (2016a) Geo-accumulation indices of heavy metals in soil and groundwater of Kanpur, India under long term irrigation of tannery effluent. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol. doi:10.1007/s00128-016-1983-4
Dotaniya ML, Rajendiran S, Meena VD, Saha JK, Coumar MV, Kundu S, Patra AK (2016b) Influence of chromium contamination on carbon mineralization and enzymatic activities in Vertisol. Agric Res. doi:10.1007/s40003-016-0242-6
Freney JR, Melville GE, Williams CH (1975) Soil organic matter fractions as sources of plant available sulphur. Soil Biol Biochem 7:217–221
Ghani A, McLaren RG, Swift RS (1992) Sulphur mineralisation and transformations in soils as influenced by additions of carbon, nitrogen and sulphur. Soil Biol Biochem 24:331–341
Hawkes CV, Hartley IP, Ineson P, Fitter AH (2008) Soil temperature affects allocation within arbuscular mycorrhizal networks and carbon transport from plant to fungus. Glob Change Biol 14:1181–1190
Jones JBJ (1991) Plant tissue analysis in micro-nutrients. In: Mortvedt JJ, Cox FR, Shuman LM, Welch RM (eds) Micronutrients in agriculture. Soil Science Society of America, Madison, pp 477–521
Kalbasi M, Manuchehri N, Filsoof F (1986) Local acidification of soil as a means of alleviates iron chlorosis on Quince orchards. J Plant Nutr 9:1001–1007
Kumar V, Dhall P, Naithani S, Kumar A, Kumar R (2014) Biological approach for the treatment of pulp and paper industry effluent in sequence batch reactor. J Bioremed Biodegr 5:218
Kundu S, Dotaniya ML, Lenka S (2013) Carbon sequestration in Indian agriculture. In: Lenka S, Lenka NK, Kundu S, Subba Rao A (eds) Climate change and natural resources management. New India Publishing Agency, New Delhi, pp 269–289
Kushwah SK, Dotaniya ML, Upadhyay AK, Rajendiran S, Coumar MV, Kundu S, Rao AS (2014) Assessing carbon and nitrogen partition in kharif crops for their carbon sequestration potential. Natl Acad Sci Lett 37(3):213–217
Lambert DH, Baker DE, Cole HJ (1979) The role of mycorrhizae in the interactions of phosphorus with zinc, copper, and other elements. Soil Sci Soc Am J 43:976–980
Lavelle P (1996) Diversity of soil fauna and ecosystem function. Biol Int 33:3–16
Mathew RP, Feng Y, Githinji L, Ankumah R, Balkcom KS (2012) Impact of no-tillage and conventional tillage systems on soil microbial communities. Appl Environ Soil Sci 2012:1–10
McGill WB, Cole CV (1981) Comparative aspects of cycling of organic C, N, S and P through soil organic matter. Geoderma 26:267–286
Meena VD, Dotaniya ML, Rajendiran S, Coumar MV, Kundu S, Rao AS (2013) A case for silicon fertilization to improve crop yields in tropical soils. Proc Natl Acad Sci India Sect B Biol Sci 84(3):505–518
Metting FB, Rayburn WR, Reynaud PA (1988) Algae and agriculture. In: Lembi CA, Waaland JR (eds) Algae and human affairs. Cambridge University press, Cambridge, pp 335–370
Modaihsh S, Al-mustafa WA, Metwally AE (1989) Effects of elemental sulfur on chemical changes and nutrient availability in calcareous soils. Plant Soil 116:95–101
Rattan RK, Goswami, NN (2002) Essential nutrients and their uptake by plants. Fundamental of soil science. ISSS, New Delhi, pp 309–332
Rao DLN (2014) Recent Advances in Biological Nitrogen Fixation in Agricultural Systems. Proc Ind Natl Sci Acad 80(2):359–378
Rao DLN (2013) Soil biological health and its management. In: Tandon HLS (ed) Soil health management: Productivity sustainability resource management. FDCO, New Delhi, pp 55–83
Rao DLN, Ghai SK (1995) Predicting nitrogen fixation and N accumulation in field grown annual Sesbania spp. Proc Ind Natl Sci Acad 61:57–62
Sahu RK, Katiyar S, Tiwari J, Kisku GC (2007) Assessment of drain water receiving effluent from tanneries and its impact on soil and plants with particular emphasis on bioaccumulation of heavy metals. J Environ Biol 28(3):685–690
Sardans J, Penuelas J, Estiarte M (2008) Change in soil enzymes related to C and N cycle and in soil C and N content under prolonged warming and drought in a Mediterranean shrubland. Appl Soil Ecol 39:223–235
Schnug E, Haneklaus S (1998) Diagnosis of sulphur nutrition. In: Schnug E (ed) Sulphur in agroecosystems. Kluwer Academic, Dordrecht, pp 1–38
Sharma P, Singh G, Singh RP (2011) Conservation tillage, optimal water and organic nutrient supply enhance soil microbial activities during wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivation. Braz J Microbiol 42:531–542
Shukla M, Patel RH, Verma R, Deewan P, Dotaniya ML (2013) Effect of bio-organics and chemical fertilizers on growth and yield of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) under middle Gujarat conditions. Vegetos 26(1):183–187
Siciliano SD, Theoret CM, Freitas JR, Hucl PJ, Germida JJ (1998) Differences in the microbial communities associated with the roots of different cultivars of canola and wheat. Can J Microbiol 44:844–851
Singh JS (2013) Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria: potential microbes for sustainable agriculture. Resonance 18(3):275–281
Singh JS (2014) Cyanobacteria: a vital bio-agent in eco-restoration of degraded lands and sustainable agriculture. Clim Chang Environ Sustain 2:133–137
Singh JS (2015a) Microbes: the chief ecological engineers in reinstating equilibrium in degraded ecosystems. Agric Ecosyst Environ 203:80–82
Singh JS (2015b) Plant-microbe interactions: a viable tool for agricultural sustainability. Appl Soil Ecol 92:45–46
Singh JS (2015c) Biodiversity: current perspectives. Clim Chang Environ Sustain 2:133–137
Singh JS, Pandey VC (2013) Fly ash application in nutrient poor agriculture soils: impact on methanotrophs population dynamics and paddy yields. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 89:43–51
Singh JS, Singh DP (2012) Reforestation: a potential approach to mitigate the excess CH4 build-up. Ecol Manag Restor 13(3):245–248
Singh JS, Singh DP (2013) Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR): microbes in sustainable agriculture. In: Malik A, Grohmann E, Alves M (eds) Management of microbial resources in the environment. Springer, Dordrecht, pp 307–319
Singh JS, Strong PJ (2016) Biologically derived fertilizer: a multifaceted bio-tool in methane mitigation. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 124:267–276
Singh JS, Pandey VC, Singh DP, Singh RP (2010) Influence of pyrite and farmyard manure on population dynamics of soil methanotroph and rice yield in saline rain-fed paddy field. Agric Ecosyst Environ 139:74–79
Singh JS, Abhilash PC, Singh HB, Singh RP, Singh DP (2011a) Genetically engineered bacteria: an emerging tool for environmental remediation and future research perspectives. Gene 480:1–9
Singh JS, Pandey VC, Singh DP (2011b) Efficient soil microorganisms: a new dimension for sustainable agriculture and environmental development. Agric Ecosyst Environ 140:339–353
Singh JS, Singh DP, Dixit S (2011c) Cyanobacteria: an agent of heavy metal removal. In: Maheshwari DK, Dubey RC (eds) Bioremediation of pollutants. IK International Publisher, New Delhi, pp 223–243
Singh JS, Kumar A, Rai AN, Singh DP (2016) Cyanobacteria: a precious bio-resource in agriculture, ecosystem, and environmental sustainability. Front Microbiol 7(529):1–19
Smil V (1999) Detonator of the population explosion. Nature 400
Tarafdar JC (2012) Perspectives of nanotechnological applications for crop production. NAAS News 12:8–11
Tarafdar JC, Raliya R, Rathore I (2012) Microbial synthesis of phosphorus nanoparticles from Tri-calcium phosphate using Aspergillus tubingensis TFR-5. J Bionanosci 6:84–89
Tisdale SL, Nelson WL, Beaton JD, Havlin JL (1997) Soil fertility and fertilizers, 5th edn. Prentice Hall of India Private Ltd., New Delhi, p 144, 180, 198, 201
Wang Y, Shi I, Wang H, Lin Q, Chen X, Chen Y (2006) The influence of soil heavy metals pollution on soil microbial biomass, enzyme activity, and community composition near a copper smelter. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 67:75–81
Wellington EMH, Toth IK (1994) Actinomycetes. In: RW W et al (eds) Methods of soil analysis, part 2: microbiological and biochemical properties. Soil Science Society of America, Madison, pp 269–290
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2017 Springer International Publishing AG
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Bharti, V.S., Dotaniya, M.L., Shukla, S.P., Yadav, V.K. (2017). Managing Soil Fertility Through Microbes: Prospects, Challenges and Future Strategies. In: Singh, J., Seneviratne, G. (eds) Agro-Environmental Sustainability. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-49724-2_5
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-49724-2_5
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-49723-5
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-49724-2
eBook Packages: Earth and Environmental ScienceEarth and Environmental Science (R0)