What Is the Role of Bacteria in Increasing Soil Fertility?
Soil fertility Defination:
Soil fertility is the ability of soil to sustain plant growth by providing essential plant nutrients and favorable chemical, physical, and biological parameters.
Role of bacteria in increasing soil fertility:
1. Bacteria increase soil fertility through nutrient recycling such as carbon, nitrogen, sulfur, and phosphorus.
2. Bacteria decompose dead organic matter and release simple compounds in the soil, which can be taken up by plants.
3. Nitrogen-fixing bacteria fix atmospheric nitrogen and increase the nitrogen content of the soil, which can be readily absorbed by plants. They also improve soil structure and increase the water-holding capacity of the soil.
Example: Rhizobium is an example of a symbiotic bacterium that attaches to the roots of leguminous plants and it increases soil fertility by converting atmospheric nitrogen into organic compounds.