Knowra Soil microbiome Soil microbiome The community of bacteria, archaea, fungi, viruses, and other microorganisms living in soil, together with their interactions. Its composition and activity vary across soils and change with environmental conditions.
Nitrogen cycle : The movement of nitrogen among the atmosphere, organisms, soil, and water through biological and chemical processes. Soil microorganisms mediate nitrogen fixation, nitrification, and denitrification.
Biofertilizer : A preparation containing beneficial microorganisms that improves plant nutrient availability or growth. Selected soil microbes can supply nutrients or improve their uptake by crops.
16S ribosomal RNA : A component of the small ribosomal subunit in bacteria and archaea, widely used to identify and compare them. Sequencing its gene provides a common way to survey soil bacteria and archaea.
Microbial dark matter : Microorganisms known mainly from genetic sequences but not yet characterized through cultivation or detailed study. Many soil lineages have unknown functions despite their genetic signatures.
Rhizosphere : The narrow region of soil influenced by substances released from plant roots and by root-associated organisms. Root exudates make this zone a hotspot of microbial activity and plant–microbe interaction.
Mycorrhiza : A symbiotic association between a fungus and a plant root. Mycorrhizal fungi exchange soil nutrients for plant-derived carbon.
Biological soil disinfestation : A method that suppresses soilborne pests and pathogens by incorporating organic matter and creating oxygen-poor conditions. It reshapes microbial activity to reduce harmful organisms in agricultural soil.
Metagenomics : The study of genetic material recovered directly from environmental samples. Soil metagenomes reveal microbial genes without requiring organisms to be cultured.
Microbial community assembly : The ecological processes that determine which species enter and persist in a community. It helps explain how dispersal, selection, and chance shape soil microbiomes.
Soil health : The capacity of soil to function as a living system that sustains plants, animals, and people. Microbial processes contribute to nutrient cycling, structure, and disease regulation.
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