Micro Organisms in Soil Soi Microflora, Microfungi, Protozoa, Actinomycetes, Fertility Determine, Deeper Layers

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Your Ad Here	Micro-Organisms in Soil (Soil Microflora) Several types of micro-organisms, such as microalgae, bacteria, microfungi, protozoa, actinomycetes, etc. occur in the soil; microbes occurring in soil are called soil-microflora. The physical and chemical properties of the soil and soil fertility determine the nature of the soil environment in which these microbes occur. The largest number of microbes occurs in the top layer of the soil at a depth of 510 cm. But in deeper layers (1.5-5 metres), the number of microbes is considerably reduced. In cultivable lands, microbes occur in larger numbers. Besides, composition of soil, climatic factors such as a available moisture, degree of aeration, temperature and pH, and agricultural practices equally effect the distribution of micro-organisms in the soil.
A. Bacteria. Bacteria are the most frequent group of micro-organisms present in the soil, and they constitute approximately half of the total microbial biomass. One gram fertile soil may contain as many as 109 bacteria. Bacteria occur in all types of soil, but their number decreases with the depth of the soil. The bacteria that occur in soil are cocci (0.5 mm), bacilli (0.5-3.0 mm) and spiral forms. The bacilli are in highest number and they swim actively in the soil solution. Some common soil bacterial are the species of Pseudomonas, Arthrobacter, Achromobacter, Bacillus, Clostridium, Micrococcus, Flavobacterium, Chromobacterium and Mycobacterium. Escherichia bacteria seldom occur in the soil, but for sewage contamination. In cellulose-rich environment, several cellulolytic bacteria, such as species of Cytophaga and Sporocytophaga are found in plenty. Chemosynthetic autotrophic bacteria present in the soil are the species of Thiobacillus, Ferrobacillus, Nitrosomonas and Nitrobacter.
B. Actinomycetes. A large number of actinomycetes are particularly abundant in the soil rich in decomposed organic materials; species .of Streptomyces, Micromonospora and Nocardia are some common actinomycetes occurring in soils. They are responsible for the characteristic musty or earthy smell of a freshly ploughed field. They are capable of degrading many complex chemical substances and thus play an important role. C. Microfungi. Several micro fungi are present in the soil and they play significant role for the improvement of soil nutrients in neutral and alkaline soils. Hundreds of species of moulds inhabit the soil. The quality and quantity of organic materials present in the soil have a direct effect on the fungal population of the soil. The development of microfungi is especially favoured by soils having an acidic reaction and where the aerobic condition is likely to be present near the surface.	Your Ad Here
Besides, agricultural practices (crop rotation, use of fertilizers and insecticides etc.) and the depth of the soil also influence the fungal composition. Some important soil inhabiting microfungi are the species of Aspergillus, Botrytis, Cephalosporium, Penicillium, Alternaria, Monilia, Fusarium, Verticillium, Mucor, Rhizopus, Pythium, Cunninghamella, Chaetomium and Rhizoctonica. Some microfungi, such as species of Alternaria, Aspergillus, Cladosporium and Dematium, are helpful, are helpful in the preservation of organic materials in the soil. D. Microalgae. Many microalgal forms occur on the surface of moist soils, where sufficient light is available. The growth of microalgae is helpful for soil conservation and in improving soil structure. In paddy fields, blue-green algae play a significant role in nitrogen fixation. Species of Chlorella, Chlorococcum, Protosiphon, Aphanocapsa, Anabaena, Chroococcus, Nostoc and Scytonema are some common microalgae present in the soil.
Your Ad Here	E. Protozoa. Protozoans occur in great number in the upper layer of the soil and their number have a direct effect on bacterial population, since they ingest bacteria. The use of organic manures in the field is responsible for the increase in protozoan population. Several types of protozoa are found in the soil, but flagellates and amoebae usually out-number the ciliates. Protozoans are helpful in maintaining equilibrium of the microbial flora in the soil. Some important protozoans present in the soil are species of Allantion, Biomyxa, Nuclearia, Trinema, Balantiophorus,Colpoda, Gastrostyla, Oxytricha, Pleurotricha and Vorticella. F. Virsues. Viruses are present in the least number in the soil. Bacteriophages ingest bacteria and actinomycetes and some viruses infect the fungi present in the soil.

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