Understanding the role of soil microbiota and its' interplay with environment to ensure sustainable development for the future generations

Abstract

The soil microbiota refers to the diverse group of microorganisms that reside in the soil ecosystem, such as bacteria, actinobacteria, archaea, fungi, protozoa, algae, viruses and nematodes. These microorganisms are essential in supporting plant growth by aiding in the mineralization, solubilization, fixation, and mobilization of nutrients. They also produce and release hormones, siderophores, and antibiotics that promote plant growth, which is facilitated by the interaction between the plant's root system and the soil microorganisms. This mutualistic relationship between the host plant and microbiota is crucial in promoting the bio-geochemical nutrient cycle with minimal chemical inputs and ecological disturbance, thus supporting sustainable development. Nevertheless, the soil microbial communities play a vital role in maintaining a steady state nutrient cycle by adapting and shifting between different taxa involving both genetic and behavioral aspects in response to changing environmental conditions. Therefore, these microbes can be used as biofertilizers and inoculated with the native soil microbiota to enhance plant production despite environmental stress. Numerous studies were conducted on sustainable agriculture arguing its necessity, and to evaluate how this goal may be achieved. Present review addresses possible impediments that restrict the implementation of sustainable agriculture in practice and how soil-microbiota interplay helps in modelling it.