Unearthing and harnessing the role of microbial biofilms in soil ecosystems: Structure, function and potential for enhancing soil integrity and climate mitigation

Abstract

Microbial biofilms are surface aggregates of microorganisms encapsulated within a self-secreted polymeric matrix. These aggregates grow, colonize, and thrive on various surfaces in diverse ecosystems, from terrestrial and aquatic to within the human body and on medical implants. Due to their compositional heterogeneity, biofilms exhibit varied physicochemical features, providing an arsenal of desirable properties. As symbiotic structures, microbial biofilms are important players in ecosystems, participating in nutrient replenishment, biogeochemical cycles, and soil structure stabilization. With such potential, especially in enhancing soil integrity and mitigating climate change, it is essential to study various aspects of these films’ structure, behavior, and interactions of the constituting microbial communities with soil. Although complex biofilm-soil interactions have been extensively studied, a comprehensive investigation integrating various aspects is still lacking. This review discusses different facets of microbial biofilms concerning microbial diversity, structural and compositional variations, influence on soil structure and aggregation, impact on soil fertility, and involvement in different biophysical processes. Furthermore, this review also highlights the impacts of climate change, challenges and limitations faced at different levels with respect to biofilms, and suggests the directions of future research on agricultural resources to address these limitations. The primary aim of this article is to emphasize how microbial biofilms benefit the resilience and sustainability of agricultural and food systems.