El suelo es un hábitat favorable para la proliferación de microorganismos y en las partículas que lo forman se desarrollan microcolonias. Los microorganismos aislados del suelo comprenden virus, bacterias, hongos algas y protozoos. Los actinomicetes, bacterias Gram positivas aerobias que forman micelios ramificados, degradan los restos vegetales y animales, polímeros complejos e hidrocarburos y mantienen el suelo suelto y desmenuzado. La disponibilidad de nutrientes y de oxígeno determina el número y los tipos de actinomicetes de un suelo. Otro grupo de organismos aerobios, los hongos, degradan la materia orgánica del suelo (de los compuestos simples a los polímeros complejos). Algunos hongos son depredadores de protozoos o nematodos, limitando su población en el suelo. Otros son micoparásitos, atacan a otras especies de hongos. Las algas se encuentran en pequeña cantidad, no contribuyen de manera significativa a la fertilidad del suelo, excepto en los arrozales, donde las cianobacterias fijan grandes cantidades de nitrógeno. https://www.ugr.es/~cjl/MO%20en%20suelos.pdf

Dr Luz Bernal thank you for your contribution to the discussion

Soil microbiology is the study of microorganisms in soil, their functions, and how they affect soil properties ¹. Soil microorganisms can be classified as bacteria, actinomycetes, fungi, algae, and protozoa ¹. Bacteria are the most abundant microorganisms in the soil and serve many important purposes, including nitrogen fixation ¹. Some bacteria can colonize minerals in the soil and help influence weathering and the breaking down of these minerals ¹. The overall composition of the soil can determine the amount of bacteria growing in the soil ¹.

Bacteria can enrich soil with nutrients by fixing nitrogen, which is the conversion of atmospheric nitrogen into nitrogen-containing compounds that can be used by plants ¹. Bacteria can also colonize minerals in the soil and help influence weathering and the breaking down of these minerals ¹.

While all types of microbes can grow in soil, the growth of different types of microbes can be affected by various factors such as temperature, pH, moisture, nutrient availability, and the presence of other microorganisms ¹². For example, some bacteria can only grow in acidic soils, while others prefer alkaline soils ¹. The presence of other microorganisms can also affect the growth of certain types of microbes. For instance, some bacteria can produce antibiotics that inhibit the growth of other bacteria ¹.

Dr Shepherd Osei- Arthur thank you for your contribution to the discussion

I agree with Luz Bernal that bacteria change the soil environment so that certain plant species can exist and proliferate. Where new soil is forming, certain photosynthetic bacteria start to colonize the soil, recycling nitrogen, carbon, phosphorus, and other soil nutrients to produce the first organic matter.Biofertilizers enrich the soil with nutrients by fixing the atmospheric nitrogen; they solubilize the phosphorous thus, making it available to the plants. They stimulate the growth and development of plants by enhancing the secretion of growth-promoting substances. These microorganisms increase the nutrient bioavailability through nitrogen fixation and mobilization of key nutrients to the crop plants while remediate soil structure by improving its aggregation and stability. Soil bacteria are responsible for cycling carbon, influencing nutrient availability, bolstering plant health, and many other factors. Soil bacterial populations are influenced by residue type, moisture, temperature, and soil pH. Microbes improve soil fertility and enhance nutrient absorption and utilization of MPs by decomposing plant residues, increasing organic matter content and promoting nutrient availability. Bacteria help in fixing atmospheric nitrogen and increase the nitrogen available for the plants. Bacteria decompose the decaying matter and increase the nutrient content. They also help in improving the texture and quality of the soil. After colonization or association with roots and/or rhizosphere, bacteria can benefit the plant by (i) tolerance toward abiotic stress through action of ACC deaminase; (ii) defense against pathogens by the presence of competitive traits such as siderophore production; (iii) increase of fertility and plant growth. Climate warming will cause changes in soil temperature, humidity, pH and other soil environmental factors, which may directly or indirectly affect the community composition, physiological growth and ecological function of soil microorganisms. Warmth, moisture, pH levels and oxygen levels are the four big physical and chemical factors affecting microbial growth. In most buildings, warmth and moisture are the biggest overall issues present. Dampness is a big player in the growth of fungi. Just like any living thing, water is essential to the life of microbes.The rate of growth or death of a particular microbial species is influenced by a variety of physical factors in its environment including temperature, osmotic pressure, pH, and oxygen concentration.