Nutrient transformation (fix to available) by Soil micro biome is one of the key soil quality indicator. Apart from that nitrogen mineralization is also an important soil health indicator. Vesicular Arbascular micorrhizae produces glomalin (glycoprotein) that is very helpful in soil aggregation and hence improve soil structure too.

Thats what is stressed so much these days linkimg msoil microbiome functions with plant traits or ecological functions...

@ Mulugeta, microbial diversity and richness seems to be an excellent indicators of soil health because they respond quickly to changes in the soil eco- system and have intimate relations with their surroundings due to their high surface to volume ratio. Moreover, a wide range of microorganisms is involved in important soil functions.

Nutrient transformation (fix to available) by Soil micro biome is one of the key soil quality indicators. Apart from that nitrogen mineralization is also an important soil health indicator. Soil microorganisms are responsible for most of the nutrient release from organic matter. When microorganisms decompose organic matter, they use the carbon and nutrients in the organic matter for their own growth. They release excess nutrients into the soil where they can be taken up by plants. Microorganism like some algae, bacteria fungi are present in the soil. Bacteria and fungi present in the soil feed on dead remains of animals and plants and forms humus. Thus in this way microorganisms make the soil fertile. One major function of a soil is its use as a habitat for soil organisms including maintaining of biodiversity, assem- blage, and activity for both soils microflora and soil fauna.

Maintenance of soil health is central to agricultural sustainability and a key factor that reflects the productivity of agro ecosystems. However, at present the soil resources are under severe threats from various anthropogenic activities including climate change. Climate changes add more uncertainties and complexities to agriculture, ecosystem and intimidate their sustainability. Plant-associated microbial communities stimulate the plant growth and increase their resistance to various abiotic and biotic stresses. Legume-based cover crops, in particular, have been found to substantially increase soil nitrogen concentration by supporting the growth of nitrogen-fixing bacteria. This particular group of cover crops has also been shown to improve overall soil quality and enhance microbial diversity in soil. Soil microbial communities play several important ecological and physiological functions (e.g., soil organic matter decomposition and control of its cycle, regulation of mineral nutrient availability, atmospheric nitrogen fixation, formation of mycorrhiza, production of biologically active substances. able to stimulate plant growrh.

Soil is three dimensional uppermost layer of lithosphere,a natural body which support plant life, having very complex system of Physical, chemical and biological activities which inturn, affect all the plant related ecological status...Soil microorganisms are one of the most important factor which influence sustainability, productivity, ecology, and fertility of the soil in question.. Microbial biodiversity play significant role in nutrient cycling; making equilibrium between soil and atmospheric nutrient balances; mineralise organic matter being saprophytes; transform mineral; convert non available form into available form; helps in releasing nutrients for plant uptake; fixation of unavailable form especially nitrogen and other like P and S also etc; conserve soil moisture resulted from better aggregation followed by good porosity; making soil friable with good pore size distribution etc.. organic matter present in the soil act as power house for microorganisms thereby they attack on it by releasing mucilage and polysaccharide thereby good binding of soil colloidal mass making it more healthier...