What is the role of microorganisms in enriching the soil and role of organisms in soil development and maintenance?
I recommend "The Hidden Life of Trees" by Peter Wohlleben as a good place to start. He includes extensive references that may be relevant to your research.
Microbes improve soil fertility and enhance nutrient absorption and utilization of MPs by decomposing plant residues, increasing organic matter content and promoting nutrient availability. 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. Beneficial soil microbes perform fundamental functions such as nutrient cycling, breaking down crop residues, and stimulating plant growth. While the role of microbes to maintain soil health and contribute to crop performance is clear, the soil biological component is extremely difficult to observe and manage. Bacteria help in enhance the phosphorus uptake of the plants from the soil and are referred to as Phosphorus solubilizing bacteria. Microorganisms play an important role in the nutrient cycle. Some bacteria Plant Growth Promoting Bacteria secrete phytochemicals and organic acids that are helpful in the growth and development of plants. Microorganisms help maintain soil pH but balance nutrients and minerals. Microorganisms have several vital roles in ecosystems: decomposition, oxygen production, evolution, and symbiotic relationships. Decomposition is where dead animal or plant matter is broken down into more basic molecules. One of the most important roles of soil organisms is breaking up the complex substances in decaying plants and animals so that they can be used again by living plants. This involves soil organisms as catalysts in a number of natural cycles, among the most prominent being the carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur cycles. Soil organisms also play an important role in crop production and soil health by: Enhancing plant growth and yield by providing nutrients, hormones, and biocontrol agents. Fixing atmospheric nitrogen into plant-available forms through symbiotic or free-living bacteria. Soil organisms play a principal role in modification of their environment, nutrient cycling and soil formation. These effects can be achieved by contribution of soil biota to food webs which facilitates mineralization of soil organic matter and release of nutrients.
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