Why is it helpful to increase soil carbon and build soil organic matter and role of bacteria in maintaining soil fertility?
Soil Organic Carbon is the source of Carbon for plants which form the most important element in all the organic molecules that compose a plant or any living system. When soil is enriched in organic carbon it will support the growth and proliferation of all micro and macro organisms as well as plants.
Bacteria carry out a host of activities in the soil which bring about the conversion of organic matter into its individual elements releasing the Nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and carbon into the soil for easy access by plants. So with high organic carbon bacteria start thriving which in turn will boost plant growth.
Soil carbon provides a source of nutrients through mineralization, helps to aggregate soil particles to provide resilience to physical degradation, increases microbial activity, increases water storage and availability to plants, and protects soil from erosion. Soil organic matter significantly improves the soil's capacity to store and supply essential nutrients and to retain toxic elements. It allows the soil to cope with changes in soil acidity, and helps soil minerals to decompose faster. As well as reducing the amount of carbon in the atmosphere, soil carbon sequestration can also improve soil health and its ability to provide vital ecosystem services, such as providing a medium for plant growth, recycling organic wastes and nutrients, modifying the atmosphere, providing a habitat for soil organisms. Soil organic carbon is a component of soil organic matter. Organic matter is primarily made up of carbon (58%), with the remaining mass consisting of water and other nutrients such as nitrogen and potassium. 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. They stimulate the growth and development of plants by enhancing the secretion of growth-promoting substances. These also increase the nutrient availability to the plants, especially the roots by manifolds. In this way they help to increase the fertility of the soil
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