Review Article
Year: 2018 | Month: February | Volume: 5 | Issue: 2 | Pages: 29-35
Functional Significance of Plant-Associated Microbes in Soil Fertility Management
M. Usman1, M.G. Nangere1, S.O. Oyetola2
1Department of Agricultural Science Education, Federal College of Education (Technical), Potiskum- Yobe State, Nigeria
2Department of Soil Science, University of Abuja, Abuja- FCT, Nigeria
Corresponding Author: M. Usman
ABSTRACT
Association between plants and soil microbes are very complex and are subject of an increasing number of studies. Soil microbes include viruses, bacteria, actinomycetes, fungi and nematodes. They participate in organic matter decay, nutrient release to crops, nitrification, nitrogen fixation and production of antibiotics. Microbes are found on or within every higher organism, including plants. They play critical roles in agricultural soils; some can cause plant diseases while others prevent diseases or enhance plant growth. Although it is well documented that plants create specific niches for their associated microbes by providing them nutrient in the rhizosphere, the phyllosphere as well as inside the plant; the roles and importance of the microbes in these plant-microbes partnership still are sometimes underestimated. At first, how do plant-associated microbes enhance plant growth and development in a direct or an indirect way? Secondly, how do soil structure, atmosphere and water affect the activities of microbes in soils? Thirdly, what is the functional significance of plant-associated soil microbes? Answers to these questions including various ways of promoting beneficial and preventing harmful soil microbes are contained in the paper.
Key words: Plant-Associated Microbes and Soil Fertility Management
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