DEPARTMENT OF MICROBIOLOGY

FACULTY OF LIFE SCIENCES

UNIVERSITY OF BENIN
BENIN CITY.
COURSE: MCB413 (UNDERGRADUATE SEMINAR)
TOPIC: MICROBIOLOGY OF THE SOIL: ROLE IN PLANT GROWTH AND NUTRIENT
CYCLING.
NAME: AJAYI ISREAL OSAIVBIE
MAT NO: LSC1806638
SUPERVISOR: Prof. F.O. EKHAISE
DATE: 21ST MARCH 2023.

ABSTRACT

Soil microbiology studies beneficial microorganisms that live in symbiosis, associated or in free life in soil
and plants as one of its aspects. The soil is a large complex ecosystem which host various kinds of
microorganisms like bacteria, fungi, protists and even animals. In this ecosystem, There are interactions
between the soil, plants and microbes and because of the interactions, Studies have shown that some
microorganisms are beneficial to the growth of plants and their nutrient cycling, where in 1950s crop seeds
were coated with bacteria cultures like Azotobacter chroococcum to enhance growth speed. Plants release
certain substances like carbon in the soil and this increases the microbial activity so that free living
organisms can reduce soil-borne plant disease and boost plant. Nutrients must be available for plant
wherein resistant forms of soilborne nutrients are broken down by soil bacteria to release these components 
for plant sustenance. The majority of nutrients, such as N, P, and S, are bound in organic molecules in natur
al ecosystems and have a low bioavailability for plants.Plants must depend on the development Or activities
of soil microbes like bacteria and fungi, which have the metabolic apparatus to depolymerize and mineralize
organic forms of N, P, and S for the usage of plants for growth. In some cases, these microbial nutrient
transformations can be the rate-limiting step in ecosystem productivity since they are important drivers of
plant development.

OUTLINES
 INTRODUCTION.
 MICROBE CONTRIBUTION TO PLANTS
 BIOAVAILABILITY OF NUTRIENT FOR PLANTS
 INTERACTION OF MICROORGANISMS WITH PLANT AND SOIL
 CONCLUSION.
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