The Importance Of Diversity Within Crops And Their Microbial Symbionts

Poor soil management can lead to biological, chemical, and physical degradation, which can in turn negatively alter the activity of

Vast numbers and kinds of organisms, mainly microorganisms, inhabit soil and depend on it for shelter, food, and water. Plants anchor themselves in soil, and from it they receive essential minerals and water. Terrestrial plants could not survive without soil, and because we depend on plants for our food, humans could not exist without soil either (Wiley, 2013).

The pH of soil is important for the absorption of nutrients into the plant. Of the 17 needed plant nutrients 14 of them are acquired through the soil. Acidity is needed to break down and dissolve these nutrients. The nutrients are able to dissolve into the soil faster when the acid is acting as a solute. Another way the pH affects the soil is by influencing microorganisms. The bacteria is crucial in the growth and development of the plant, the bacteria’s role is to break down and decompose organic matter in the soil. If the pH of the soil is too high the acid will slow down and eventually stop the microorganisms. Most plants ideal pH is between 6-7, slightly acidic. Many plants are outliers and thrive in pH such as carrots and corn, which can withstand pH as low as 5.5. If the pH of the soil is too high for the desired crop farmers can add material such as limestone, and wood ashes to raise the pH to the desired level. The pH of the soil can also be changed naturally through the leaching of calcium, magnesium and sodium by rainwater. Carbon dioxide from rotting organic matter can also increase the pH of the soil. Acids can also be created organically in the form of sulfuric and nitric

Soil turnover - as soil is moved around by digging animals, organic matter is mixed through which distributes nutrients throughout the soil

Bioremediators need to be able to grow in order to remediate the soil of pollutants. The purpose of this research is to determine whether the presence of Stropharia rugoso-annulata in the soil will support and accelerate the growth of ryegrass in a mutualistic symbiotic relationship. If the growth of the ryegrass is accelerated and supported, the combination of the two bioremediators could potentially accelerate the degradation of PAHs in the soil. Techniques such as soil washing, soil flushing, vitrification, etc., exist to remediate contaminated soil. Although, these techniques are effective, they also disturb the natural environment to some degree. Bioremediation is often accomplished in situ resulting in minimal environmental disturbance. This study is being performed because healthy soil is a limited resource that needs to be preserved and replenished. The state of soil can impact the health of humans, animals, and ecosystems, therefore, it’s important to be able to monitor and control the pollutants in

“As biological novelties to the ecosystems, GM crops may potentially affect the fitness of other species, population dynamics, ecological roles, and interactions, promoting local extinctions, population explosions, and changes in community structure and function inside and outside agro-ecosystems” (Gertsberg, 2011).

They play a key role in regenerating and displacing soil. Earthworm activities changes both physical and chemical characteristic of soil. They help convert organic matter to humus. Additionally, they ingest other particles (sand grains) and when it is digested and excreted, it is accessible for plants to take advantage of its minerals and nutrients. Physically, the earthworm creates tunnels for air and water to navigate the soil. () They play an essential role in fighting erosion and are vital to plant growth. Healthy soil is depended on a thriving worm population. The ability to break down organic matter and excrete nutrients makes the earthworm valuable to restoration projects. Some people have employed earthworms to prepare soil for the return of native flora. Individuals that utilized this idea have seen better results in the return of their soil ecosystem than previously used methods. The number of

The microbes found in soil go hand in hand with the microbes found in our bodies, especially the gut microbiome. Soil is used to grow various plants and crops which we then ingest. As stated in Healthy Soil Microbes, Healthy People, we have completely destroyed soil microbes by overusing fertilizers and pesticides just like how we have destroyed our gut microbes by ingesting processed foods and large amounts of antibiotics. Soil microbes, including bacteria and fungi, form symbiotic relationships with plant roots to help provide the plant with many nutrients needed to survive. In order to restore and improve the soil once again, we need to reintroduce bacteria and fungi that are capable of repairing the damage. Through recent technological advances, the soil microbiome was genetically sequenced. This allows farmers and other scientists to understand which microorganisms are

9. In the research done on the microbial community in the Rhizosphere using two methods, which are the Cultivation-dependent method and Cultivation-independent method. The research and studies done had good results, moreover, the physiological profiling was done in 5 days by the use of several carbon sources. The maximal growth was observed for the 30 degrees celsius- incubated plate by day 3, whereas comparable values were recorded for the room to the temperature-incubated plate by day 5.

decomposer- bacteria, fungi and other microorganisms form detritus food chain that is involved in the nutrient cycling of the grassland

In an unfortunate event, a child may end up in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) with sever to life threatening ailments. What most people don’t realize is that these children, on average, show signs of weakened immune system and a decrease in their bacteria diversity, also known as their microbiome health. According to a Pennsylvania researcher, Matthew Rogers and his associates, there is evidence that the diversity of critically ill children is far lower when compared to a healthy child. The larger the diversity of your microbiome, the healthier a person is believed to be, which could account for a correlation between a decreasing microbiome diversity and an increase in disease risk.

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Erosion removes the surface soils, containing most of the organic matter, plant nutrients, and fine soil particles, which help to retain water and nutrients in the root zone where they are available to plants. Thus it affects the productivity of plants. The remaining, the subsoil, tends to be less fertile, less absorbent and less able to retain pesticides, fertilizers, and other plant nutrients. There are over 17,000 soil types recognized worldwide. They vary widely in structure, erodibility, fertility, and ability to produce crops. A generalized soil profile for a humid, temperate climate is showed. When the natural vegetation is cleared for agriculture, soils become exposed to erosion and loss of soil fertility. The removal of the above-ground natural

Aquaponics and hydroponics will change the way the world produces food. By 2050 the world population is expected to exceed 9 Billion people. With an increasing population and decreasing farm land, the world is beginning to face a serious problem in food production. Not only is the quantity of food produced in jeopardy, the quality and variety are declining as well. Four types of plants provide more than half the plant based calories – wheat, maize, rice, and potatoes. Additionally, 90% of the animal based protein consumed comes from only a dozen different species. What is the answer to producing quality food at a quantity to sustain the world? Biodiversity. Biodiversity, the interaction between different eco systems, has been shown to produce more and healthier food. Traditionally the answer to feeding a quickly growing world has been to over fertilize, use genetic modification, and ban the production of crops for use as biofuel. Unfortunately, there has been very little priority placed on developing biodiversity as a means of sustainability. The research that has been done on biodiversity, such as aquaponics and hydroponics, has shown that high quality food can be produced quicker and with less resources than traditional growing.

The National Organic Standards Boards defines organic agriculture is ìan ecological production management system that promotes and enhances biodiversity, biological cycles and soil biological activity. It is based on minimal use of off-farm inputs and on management practices that restore, maintain and enhance ecological harmony. The primary goal of organic