Microorganisms are unicellular microscopic organisms which are the important constituent of earth ecosystem. Due to pollution and global warming the climatic condition of earth is getting worse day by day. The level of toxic material is increasing rapidly. Due to rapid increase in population the waste produced by human is increasing which leads to change in climactic conditions. Microorganisms plays important role in managing climate change impacts. They help to maintain air water cycles and helps to balance the earth’s ecosystem. The progressive use of microorganisms in balancing the earth ecosystem as a result leading to decrease in pollution and climate change impacts. Microorganisms play important role in agriculture.
According to Food and agriculture organization (FOA) climate change has decreased the production of cereals crops by 30% in last 2 decades. Climate change has significant effect on Agriculture sector. Due to change in temperature, rainfall, CO2 level, pest infection, soil fertility etc. The production of Agriculture products is decreasing day by day. So The use of microorganisms in agriculture can iprove the production.As The climatic change is bringing huge negative impact in earth ecosystem so we can use different methods to tackle this problem. Some of the methods to come over this problem are as follows:
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- Renewable energy and biofuelsÂ
- AfforestationÂ
- Improved crop varietiesÂ
- Well planned and sustainable developmentÂ
- Use of microorganismsÂ
Among above methods use of microorganisms is one of the effective, sustainable and cheapest way to come over climate change. Microorganisms are major constituents of soil and they plays important role in balancing earth ecosystem. Due to use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides the pollution is increasing rapidly so to decrease pollution use of microorganisms in soil can be best alternative.Â
Microorganisms, invisible to the naked eye yet omnipresent in the soil, air, and water and a myriad of indispensable roles in agriculture. From nutrient cycling and soil fertility to pest management and plant health, their contributions are fundamental to the sustainability and productivity of agricultural systems.
Nutrient Cycling and Soil Fertility:
One of the most significant roles of microorganisms in agriculture is in nutrient cycling and soil fertility. Through the process of decomposition, microorganisms break down complex organic matter into simpler compounds, releasing essential nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. This decomposition not only enriches the soil but also facilitates the recycling of nutrients, ensuring their availability for plant uptake.
Nitrogen Fixation:
Nitrogen, a vital element for plant growth, is abundant in the atmosphere but largely inaccessible to plants in its molecular form (N2). Nitrogen-fixing microorganisms, such as Rhizobium bacteria and Azotobacter, play a crucial role in converting atmospheric nitrogen into forms that plants can utilize. This symbiotic relationship, particularly with leguminous plants, reduces the dependence on synthetic nitrogen fertilizers and promotes sustainable agriculture practices.
Phosphorus Solubilization:
Phosphorus, another essential nutrient for plant growth, often exists in insoluble forms in the soil. Phosphate-solubilizing microorganisms produce enzymes and organic acids that break down these insoluble compounds also making phosphorus more available to plants. This enhances phosphorus uptake and promotes plant growth and development.
Plant Growth Promotion:
Certain microorganisms, known as plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) and mycorrhizal fungi, promote plant growth through various mechanisms. PGPR can stimulate root growth, enhance nutrient uptake, and induce systemic resistance against pathogens. Mycorrhizal fungi form symbiotic associations with plant roots, extending their reach into the soil and facilitating nutrient uptake, particularly phosphorus and micronutrients.
Biological Control of Plant Pathogens:
In addition to promoting plant growth, microorganisms play a crucial role in biological control of plant pathogens. Antagonistic microorganisms produce antibiotics, lytic enzymes, and other secondary metabolites that inhibit the growth and activity of plant pathogens. These biocontrol agents help suppress diseases, reduce the need for chemical pesticides, and maintain ecosystem balance.
Disease Suppression and Soil Health:
Healthy soil microbial communities contribute to disease suppression by outcompeting pathogens for resources and inducing systemic resistance in plants. Furthermore, they enhance soil structure, porosity, and aggregate stability, promoting water infiltration, aeration, and nutrient retention. Healthy soils, teeming with diverse microbial life, are essential for sustainable agriculture and long-term productivity.
Waste Management and Bioenergy Production:
Microorganisms also play a crucial role in waste management and bioenergy production in agriculture. Through processes like anaerobic digestion and microbial fermentation, organic waste materials such as crop residues and manure can be converted into biogas (methane) and biofertilizers. This not only provides renewable energy sources but also produces nutrient-rich soil amendments, closing the nutrient loop and minimizing waste.
Microorganisms for soil health
Microorganisms plays important role to increase the fertility of soil. They have capacity to decompose waste and convert it into manures. Microorganisms has capacity to adapt in extreme conditions so they can manure all types of soil. They break large and macro waste and convert it into organic manure. They promote good soil structure and convert unavailable plants nutrients into available form. As a result, the fertility of soil increases.
Microorganisms for plants nutrition
Microorganisms converts unavailable plants nutrients into available form. As a result, uptake of mineral and nutrients takes place easily which directly affects the growth and development of plants. Microbes plays important role to decompose soil organic matter. Microorganisms like Rhizobium sps, Azospirilium brasilense, Azotobacter etc. helps in nitrogen fixation. They directly supply nitrogen to soil. Bacterias like Bacillus sps, pseudomonas, Enterobacter etc. acts as phosphate solubilizing agents. Also, some bacteria like Arthobacter sps, Frateuria etc. helps in mobilization of potassium in soil. So, in this way microorganisms plays crucial role to maintain soil nutrients.
Microorganisms as Biofertilizers and Biopesticides
As we have discussed above microbes helps in Nitrogen fixation, phosphorus solubilization and potassium mobilization. They are good bio fertilizer. They help to increase soil nutrient level and enhance the physical and chemical properties of soil. Some of the microorganisms produce antibiotics, siderophores, HCN, etc. which acts as pesticides and induces systemic resistance against pathogens. Microorganisms has capacity to reduce the toxicity level of chemical pesticides used in soil. So, Microorganisms can be better option for better and sustainable agriculture.
Microorganisms for climate change
Microbes are important components of ecosystems. They play vital role to maintain the soil air cycle. They help in carbon sequestration process. Temperature of earth is increasing due to global warming and pollution. Microorganisms can help to control pollution and global warming by reducing the emissions of co2. Use of microorganisms as bio fertilizers and bio pesticides helps to reduce the emission of toxic and harmful elements on air which helps to maintain climate. Microorganisms plays important role in different ecosystems. In land ecosystem they help in mineralization. They help to decompose waste. In aquatic ecosystem microorganisms helps to convert large macro particles into small particles which are used by aquatic species which on turn are decomposed by microbes into manure. The microbes present in air produced antibiotics substance which helps to neutralize the toxic gases like No, N2O, SO2 etc.
Conclusion
Climate change is one of the main issues of this time. It is playing harmful effects in all biotic and abiotic factors of earth. So, we need to act immediately against this problem. So, use of microorganisms can be one of the economic, cheapest and sustainable method to decrease climate change. Great change can be brought in this field by doing identification, research and culture of microorganisms. Use of microorganisms can be milestone for protection of earth. So, Government must start programs for research of microorganisms.
