Assessing Soil Health and Fertility through Microbial Analysis and Nutrient Profiling Implications for Sustainable Agriculture

Maham Akhtar; Misbah Gulab; Madiha Ghazanfar

Assessing Soil Health and Fertility through Microbial Analysis and Nutrient Profiling Implications for Sustainable Agriculture

Authors

Maham Akhtar Department of Economics, Government College University, Faisalabad, Pakistan Author https://orcid.org/0009-0009-3413-1010
Misbah Gulab Institute of Food and Nutrition Sciences, PMAS Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi, Pakistan Author
Madiha Ghazanfar Department of Diet and Nutritional Sciences, Ibadat International University, Islamabad Author https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4669-1279

Keywords:

soil health, microbial analysis, nutrient profiling, sustainable agriculture, crop productivity, soil microbial communities, nutrient dynamics

Abstract

Aims: To study the relationship between soil microbial communities, soil health, and crop productivity.

Methodology: The research employed a mixed-methods approach to investigate the intricate connections among soil microbial communities, nutrient dynamics, and soil health in agricultural settings. Quantitative data collection involved stratified soil sampling, microbial and nutrient analysis, and plant nutrient assessments using established methods. Qualitative data were gathered through farmer interviews and focus group discussions with experts, providing insights into soil management practices and perceptions. Statistical analyses, including descriptive statistics, Chi-square tests, t-tests, and Pearson correlation tests, were applied to quantify relationships in quantitative data. Thematic analysis was used to identify patterns in qualitative data.

Results: The mean microbial biomass in soil samples was 25.4 mg/g, ranging from 20.1 to 30.7 mg/g. Essential nutrient values, including nitrogen (Group 1: 0.33%, Group 2: 0.36%), phosphorus (Group 1: 0.20%, Group 2: 0.24%), potassium, calcium, and magnesium, were reported. Pearson Correlation coefficients showed strong positive relationships between microbial biomass and key soil nutrients, as well as between these nutrients and plant uptake. Chi-square tests indicated significant associations between land use types and studied parameters. Independent t-tests revealed a significant difference in soil microbial biomass between two groups. Pearson Correlation tests demonstrated a significant relationship between microbial biomass and nutrient uptake. Notably, a unique percentage format was observed in some correlation coefficients, emphasizing associations between soil pH, organic matter content, and crop yield.

Conclusion: In conclusion, our study underscores the vital role of microbial communities in sustaining soil fertility, with strong correlations between microbial biomass, essential soil nutrients, and plant uptake. Significant associations highlight the importance of tailored agricultural practices, while observed relationships between soil pH, organic matter, and crop yield suggest avenues for optimizing productivity. Looking forward, future research should focus on harnessing microbial diversity for sustainable agriculture and developing innovative strategies to enhance soil health and nutrient cycling.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Sishodia RP, Ray RL, Singh SK. Applications of remote sensing in precision agriculture: A review. Remote Sensing. 2020;12(19):3136.

Peiris C, Gunatilake SR, Wewalwela JJ, Vithanage M. Biochar for sustainable agriculture: Nutrient dynamics, soil enzymes, and crop growth. In: Biochar from biomass and waste. Elsevier; 2019. p. 211–24. Available from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B978012811729300011X

Lopes AR, Faria C, Prieto-Fernández Á, Trasar-Cepeda C, Manaia CM, Nunes OC. Comparative study of the microbial diversity of bulk paddy soil of two rice fields subjected to organic and conventional farming. Soil Biology and Biochemistry. 2011;43(1):115–25.

Nunes MR, Karlen DL, Veum KS, Moorman TB, Cambardella CA. Biological soil health indicators respond to tillage intensity: A US meta-analysis. Geoderma. 2020;369:114335.

Venkat K. Comparison of Twelve Organic and Conventional Farming Systems: A Life Cycle Greenhouse Gas Emissions Perspective. Journal of Sustainable Agriculture. 2012 Jul;36(6):620–49.

Zhang Y, Xiao H, Lv X, Wang D, Chen H, Wei F. Comprehensive review of composition distribution and advances in profiling of phenolic compounds in oilseeds. Frontiers in Nutrition. 2022;9:1044871.

Muhammad I, Wang J, Sainju UM, Zhang S, Zhao F, Khan A. Cover cropping enhances soil microbial biomass and affects microbial community structure: A meta-analysis. Geoderma. 2021;381:114696.

Yang T, Siddique KH, Liu K. Cropping systems in agriculture and their impact on soil health-A review. Global Ecology and Conservation. 2020;23:e01118.

Smith JL. Cycling of nitrogen through microbial activity. Soil biology: effects on soil quality. 1994;91–120.

Singh BK, Trivedi P, Singh S, Macdonald CA, Verma JP. Emerging microbiome technologies for sustainable increase in farm productivity and environmental security. Microbiology Australia. 2018;39(1):17–23.

Dwivedi AK, Dwivedi BS. Impact of long term fertilizer management for sustainable soil health and crop productivity: Issues and challenges. Volume: 49 Research Journal. 2015;49(3):374.

Chourasiya D, Sharma MP, Maheshwari HS, Ramesh A, Sharma SK, Adhya TK. Microbial Diversity and Soil Health in Tropical Agroecosystems. In: Adhya TK, Mishra BB, Annapurna K, Verma DK, Kumar U, editors. Advances in Soil Microbiology: Recent Trends and Future Prospects. Singapore: Springer Singapore; 2017. p. 19–35. (Microorganisms for Sustainability; vol. 4). Available from: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/978-981-10-7380-9_2

Dukare A, Paul S, Kumar R, Sharma V. Microbial-based inoculants in sustainable agriculture: Current perspectives and future prospects. Biofertilizers. 2021;167–81.

Diaz PI, Dupuy AK, Abusleme L, Reese B, Obergfell C, Choquette L, et al. Using high throughput sequencing to explore the biodiversity in oral bacterial communities. Molecular Oral Microbiology. 2012 Jun;27(3):182–201.

Shafi U, Mumtaz R, García-Nieto J, Hassan SA, Zaidi SAR, Iqbal N. Precision agriculture techniques and practices: From considerations to applications. Sensors. 2019;19(17):3796.

Parr JF, Papendick RI, Hornick SB, Meyer RE. Soil quality: attributes and relationship to alternative and sustainable agriculture. American Journal of Alternative Agriculture. 1992;7(1–2):5–11.

Rinot O, Levy GJ, Steinberger Y, Svoray T, Eshel G. Soil health assessment: A critical review of current methodologies and a proposed new approach. Science of the Total Environment. 2019;648:1484–91.

Tahat M, Alananbeh K, A. Othman Y, Leskovar D. Soil health and sustainable agriculture. Sustainability. 2020;12(12):4859.

Usharani KV, Roopashree KM, Naik D. Role of soil physical, chemical and biological properties for soil health improvement and sustainable agriculture. Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry. 2019;8(5):1256–67.

Zhang P, Guo Z, Ullah S, Melagraki G, Afantitis A, Lynch I. Nanotechnology and artificial intelligence to enable sustainable and precision agriculture. Nature Plants. 2021;7(7):864–76.

Santoro AE. Microbial nitrogen cycling at the saltwater–freshwater interface. Hydrogeology Journal. 2010;18(1):187–202.

Downloads

Download PDF

Published

07/01/2023

Issue

Vol. 1 No. 1 (2023): June 2023

Section

Research Articles

License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Authors retain copyright to their work published in the IRABCS journal under the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial No Derivatives License (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0).

How to Cite

Akhtar M, Gulab M, Ghazanfar M. Assessing Soil Health and Fertility through Microbial Analysis and Nutrient Profiling Implications for Sustainable Agriculture. IRABCS [Internet]. 2023 Jul. 1 [cited 2024 Dec. 3];1(1):29-42. Available from: https://irabcs.com/ojs/article/view/14