Question

What will happen if microbes in the soil get destroyed?

Answer 1

Soil contains various kinds of microbes like bacteria, fungi, algae, protozoa, etc. All of these microorganisms play important roles like:

1. Certain bacteria and blue-green algae have the ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen. This, in turn, enriches the fertility of the soil. Such microorganisms are known as biological nitrogen fixers. Example: Rhizobium is a symbiotic bacteria that lives in the root nodules of leguminous plants. Rhizobium fixes atmospheric nitrogen into nitrogenous compounds.
2. The bacteria and fungi present in soil decompose dead organic wastes of plants and animals and convert them into manure. The manure contributes to the humus content of the soil, thereby helping in increasing its fertility.
3. Not only these, microorganisms that are found in soil are also a part of many biogeochemical cycles that would not take place in their absence.

The above points explain the fact that how important microbes are and if they are destroyed, their effect can be irreversible.