Microbial Inoculants and Soil Microbial Population

The unintended consequences of introducing nontarget organisms into a new habitat are a major cause of worry as they can have a negative impact on biodiversity and ecosystem function. Microbial inoculants are typically expected to have targeted effect on specific functions but have less impacts on resident microbial population, whereas invasive macroorganisms are typically the focus of these studies. As microbial inoculants become increasingly important for attaining sustainable agricultural productivity, it is crucial to note that microbial inoculants often interact with native microbial communities, potentially impacting ecosystem processes. This chapter will give a broad view of the major influence of some microbial inoculants upon resident soil microbial population.