Soil Microbiome as a Key Factor in Soil Health

The present demands for both sustaining food security and the environment, impose a great challenge to the field of agriculture. Conventional agricultural practices have caused a decline in the overall health of the soil while bearing severe deleterious consequences on the environment, human health, and biodiversity. An urgent need to address these challenges has led to extensive and ongoing research in the field of soil microbiology aimed at improving soil health, crop productivity, and environmental sustainability. Understanding the soil microbiome is critical in sustaining and improving agricultural practices, ecosystem processes, and environmental safety. Soil microbiota are essential in maintaining soil health and quality and are principal biological constituents of the soil ecosystems. These microbial communities have the potential for bioremediation of soil and regenerative agriculture. Additionally, they offer convenience in monitoring and manipulation both in vitro and in vivo. Recent research has proposed better agricultural practices, real-time monitoring tools for soil and environment, and omics-based characterization of microbial communities. Techniques of direct or indirect manipulation of soil microbes are being investigated for the bioremediation of soil and the development of self-sustainable agricultural lands. Overall, soil microbiota are vital role players in environmental processes, soil health, and agricultural productivity.