Bacteria are the most ancient category of organisms that still exist on our globe today. The very first bacteria arose over 3.5 billion years ago. For almost a billion years, they were the only active creatures on our planet. Then their torso had a primitive structure. What soil bacteria exist, varieties and habitat - all this is considered within the framework of this article.
General information about bacteria
The composition of the earth includes a lot of different microorganisms, among which there are soil bacteria, mold and fungi. They are divided into harmful and necessary for the development of plants.
Microorganisms also differ in their living conditions. Some can develop without access to oxygen, while for others its presence is essential. There is also a special category of bacteria that can thrive with or without oxygen.
The role of soil bacteria in lifeplants
Do soil bacteria benefit plants? The importance of microorganisms in the life of plants is quite large. The necessary agro-soil bacteria daily process the organic matter of animals into the necessary minerals. With such processing, the soil is enriched with calcium, iron, phosphorus, nitrogen and many other necessary elements.
Soil bacteria not only enrich the earth with useful elements, but also improve the physiological qualities of the soil. The more necessary bacteria in the composition of the soil, the higher its fertility.
The largest number of necessary organisms is located in the distribution area of the plant's large-root system, namely in the rhizosphere. In it, soil bacteria use dying parts of the root system as food.
Groups of dangerous soil microorganisms
Groups of soil bacteria contain species that are involved in the photosynthesis of nitrogen, carbon and phosphorus. The composition of the soil contains not only beneficial microorganisms, but also pathogenic ones. Most often, pathogenic bacteria live in the soil for a short time. However, certain species are permanent residents. Pathogenic bacteria are divided into three categories:
• Bacteria for which the earth is a natural biotone. They are the causative agents of botulism and actinomycetes.
• Bacteria that enter the soil with the organic excretions of living beings. Such microorganisms can persist in the earth for quite a long time. They are stimulantsanthrax, tetanus and gangrene.
• Bacteria that also enter the soil with organic excretions, but remain there for up to one month. They can cause E. coli, salmonella, shigella and cholera. All harmful bacteria destroy not only the beneficial properties of the soil, but also the root system of plants.
Bacteria habitat
Soil bacteria live in the cover of the earth rather unevenly. Any category of microorganisms lives where it can find a comfortable habitat, food and water. Simple organisms are present wherever there are basic elements - mainly in the upper soil cover. Surprisingly, soil bacteria have also been found in oil wells that are over 16 kilometers deep.
Living near the root system
As we said earlier, the most favorite place for soil bacteria is the topsoil. The rhizosphere is the layer of earth around the root system. It is densely populated by microorganisms that feed on plant waste, as well as their proteins and sugars. The simplest organisms, such as worms, feed on microorganisms and also live in the large-rooted sphere. Due to this, the circulation of useful elements and the suppression of diseases takes place precisely in the rhizosphere.
Vegetable litter
Few people know where soil bacteria live. In this article wewe will try to tell as much as possible about their living environment.
Mushrooms are the most popular decomposers of plant fragments. Soil bacteria cannot carry some essential elements over long distances. This is what allows fungi to grow. It is in the mushroom plant litter that a huge amount of bacteria is also present.
Humus is another habitat for soil bacteria. Only mushrooms produce certain enzymes that are necessary to break down the difficult elements found in humus. A significant part of the important elements that are contained in the earth was previously broken down by fungi and microorganisms a large number of times. The humus compounds that result from degradation include a small amount of readily available nitrogen.
On agro-soil units
Another habitat for soil bacteria is agro-soil aggregates. On their surface, the content of microorganisms is much higher than inside. In the middle, only those processes that do not require oxygen can take place. A large number of aggregates are the feces of earthworms and other simple organisms. Arthropods and nematodes move between agro-soil aggregates, which cannot create channels directly in the soil.
Organisms that are susceptible to moisture loss, like soil bacteria, live in channels filled with water. To feed moisture-loving organisms, the basic part of the soil is needed, which in agricultural areas is actively reduced every year. It is for this reason that therethe need to use fertilizers.
Harm soil bacteria
I guess every gardener has once wondered if soil bacteria are dangerous. In this article we will try to dispel all the myths and conjectures that relate to this issue. A huge number of pathogenic microorganisms live in the soil. For example, in the upper 30 cm layer of soil, one hectare in size, about 30 tons of simple organisms live. Having a strong set of enzymes, decay bacteria break down proteins into amino acids. This is the main criterion in the decomposition process. These microorganisms bring living beings a huge number of problems. By the way, it is precisely because of the work of these simple organisms that food products that are designed for a long shelf life, namely pickles and frozen fruits and vegetables, quickly deteriorate. Fortunately, the housewives have long learned to get out of the situation. For longer storage, they use a sterilization and food processing process. However, certain types of microorganisms can still spoil food preparations despite careful processing.
Pathogenic bacteria enter the soil thanks to infected living beings. As we said earlier, certain subspecies of microorganisms and fungi can be in the ground for decades. This is due to their distinctive feature - to form disputes. They protect the bacteria from the negative effects of the environment. Such microorganisms stimulate the development of some of thethe most dangerous diseases are anthrax, poisoning, gangrene and catalepsy.
How bacteria get into the soil
To put it simply, agrosoil bacteria are part of the composition of the soil, but not of the earth itself, but of its fertile layer. One dessertspoon of sod contains more than one billion simple organisms, which are regularly engaged either in a specific stage of decay of dead organic matter, or in fixing the eclectic elements arriving in the base and building difficult basic molecules from them.
Groups of agro-soil microorganisms originate from the time when other living beings were just emerging and left the first traces of their life activity. It was these remains that became the first home of soil microorganisms. Having learned to change organic matter into the soil, bacteria live in it to this day, adapting to changing environmental conditions.
Division by function
Among biologists, there is a multifunctional division of agrosoil microorganisms according to their functions:
1. Destructors are bacteria that live in the soil and mineralize basic compounds located in the upper layer of the earth. Their role is to transform the remains of living beings and plants into eclectic elements.
2. Nitrogen-fixing or tuberous microorganisms are plant symbionts. Their significance lies in the fact that only this type of bacteria is able to combine inorganic oxygen elements and provide plants with them. Because of this, the soil and plantsreceive important minerals.
3. Chemoautotrophs are microorganisms that concentrate existing inorganic substances into basic molecules. Their significance lies in the fact that they can process the eclectic elements that accumulate in the base, and then transfer them to plants.
Incredible fact
For a long time it was believed that only complex organisms could smell. However, two years ago it turned out that yeast bacteria and slime molds also have such a receptor.
Scientists decided to conduct an experiment to find out whether agro-soil bacteria sense the presence of ammonia in the air around them. Surprisingly, the bacteria exceeded all the hopes of the experimenters. Thanks to this study, scientists have found that microorganisms are also able to distinguish odors.
Summing up
Soil bacteria play an important role in soil fertility and the vital activity of all living beings. In this article, we found out where soil bacteria live and how they are associated with the development of plants and living organisms.
When working with soil, it is worth remembering that there are not only beneficial microorganisms, but also pathogenic ones that can become pathogens of life-threatening diseases. We strongly recommend that you wear gloves and wash your hands thoroughly after finishing work. Stay he althy!
