Fertilization and Soil Microbial Community: A Review
Source abstract
Abstract
The present paper reviews the most recent advances regarding the effects of chemical and organic fertilizers on soil microbial communities. Based on the results from the articles considered, some details are presented on how the use of various types of fertilizers affects the composition and activity of soil microbial communities. Soil microbes have different responses to fertilization based on differences in the total carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) contents in the soil, along with soil moisture and the presence of plant species. These articles show that the use of chemical fertilizers changes the abundance of microbial populations and stimulates their growth thanks to the nutrient supply added. Overall, however, the data revealed that chemical fertilizers have no significant influence on the richness and diversity of the bacteria and fungi. Instead, the abundance of individual bacterial or fungal species was sensitive to fertilization and was mainly attributed to the changes in the soil chemical properties induced by chemical or organic fertilization. Among the negative effects of chemical fertilization, the decrease in enzymatic activity has been highlighted by several papers, especially in soils that have received the largest amounts of fertilizers together with losses in organic matter.
Source: crossref · Quality: baseline
Research context
OpenAlex topics: Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics · Legume Nitrogen Fixing Symbiosis · Microbial Community Ecology and Physiology
SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.
Affiliations
National Institute for Research and Development in Forestry “Marin Dracea”, 13 Closca, 500035 Brasov, Romania
Water Research Institute, National Research Council, Via Salaria km 29.300, Monterotondo Scalo, 00015 Rome, Italy
Faculty of Environmental Protection, University of Oradea, 26, Gen. Magheru Street, 410087 Oradea, Romania
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