BECOME A MEMBERROLE OF SOIL MICROBES IN MINERAL TRANSFORMATION FOR PLANT NUTRITION
Read Full ArticleKeywords
- Biofertilizers
- Bioremediation
- Heavy Metal Detoxification
- Nutrient Transformation
- Soil-Plant-Microbes Interactions
- Soil Fertility
Magazine: October - December 2025
Page: 27 - 34
Volume: 5
Issue: 4
Issue Date: 10 December 2025
Abstract
Modern agriculture faces yield stagnation despite heavy fertilizer use, resulting in soil degradation and environmental harm. A key cause of reduced crop response is that many essential nutrients exist in insoluble or bound mineral forms, limiting plant availability. Microbe–mineral interactions help address this constraint by regulating nutrient transformations in soil. Microbial processes enhance macro- and micronutrient availability in the rhizosphere through mineral dissolution, transformation, and precipitation. Processes such as biological nitrogen fixation, phosphorus solubilization, potassium mobilization, and iron chelation improve nutrient uptake and use efficiency. Additionally, these interactions restore soil fertility and support bioremediation via toxic metal immobilization, offering a sustainable pathway to improved productivity and soil health.