SOIL MICROBIOME IDENTIFICATION AND ENUMERATION

Soil microorganisms play important roles in soil quality and plant productivity. Developing effective tools to study the diversity, distribution, and behavior of microorganisms in soil habitats is essential for a broader understanding of soil health.

Traditionally, analysis of soil microbial communities relied on culturing techniques using a variety of culture media designed to maximize the recovery of diverse microbial populations. However, this approach has only been able to access a small fraction (less than 0.1%) of the actual soil microbial community.

Recently, with the development of molecular techniques, further attempts are being made to understand microbial properties such as biomass, activity, and diversity. This knowledge is important for scientists to further their understanding of the factors contributing to soil health. The results of such analyses may also be useful for extension personnel and farmers in devising practical measures to assess soil quality.

At INDOCERT Global Services, we are working towards developing smart advisory services based on advanced microbial analysis of the soil microbiome using Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) and other bioinformatic tools. This will enhance soil health and increase agricultural productivity while minimizing the use of fertilizers and tillage practices.