Management of Soil Microbial Communities: Opportunities and Prospects (a Review)
T. I. Chernov, M. V. Semenov
Abstract
Abstract The possibilities of regulating soil microbial communities via various agricultural practices and the application of microbial preparations are considered. The total biomass, diversity and activity of microorganisms, as well as the intensity of certain processes, such as nitrogen transformation, can be regulated by agricultural practices. The complicated non-selective effect of these techniques on the microbial community, as well as the high variability of their effects, remains as the challenge. The effectiveness of microbial preparations is determined by the survival rate of introduced microorganisms in the soil, the variety of soil and climatic conditions, and the competition with native soil microorganisms. More rigorous testing of the effectiveness of microbial preparations and biofertilizers by analogy with medical preparations is needed. Integration of agrobiotechnologies with modern concepts of microbial ecology based on molecular-biological methods for studying soil microbial communities is required to develop effective microbial preparations.