The Use of Biotechnology in the Soil

As each year passes there are more advancements in the use of biotechnology. One area that there have been major advancements in recent years, is in the area of soil science. In this paper I will discuss how, with the use of enzymes and natural plant extracts, we can stimulate certain functions of the soil. With the use of this biotechnology it could greatly increase crop production and plant health.

Most people don't look at the soil as a living organism, but it is. One gram of soil will contain up to four billion bacteria, one million fungi, and three hundred thousand algae (Ag Concepts, 2010). With this in mind it allows us to see that soils are actually an environment so therefore they can be managed. In a balanced soil, plants grow in an active and vibrant environment (Lee, 2011). Lee also states the mineral content and its' physical structure are important for the plants well being, but it is the life in the earth that powers its' cycles and provides its' fertility. Without the activities of soil organisms, dead matter would accumulate and letter the soil surface, and there would be no food for plants (Lee, 2004).

Soil Microbiology

To achieve a greater understanding into this discussion, it is important to know that the study of soil microbiology is a relatively new science. There are literally billions of micro-organisms in the soil states Thomas. Thomas also mentions only about ten percent of these have been named and their functions identified. For the sake of this paper I will only discuss the functions of only a very few areas of the soil.

Bacteria are single-celled organisms, and are the most numerous of all micro-organisms (Horwath, 2011). Each different strain of bacteria has its' own function. As stated earlier only about ten percent of these functions have been identified. We do know that certain bacteria enhance nutrient availability by dissolving insoluble phosphorus and releasing potassium from silicate minerals says Horwath. There are Azotobactria which is a nitrogen affixing bacteria that is able to convert nitrogen from the atmosphere (Horwath, 2011). The Genes Psuedomonus is a beneficial bacterium that forms a protective shield around roots and help to reduce the soil pathogens. Agrobacterium, Anthrobacter, Alcaligenes, Bacillus, and Entrobacter, among others are targets of extensive research that have shown the capacity to suppress soil born diseases (Horwath, 2011). Other strains of the Pseudomonus variety produce iron building compounds known as siderophores.

Bacteria in the Soil

In addition to this, all plant and animal tissue is decomposed and broken down by other strains of soil bacteria (Weintraub, 2009). These decomposing particles of organic matter eventually become humus, these minute particles are given the name humus colloids (Weintraub, 2009). These colloids have very special qualities. They each have an electrical charge (mostly negative) all across their surface. The mostly negative charge allows these colloids to attract and hold large numbers of positively charged nutrient ions such as calcium, magnesium, potassium, etc (Weintraub, 2009). Weintraub states some negative charged ions such as NO3 and PO3 are attracted to the few positive sites on the colloid surface. This means that soils with high levels of humus will hold onto nutrients so they can't be leached off and will maintain greater availability to the plant.

Understanding that each of the bacteria has its' own function in the soil, it would be easy to come to the conclusion that the higher the microbial counts the healthier the soil environment. Remembering that each gram of soil contains up to four billion bacteria we also need to realize that in the top eight inches there are 2.2 million pounds of soil per acre. Now the question is what can be done to increase the amount of soil microbiology? Bacteria reproduce by "binary fission"