NEET BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -In addition to bacteria and fungi, the soil is also filled with protozoa, nematodes, mites, and microarthropods. There can be 10, 000 to 50, 000 species in less than a teaspoon of soil.

Detailed explanation-2: -There are more microbes in a teaspoon of soil than there are people on the earth. Soils contain about 8 to 15 tons of bacteria, fungi, protozoa, nematodes, earthworms, and arthropods.

Detailed explanation-3: -Several studies have demonstrated that cell numbers and microbial biomass were most concentrated in the smaller size silt and clay fractions (27, 30, 32, 58). Because the sizes of soil aggregates and soil pores correlate, microbial biomass is also mainly present in micropores (5 to 30 m) (3, 22, 36).

Detailed explanation-4: -Due to their close proximity to plant roots, soil microbes significantly affect soil and crop health. Some of the activities they perform include, nitrogen-fixation, phosphorus solubilization, suppression of pests and pathogens, improvement of plant stress, and decomposition that leads to soil aggregation.