Department of Microbiology, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar-125004, India.
The importance of microorganisms in soil nutrient cycling and their role in plant nutrition has been realized for a long time. The active role of microbes in decomposition and mineralisation of organic matter and release of nutrients particularly phosphorous is crucial for sustaining the plant productivity upon which we depend for our survival. Organisms that cause increase in plants available P in soil belong to a diversity of groups. Research has been conducted in many aspects of the study of microbially mediated increase in plant available P and mechanisms of phosphorus release in soil. The opinion regarding the feasibility of such a system for agricultural purposes depends greatly upon familiarity with the literature and the nature of related research results. The results produced in the study of these organisms are variable because of differences in the organism used as well as in soil and agroclimatic conditions. We have tried to summarize the wide area of information on microbially mediated release and uptake of P from soil and interaction with crop plants.
