Microbial Diversity in Humid Tropical Agricultural Ecosystem: Impact on Food Security
摘要
Soil microbiome plays a critical role in the sustenance of plant health and ecological balance. Microbial diversity is essential for increasing food yield through its effects on plant growth, soil health, and food processing. By promoting effective nutrient uptake and strengthening soil structure, a diversified microbial population increases soil resilience and productivity, which in turn promotes plant growth. Such as, the symbiotic associations that mycorrhizal fungi form with plant roots which aids in boosting crop yields and support sustainable farming methods. Also, ability of land to maintain food production is quickly depleted, agricultural production methods in humid tropical environment are typically unsustainable. Therefore, beneficial soil bacteria have been employed in crop production as phytostimulators, biopesticides, and biofertilizers. These microbes also help plants become more resilient. Furthermore, it is recognised that some microbes, referred to as plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), directly promote plant growth by suppressing plant pathogens, solubilizing phosphate, and generating phytohormones. Additionally, a healthy microbial environment can create antibiotic chemicals and outcompete pathogenic species, which lowers the prevalence of diseases. By reducing the need for chemical pesticides, this biological control also helps to produce food in a safer and healthier manner.