Research of Soil Microbial Communities
A special issue of Microorganisms (ISSN 2076-2607). This special issue belongs to the section "Environmental Microbiology".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 April 2026) | Viewed by 1713
Special Issue Editor
Interests: soil microbes; soil microbial communities; plant growth; crop protection; agriculture
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Soil microbial communities are the framework upon which entire biomes are built. These microscopic organisms drive and regulate critical ecological functions, forming the foundation of terrestrial ecosystems. In addition to playing a role in every biogeochemical process, they are solely responsible for some processes, such as biological nitrogen fixation, methane oxidation, and the decomposition of complex organic matter. Their influence extends across multiple scales, from local nutrient cycling in a single field to global carbon and nitrogen fluxes that shape the Earth's climate.
Harnessing the potential of these microbial communities has led to advances in sustainable agriculture, including improved crop production, enhanced soil fertility, and increased soil carbon sequestration. Beneficial microbes play key roles in plant growth promotion by facilitating nutrient uptake, producing phytohormones, and protecting against pathogens. Furthermore, microbial-driven processes can mitigate greenhouse gas emissions by regulating nitrogen transformations and carbon storage, contributing to climate change mitigation efforts.
Soil microbial communities respond to environmental factors and anthropogenic disturbances, including climate variability, pollution, land use changes, and agricultural management practices. These influences can shift microbial composition and function, sometimes leading to detrimental effects such as soil degradation, loss of biodiversity, or increased greenhouse gas emissions. However, with deeper insights into microbial ecology, it is possible to design strategies that harness beneficial microbial functions to restore degraded soils, enhance ecosystem resilience, and promote long-term sustainability.
Understanding soil microbial community composition, function, and behavior is essential for developing innovative soil management approaches that optimize ecosystem services. Advances in high-throughput sequencing, metabolomics, and stable isotope probing now allow for unprecedented insights into microbial interactions, resource allocation, and metabolic potential. Integrating these technologies with agricultural and conservation practices can pave the way for precision microbiome management—tailoring microbial interventions to specific soil conditions and crop needs. By leveraging the power of soil microbial communities, we can work towards more sustainable and resilient food production systems while mitigating environmental challenges.
Dr. Rodrigo Gouveia Taketani
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.
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Keywords
- soil microbial community
- biogeochemical cycle
- carbon sequestration
- sustainable agriculture
- microbial ecology
- soil fertility
- metagenome
- nutrient cycling
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