Microbial Processes in the Soil Environment

Dear Colleagues,

The study of microbial processes in the soil environment holds paramount importance as it unravels the intricate and indispensable role played by soil microorganisms in our agroecosystems. These microorganisms are the unsung heroes beneath our feet, governing soil fertility, nutrient cycling, and carbon storage, thus influencing agriculture, climate change mitigation, and global food security. Furthermore, understanding their involvement in bioremediation aids in addressing environmental pollution, while their potential in sustainable agriculture and biotechnology offers innovative solutions for a sustainable future. This Special Issue provides a vital platform for disseminating knowledge that is fundamental to our efforts in preserving the health of our soils, ecosystems, and the planet as a whole.

The current Special Issue will provide opportunities to researchers and environmental professionals to discuss challenges and achievements regarding microbial processes. Laboratory and field studies on microbial processes in the soil environment with novel research outcomes are warmly welcomed.

Potential topics include but are not limited to the following:

• Role of microbes in nutrient cycling in agroecosystem;
• Modern methods to identify active microbial communities in the environment, i.e., high-throughput DNA/RNA sequencing, PLFA, and DNA-SIP;
• Identification and quantification of putative functional genes involved in soil functioning via PCR and qPCR;
• Microbial contributions to soil carbon sequestration;
• Role of microbial enzymes in catalyzing key soil processes;
• Omics techniques to decipher the functional potential and metabolic pathways of soil microbial communities;
• Microbial resilience in changing environments;
• Microbial contributions to soil fertility;
• Mitigation of contaminants by new bioremediation techniques;
• Adaptation and absorption capacity of microbes against heavy metals;
• Microbial–plant interaction.

You may choose our Joint Special Issue in Toxics.

Dr. Qichun Zhang
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 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Microorganisms is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• soil-plant-microbe interaction
• metabolic pathways
• omics techniques
• nutrient cycling in agroecosystems
• soil fertility
• microbial enzymes
• microbial bioremediation
• heavy metal tolerant strain
• heavy metal and nutrient interaction