SEMESTER – VI
DSE – 3B
APMB 364 SOIL AND AGRICULTURAL MICROBIOLOGY (4 credits)
Unit-I
Introduction to soil microorganisms – bacteria (cyanobacteria and actinobacteria), algae, fungi, protozoans, nematodes and viruses –Role of microbes in soil fertility.
Unit-II
Microbial associations in phytosphere: rhizosphere – phyllosphere – spermosphere. Mycorrhiza – types and importance to agriculture – organic matter decomposition – humus formation.
Unit-III
Biogeochemical cycles – carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, sulphur cycles; nitrogen fixers – root nodule formation – nitrogenase, hydrogenase – biochemistry of nitrogen fixation.
Unit-IV
Biofertilizers – definition, importance – types and their application methods – Steps in mass production of bacterial biofertilizers – quality guidelines for biofertilizers. Mass production of blue green algae, Azolla and mycorrhiza. Plant response to biofertilizers application.
Unit -V
Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria – Biological control of phytopathogens – Mechanism of control – Trichoderma sp. and Pseudomonas fluorescens as biocontrol agents – Disease suppressive soils – Biopesticide and their importance: Bacterial, fungal and viral.
Text Books
1. Sylvia D.M., Fuhrmann, J.J., Hartel P.J. and Zuberer D.A. (2005) Principles and Applications of Soil Microbiology, 2nd Edn. Pearson, Prentice Hall.
2. Subba Rao N.S. (2001) Soil Microorganisms and plant growth, Oxford and IBH Publishing Co. Pvt. Ltd.
Reference Books
1. Glick B.R. (2015) Beneficial Plant Bacterial Interactions, Springer.
2. Paul E.A. (Ed.) (2015) Soil Microbiology, Ecology and Biochemistry, 4th Edn, Academic Press.
3. Madigan M.T., Bender K.S., Buckley D.H., Sattley W.M. and Stahl D.A. (2017) Brock Biology of Microorganisms, 15th Edn. (Global Edn.) Pearson Education.