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Microbial Activity in the Soil

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Microbial Activity in the Soil
“An Essay Explaining the Biochemical Processes that Occur During Decomposition in the Soil Using Organisms such as Bacteria, Fungi and Algae. It also Involves an Analysis of the Chemical Reactions Facilitated, Processes Involved, Mineralization and the Role(s) of Organic and Inorganic Compounds.”

by

Alicea Bigby-Smart
ID #: 12480025
Montego Bay Community College
Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements of the Council of Community Colleges of
Jamaica for the Award of the Bachelors of Science Degree in Environmental Studies.

Lecturer: Mrs. Shaun deSouza

Date of Submission: April 20, 2013

Many biochemical processes occur within the soil environment as a result of decomposition activities. These activities are facilitated by a number of organisms such as bacteria, fungi and algae. These biochemical processes include a lot of chemical reactions, mineralization etc. and involves organic and inorganic compounds.
| Decomposition in the soil is the natural process of dead animal or plant tissue being rotted or broken down. The result of |
|decomposition is that the building blocks required for life can be recycled. |
|Decomposers are organisms whose ecological function involves the recycling of nutrients by performing the natural process of decomposition |
|as they feed on dead or decaying organisms. They are the primary agents involved in decomposition in the soil. They play an important role |
|in the formation of soil organic matter by degrading energy rich organic compounds and, in the process, by generating |
|more refractory materials such as humus. |
|Examples of decomposers in the soil are fungi, algae and bacteria that obtain their nutrients from dead plant or animal



References: 1. Alexander, E.(1977). Introduction to Soil Microbiology. Jefferson City, John Wiley and Sons Inc. 2. Arms, K. (1994). Environmental Science. London, Saunders College Publishing. 3. Anderson, J.P.E. (1982) Soil Respiration. In: Methods of Soil Analysis Part II. Chemical and Microbiological 4. Decomposition, (2013). Retrieved from http://nerrs.noaa.gov/doc/siteprofile/acebasin/html/biores/decomp/dctext.htm 5. Enger, D. E., Smith,B.F. (2002). Environmental Science. New York, The McGraw Hill Companies. 6. Fungi, (2013). Retrieved from http://www.fungibank.csiro.au/topic_3_2_1.htm 7. Ian F. G. (1986). Soil Resources. Medway, Natural Resources Institute. 8. Killham, K.(1994). Soil Ecology. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press. 9. Paul, E. A., Clark F. E. (1996). Soil Microbiology and Biochemistry. New York, Academic Press. 10. Raven, H.P., Hassenzahl, L.R., et. al. (2012). Environment. Jefferson City, John Wiley and Sons Inc. 11. Remy, C., Mason, L., et. al. (2007). Chemistry for CSEC. . Essex, Pearson Education. 12. Roden, E. E., Wetzel, R. G. (1996). Organic Carbon Oxidation and Suppression of Methane Production by Microbial Fe(III) oxide Reduction in Vegetated and 13. Role of Organic Compounds, (2013). Retrieved from http://www.fao.org/docrep/009/a0100e/a0100e05.htm#TopOfPage 14. Soil Biology, (2013). Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soil_biology 15. Soil Chemistry, (2013). Retrieved from http://www.soils4teachers.org/chemistry 16. Soil Environment, (2013). Retrieved from http://dge.stanford.edu/SCOPE/SCOPE_51/SCOPE_51_5_Mulder_107-132.pdf 17. Soil Microbes, (2013). Retrieved from http://www.bioflora.com/soil_microbes 18. Soil Microrganism, (2013). Retrieved from http://agriinfo.in/?page=topic&superid=5&topicid=136[pic]

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