ARS | Publication request: SOIL MICROBIAL COMMUNITIES AND EARLY SEASON CORN GROWTH

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: December 15, 2004
Publication Date: December 15, 2004
Citation: Johnson, J.M. 2004. Soil microbial communities and early season corn growth [abstract]. Indiana Certified Crop Adviser Program. 2004 CDROM.

Technical Abstract: The soil microbial community plays many roles in the soil. Although some microbes are pathogens, most are beneficial. Soil organisms are important for nutrient cycling, nutrient retention, improved soil structure, water infiltration and water-holding capacity, disease suppression, degradation of pollutants and soil biodiversity. Soil microbial communities contain various types of organisms: fungi, bacteria, protozoa, microarthropods and nematodes. These organisms form a foodweb. There are multiple methods of characterizing these organisms; they can be counted, or quantified by their activity or cellular constituents. An overview of soil microbes and their roles will be provided as well as an introduction to methods for studying microbes. Management can impact the soil community directly and indirectly. During the early growing season, soils tend to be cool and wet, which impacts growing conditions of the microbes and plants. Cool temperatures can change the material exuded from corn roots into the soil. Planting too early can result in poor germination. Corn will germinate and grow at 50 deg F but does better when average air-temperatures are 55 deg F. Plant roots both influence the microbial community and are affected by microbes. Examples of how environmental conditions, soil microbes and plant roots interact will be presented.