Phosphate mobilisation by soil microorganisms

Abstract

Microorganisms are fundamental to the cycling of phosphorus (P) in soil-plant systems as they are involved in a range of processes that govern P transformations and availability. Soil microorganisms in particular are able to release plant available P from otherwise sparingly available forms of soil P, through solubilisation and mineralisation reactions of inorganic and organic P, respectively. The potential of phosphate solubilising microorganisms (PSM) to improve plant P nutrition is widely recognised, and the mechanisms involved are being investigated. The feasibility of developing efficient management systems based on PSM as biofertilisers is of current interest in rhizosphere biotechnology. Mycorrhizosphere interactions involving PSM and their interaction with AM fungi is of further relevance for the acquisition, transport and supply of P to plant roots, and therefore to soil P cycling and plant P nutrition. Managing these interactions (mycorrhizosphere tailoring) provides an environmentally-acceptable agro-technological practice to improve agricultural sustainability.