Editorial for Special Issue “Environmental Factors Shaping the Soil Microbiome”

Abstract

Soil is a complex system consisting of various abiotic and biotic factors interacting among themselves in a particular time period. These biotic factors are particularly affected by a large number of disturbances or perturbations occurring in the micro-niches. Soil microbiome is the paramount biotic factor responsible for nutrient cycling that in turn determines soil health and quality. However, there are limitations in studying soil systems as there are a number of unknown boxes that need to be checked before understanding their full-fledged contribution to the environment. The microbial diversity in the soil can be affected by salinity, contaminant, fertilization, nutrient accumulation, and cultivation practices. Additionally, plants can also benefit from these changes in microbial community composition, and novel microbial isolates can be used for enhancing their growth under various stress conditions. Collectively, this Special Issue includes various studies that determine key abiotic and biotic factors that can result in changes in microbial community composition in the soil system. These studies are carried out in specified environmental niches rather than microcosms, which provides a broader context in which to understand microbial dynamics.