Soil improvement in saline – alkali soils can be achieved through the use of microbial inoculants, which has a significant effect. Microbial inoculants participate in chemical reactions of soil salts by releasing specific active substances such as organic acids and polysaccharides. The resulting insoluble salts help reduce soil salinity. This biochemical process is of great significance for adjusting the soil micro – environment, especially the adverse effects on plants under high – saline – alkali conditions.
During their growth, soil microorganisms promote the decomposition of soil organic matter, thereby increasing the total amount of soil organic matter. The increase in soil organic matter not only helps improve the physical structure of the soil but also enhances the soil’s water and nutrient – holding capacity, which is crucial for plant growth. In terms of soil fertility, specific microorganisms such as nitrogen – fixing bacteria and phosphorus – solubilizing bacteria improve soil nutrient supply through biochemical processes. Nitrogen – fixing bacteria can convert atmospheric nitrogen into a form that plants can absorb, increasing the available nitrogen content in the soil. Similarly, phosphorus – solubilizing bacteria decompose inorganic phosphorus in the soil, turning it into a form that plants can more easily absorb, which is particularly important for balancing soil nutrients.
In summary, the role of microbial inoculants in improving saline – alkali soils cannot be ignored. Microbial inoculants not only participate in regulating soil salinity but also provide more favorable soil conditions for plant growth by promoting the increase of organic matter and improving nutrient supply. These microorganism – driven processes play a key role in soil quality improvement and sustainable agricultural development.
Effective strains in microbial inoculants can form a symbiotic relationship with plant roots, thus optimizing the process of nutrient absorption from the soil. Specifically, mycorrhizal fungi form a mutually beneficial partnership with plant roots, creating a mycorrhizal structure. This structure expands the surface area of the roots through the hyphal network, increasing the absorption rate of water and nutrients. In addition, growth – regulating factors such as auxins and gibberellins produced by certain microorganisms can promote root development, thereby improving the plant’s nutrient – absorption capacity. In saline – alkaline environments, these microorganisms are particularly important because high salinity conditions can impede the absorption and transport of water and nutrients by plants. Through interaction with plant roots, these beneficial microorganisms can help plants overcome saline – alkali stress, enhance nutrient uptake and transport, and thus play a crucial role in improving soil conditions and helping plants adapt to saline – alkali environments.
Microbial inoculants can play a role in enhancing the adaptability of plants to adverse environments, especially in saline – alkali areas. Some microorganisms can produce substances such as antibiotics, phenols, and reactive oxygen species, which can enhance the plant’s defense against pests and diseases. For saline – alkali stress, microbial inoculants help maintain the osmotic balance of cells and reduce the damage of saline – alkali stress to plants by promoting the accumulation of osmoregulators such as proline and soluble sugars. The metabolites of microorganisms can also regulate the hormone levels in plants, enhancing their resistance to various stresses. For example, in the case of drought, microbial inoculants can promote the accumulation of drought – resistant compounds in plants, improving their drought tolerance. In other adverse conditions such as cold and high – temperature conditions, microbial inoculants improve the stress resistance of plants through various mechanisms, ensuring their growth and development under adverse conditions. In these ways, microbial inoculants have become a key factor in improving the survival ability of crops in harsh environments.
