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Updated: Dec 10, 2025

Isolation of Native Soil Microorganisms with Potential for Breaking Down Biodegradable Plastic Mulch Films Used in Agriculture
Published on: May 10, 2013
Biological soil crust (BSC) is an effective biofertilizer on Vigna mungo (L.)
Mani Vinoth1, Sivaprakasam Sivasankari2, Abdul Kareem Khaleel Ahamed1
1PG and Research Department of Botany, Jamal Mohamed College, Affiliated to Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli 620020, Tamil Nadu, India.
Abstract:
Biological soil crusts (BSC) (Cyanobacteria) play an important role in the soil nitrogen fixation and soil stabilization. However, limited researches were carried out about the diversity and distribution of Bio crust in sacred forests. The study aims to identify the distribution of cyanobacteria in biological soil crusts from different sacred groves of Ariyalur and Pudukottai, Tamil Nadu. We identified following microbes of Microcoleus, Scytonema, Anabaena and Nostoc in biological soil crust. A surface experiment was conducted for the efficacy of biological soil crusts on crops seedling growths. The efficacy was assessed by measuring the root & shoot length, dry & fresh weight of the plant, total chlorophyll, protein & carbohydrate content, with reducing sugar. The plant growth was higher in biocrust inoculated pot than the control. In corresponding nitrogenase activity was determined by the acetylene reduction assay, and phytohormones documentation was executed by the high-performance liquid chromatography. The results indicating that the biological soil crusts are the promising factors influencing the plant growth by plant growth-stimulating auxins and nitrogenase activity.
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