LAUSR

Abstract Soil, the skin of the Earth is one of the fundamental natural resource and important component that contributes to the ecosystem. Soil performs a wide range of ecosystem services like food production, climate and water regulation, provision of energy and inhabiting various life forms. This fundamental natural resource of ecosystem is a home of diverse ranges of microbes (beneficial and pathogenic) known as soil microbiome, which are grouped into three domains i.e. archaea, bacteria, eukarya (fungi, algae and nematodes) of life. Diversity of soil microbiome varies with environment and their existence. They exist in bulk soil as well as root influenced soil. Soil microbes also show their existence in the different extreme environments. The microbial genera such as Achromobacter, Arthrobacter, Azospirillum, Azotobacter, Bacillus, Burkholderia, Exiguobacterium, Flavobacterium, Herbaspirillum, Methylobacterium, Paenibacillus, Pseudomonas, Rhizobium, Serratia and Staphylococcus have been reported as predominant in all the different conditions of soil. All the different groups of microbes present in the soil naturally plays a several significant roles like nutrients cycling, recycling of ground water, maintenance of soil fertility, decomposition of organic matter and formation of fossil fuels. As their role in environment these microbes may have several applications and can be used as in agriculture as plant protector and plant growth enhancer. Soil microbes can also be used in the environment for pollutants remediation and decomposition purposes. Present review deals with the biodiversity of beneficial soil microbiomes and their potential biotechnological contribution for nutrient cycling, plant growth improvement and nutrient uptake.