It is an introductory course designed to introduce the concept and significance of soil microbiology for agriculture students. This course improves the awareness of students about practical application of soil microbiology for crop productivity, environmental factors that affecting soil microflora and organic matter decomposition, immobilization and mineralization of carbon in soil, microbial transformations in flooded soils, and their impacts on agricultural crops and quality of environment. It is also helpful for students to gain information about microbial transformation of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, sulfur, iron and manganese as well as their impacts on soil and crop productivity. It also improves the awareness of the students about impact of agricultural and industrial wastes on our environment. In addition, this introductory course also improves the skills of the students how to prepare biofertilizers and their significant effects on the quality of environment and soil health.

        Student will be able to understand the microbial ecology, nutrients cycling that are important to agriculture, pesticide degradation, bacterial fertilizers, composting, waste disposal, plant microbe interactions. Student will be able to estimate soil microbial populations and measurement of important biological processes in soil under laboratory conditions. To help students keep abreast of the most recent advances in soil microbiology. To provide students with knowledge concerning soil microbes both harmful and beneficial and how to control and enhance each, respectively. To provide students with useful information regarding the physiological and environmental aspects of soil microbes. To learn the roles of soil microbes, such as decomposing dead organic matter, enriching the soil with nutrients, increasing water infiltration, improving soil texture, etc. To acquire knowledge on such topics as: organisms and interactions, mycorrhizal symbioses, biological N2-fixation (both symbiotic & non-symbiotic).