Land Utilization Pattern and Effects on Soil Microbiome

The soil's microbial community is critical to nurturing a healthy environment. Microorganisms play an essential role in breaking down organic materials and cycling nutrients. Diversity is a crucial attribute of these microorganisms. A high diversity of soil microorganisms contributes to the soil's ability to provide essential ecosystem services and withstand or elude disruptions from land usage, seasonal modifications, pesticide-fertilizer implementations, etc. A lowered biodiversity leads to reduced ecosystem stability and potential loss of services. Therefore, it is indispensable to maintain a wide assortment of microorganisms in the soil to ensure a continued ecosystem service provision. Land usage is a significant factor affecting soil microorganisms and their activities. Subjected to rapid population growth, humans continuously encroach on land, and settlement and agricultural activities alter the soil's microbial pattern. This alteration disrupts the soil microbes, affecting the entire pedological microbiota. Seasonal shifts in temperature and precipitation can also have an inauspicious effect on the soil profile. Agricultural crop field development meets the demand of the expanding human population on one hand, but also diminishes forest ecosystems and disrupts plant-microbe associations on the other hand. Rapid urbanization and industrialization have created a profound impact on socio-economic aspects, inducing a negative impact on the ecological perspective with special reference to the soil microbiome. This chapter aims to highlight how land utilization affects soil microbiomes and provide an updated overview of possible remedial approaches to address this issue.