Pioneers of Soil Microbiology

Pioneers of Soil Microbiology

Scientists studied the microorganisms from water, air and soil. They recognized the role of microorganisms in natural processes. They realized the importance of soil microorganisms in growth and development of plants. Soil Microbiology emerged as a distinct branch of soil science during first half of the 19^th century.

Sergei N. Winogradsky discovered the autotrophic mode of life among bacteria and established the microbiological transformation of Nitrogen and Sulphur. He isolated nitrifying bacteria for the first time and demonstrated the role of these bacteria in nitrification (1890). Further he demonstrated that free-living Clostridium pasteurianum could fix atmospheric Nitrogen (1893). He developed the Winogradsky column (Figure 10.2), a self contained ecosystem for studying the Sulphur cycle. Therefore, he is considered as the 'Father of Soil Microbiology'.

M. W. Beijerinck (1888) isolated root nodule bacteria in pure culture from nodules in legumes and named them as Bacillus radicola. Thus, he is considered as the 'Father of Microbial ecology'.

Beijerinck and Winogradsky (1890) developed the enrichment culture technique for isolation of soil organisms, proved independently that transformation of nitrogen in nature is largely due to the activities of various groups of soil microorganisms (1891). Therefore, they are considered as 'Pioneers in Soil Bacteriology'.