Soil microorganisms compose ¼ of the biodiversity of our planet and are responsible for important processes such as the decomposition of organic residues and the transformation of the nutrients contained in these residues into nutrients for plants. The microorganisms also aid the grasses implantation, increasing the grasses yield by means of several mechanisms of plant growth promotion. These mechanisms of growth promotion of grasses can be direct, or indirect. In this chapter, we discuss the main mechanisms of growth promotion of grasses by soil microorganisms. It will be explained how the microorganisms in the soil act favoring the growth and development of cultivated grasses. For this, there will be clarified the importance of soil microorganisms in nutrient cycling, the mechanisms of nutrient capture, the production of phytostimulant substances by microorganisms, and the mechanisms of soil pathogen suppression.
Part of the book: Grasses