Rhizobia
Rhizobia are bacteria that fix nitrogen in soil that aid in the growth and development of plants. Rhizobia can only fix nitrogen when associated with a plant that provides it with carbohydrates and are only associated with legumes, but not all legumes associate with Rhizobia.
Taxonomy
| Domain: | Bacteria |
|---|---|
| Phylum: | Pseudomonadota |
| Class: | Alphaproteobacteria |
| Order: | Hyphomicrobiales |
| Family: | Rhizobiaceae |
| Genus: | Rhizobium |
Ecology and Habitat
Symbiotic Relationship with Legumes
[File:Rhizobium_and_Legumes.png|500px|thumb|left]] Through their symbiotic relationship with legumes, they enhance the availability of nutrients by breaking down organic matter and releasing the nutrients into the soil [2]. Rhizobia and legumes work together to promote the growth of numerous plant species, thus strengthening the ecosystem [2].
Soil Benefits
Nitrogen is an important nutrient for plant growth and development, but plants do not have the ability to use the nitrogen in the atmosphere directly []. Rhizobium forms symbiotic relationships with legume plants by developing root nodules, where it converts the nitrogen in the atmosphere into a form that plants can absorb []. This process improves soil health by increasing nitrogen availability, contribute to increased soil microbial diversity, and improving soil structure.