Published on: February 2026
MICROBIAL DIVERSITY ANALYSIS OF SOIL SAMPLES USING MOLECULAR AND BIOCHEMICAL TECHNIQUES
Poonam R. Joshi
Dr. Aman J. Verma
Horizon College of Science
Article Status
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Abstract
Microbial communities play a crucial role in soil ecosystems, influencing nutrient cycling, plant health, and environmental resilience. Traditional microbiological methods have provided foundational knowledge of soil microbes; however, their limited scope and selectivity prevent a comprehensive understanding of the true microbial biodiversity present in complex soil matrices. With the advent of advanced molecular and biochemical techniques, microbial diversity analysis has experienced a paradigm shift, allowing researchers to identify, quantify, and characterize microorganisms that were previously undetectable using culture-dependent methods.
This research aimed to analyze the microbial diversity of soil samples collected from three distinct environments: agricultural fields, forest soil, and urban soil. Both molecular and biochemical techniques were employed. Molecular analyses included DNA extraction, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of 16S rRNA genes, and next-generation sequencing (NGS). Biochemical methods involved substrate utilization assays, enzyme activity measurements, and classical phenotypic profiling. Soil physicochemical properties—pH, moisture content, organic carbon, and nutrient composition—were also evaluated to understand their influence on microbial community structure.
Results demonstrated significant differences in microbial diversity across the three soil types. The forest soil exhibited the highest species richness and evenness, with numerous uncultured bacterial taxa detected through NGS. Agricultural soil showed a microbial profile dominated by both beneficial plant-associated microbes and potential pathogens, reflecting the influence of fertilizer application and crop management practices. Urban soil revealed a unique microbial signature, with several bacterial taxa related to pollutant degradation.
Biochemical assays corroborated molecular data, showing differential enzyme activities consistent with nutrient cycling capacities inherent to each soil type. Principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) and hierarchical clustering further illustrated distinct microbial community patterns, driven by both environmental conditions and anthropogenic influences.
This study highlights the power of integrated molecular and biochemical approaches in soil microbial ecology. It underscores the need for multi-faceted analytical frameworks when assessing microbial diversity and offers insight into how soil management strategies impact microbial ecosystems. The findings have implications for agriculture, environmental monitoring, and sustainable land-use practices.
How to Cite this Paper
Joshi, P. R. (2026). Microbial Diversity Analysis of Soil Samples Using Molecular and Biochemical Techniques. International Journal of Creative and Open Research in Engineering and Management, <i>02</i>(02), 1-9. https://doi.org/10.55041/ijcope.v2i2.004
Joshi, Poonam. "Microbial Diversity Analysis of Soil Samples Using Molecular and Biochemical Techniques." International Journal of Creative and Open Research in Engineering and Management, vol. 02, no. 02, 2026, pp. 1-9. doi:https://doi.org/10.55041/ijcope.v2i2.004.
Joshi, Poonam. "Microbial Diversity Analysis of Soil Samples Using Molecular and Biochemical Techniques." International Journal of Creative and Open Research in Engineering and Management 02, no. 02 (2026): 1-9. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.55041/ijcope.v2i2.004.
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