Answer to Question #252454 in Microbiology for Ene

Question

Discuss how oxygen, carbon exchange capacity(CEC) and redox reactions affect microbial community in the soil

Answer 1

Oxygen is a very important component of the productivity of both microbes and plant roots. Oxygen has a very high electrical potential (Eh), meaning that it has a lot of potential to produce energy when used as an electron acceptor in an oxidation-reduction reaction.

Cation exchange capacity (CEC) is the ability of a soil to hold and exchange cations. The high surface area and negative charge of clay allows it to bind and exchange with soil solution, which contains cations that are important for plant and microbial health.

Redox reactions are chemical reactions in which reactants experience a change in oxidation number. Many reactions in the soil involve the gain or loss of electrons, obtaining or releasing energy. Redox reactions are important in the soil, because microbes obtain energy through redox reactions for their metabolism, and the redox state can also determine the microbial processes that will occur.