ABSTRACT
KEYWORDS. Microbial diversity, genetic diversity, functional diver sity, bacterial community, soil nucleic acids, 16S rDNA, PCR, rhizosphere, soil ecology, sustainable agriculture, rice soils
INTRODUCTION
Soil is recognized as being formed as a result of five factors. These ‘soil forming’ factors are parent material, climate, organisms, relief (to pography) and time. Although generally considered as operating inde pendently they, in fact, interact to create a very diverse and complex habitat. The soil forming factors set the boundaries of the potential mi crobial diversity in soil. Within these boundaries, an almost endless va riety of microniches exist that serve as unique environments where microbial diversity can develop and thrive. Thus, microbial diversity in soil results from the complex nature of soil.
