Download or read book Mineral Solubilizing Microorganisms (MSM) and their Applications in Nutrient Bioavailability, Bioweathering and Bioremediation, Volume II written by Muhammad Zahid Mumtaz and published by Frontiers Media SA. This book was released on 2024-04-18 with total page 101 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Bioweathering is the dissolution of rocks and mineral substrates carried out by microorganisms along with mechanical and chemical processes. The application of bacteria in biomining is a biotechnological approach for the extraction and recovery of metals from ores. Microbes interact with minerals as a strategy to colonize and exploit habitats where the environmental parameters disadvantage other microorganisms and they demonstrate the capacity to scavenge critical elements with low bioavailability, such as iron and phosphorus. There is an ongoing need to improve soil fertility and crop production, particularly in dry places, to remediate toxic soils, and clean stone artworks and structures. A more complete understanding of the ecology of mineral weathering processes mediated by the microbiome may provide a significant opportunity for researchers to develop novel solutions to developing challenges in agriculture, the environment, and industry.