In forests, edaphic microbial communities are involved in litter decomposition and soil forming processes, with major contribution to humification, especially bacteria and fungi being responsible for the main ecosystem services fulfilled by the soil. Research has been carried out aiming to characterize the structure and diversity of microbial communities in the Rendzic Leptosols (WRB) under natural deciduous forest from Visterna, Babadag Plateau and to assess their contribution to ecosystem services provided by soil. The paper presents the results of quantitative estimations and taxonomic composition of soil and litter communities of heterotrophic bacteria and fungi, identification of cellulolytic species, as well as the microbial biomass and global physiological activities expressed as soil respiration potential. More than a half of bacterial species were common in litter and soil (SI=57.14%) and were represented by dominant species of fluorescent or non-fluorescent pseudomonads and Bacillus subtilis but no similarity was found between the two fungal communities. Fungal populations included cosmopolitan species, such as antagonists and strong cellulolytic representatives of genera Penicillium, Trichoderma, Mortierella, Chaetomium, Epicoccum, Aspergillus. Microbial density and microbial biomass presented the highest values in the litter (684 mg C x kg-1 d.s.) and in surface horizon Am1 of soil profile than in the bottom layers. The highest diversity was found in Am1 horizon (0-5 cm) H’=1.983 bits and ε=0.869 for cellulolytic community. Soil respiration reflected the intense physiological activity of microbiome, with high values associated to numerous effectives of bacteria and fungi especially in surface horizon. Microorganisms identified contribute to formation of soil by recycling of nutrients, cellulose decomposition, the synthesis of stable organic matter (humic acids), aggregation of soil particles, biological control of pathogens by antagonistic activity. They improve plant uptake of water and nutrients by forming symbioses (ectomycorrhizae), thus modelling the structure of vegetation.

The soil degraded and changed by the anthropic activity must be monitored and the awareness of the intrinsic processes will allow a pertinent analysis of the effects of the application of the new technologies on the management and the sustainability of the soil. Two natural and anthropic Phaeozems were analyzed from the point of view of chemical, microbiological characteristics, quality and composition of organic compounds. Total values of microbial biomass and bacterial and fungal counts were generally twice higher in Calcaric Phaeozems than in Verti-Stagnic Phaeozems. The content of humic precursors in Calcaric Phaeozems was quantitatively higher than that determined in Verti-stagnic Phaeozems, with a total content of phenols of 14.6mgGAExg−1d.m., polysaccharides and proteins of 97mgxg−1, respectivelly 16.6mgxl−1. The ascending chromatograms showed specific distribution and higher density of the organic compounds in the CAFT sub-fraction of the Verti-stagnic Phaeozems. Pfeiffer specific chromatograms revealed an enzyme activity much higher than average at the Verti-stagnic Phaeozems, with a well-characterized functional diversity. The nutritional reserve appeared increased but poorly diversified in the Calcaric Phaeozems. Humification processes are intense, colloidal substances are present, the mineral component is very well integrated in the organic material at the Verti-stagnic Phaeozems and complex protein content is well revealed especially in the Calcaric Phaeozems. Capillary dynamolysis reflected a characteristic pattern of Phaeozems soils, with particularities for each soil type, represented by colors, contours and particular forms of the specific structures developed. Both soils presented good conditions for sustaining vegetation either natural or cultivated but results indicated that anthropic intervention determined a more dynamic mineralization of organic matter. Further monitoring of soil organic matter dynamics is needed and adjusting management practices for conservation of biodiversity and global ecosystem protection against the effect of anthropic intervention.

The presence of oil hydrocarbons and salts in soils has as consequence the poor growth of plants due to the low availability of nutrients caused by unappropriate water regime, increased soil toxicity and the deterioration of soil structure. The present research has as main purpose the improvement of the bean plants (cultivar UNIDOR) growth and to stimulate microbial activity in rhizosphere using various natural stimulators and fertilizers (AMALGEROL,VERMIPLANT, POCO, IGUANA and FORMULEX) in greenhouse experiments on oil-polluted soil from Icoana farm, Olt county. The total counts of microorganisms (heterotrophic aerobic bacteria and filamentous fungi) were estimated by dilution plate method. The global microbial activity was measured as soil respiration by substrate-induced respiration method. Total bean plants biomass accumulation significantly increased under the influence of natural stimulators and fertilizers added (excepting IGUANA) when compared to untreated control. The best results were recorded for VERMIPLANT. Natural products induced activation of physiological activities of soil microbiota reflected in increased values of CO2 released by respiration, lower levels of colonization with phytopathogenic species, the domination of fluorescent pseudomonads, actinomycetes and cellulolytic fungi, too. The particular aspect of paper circular chromatograms reflected qualitative differences between rhizosphere soils determined by the effect of treatments with natural stimulators and fertilizers.

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Soils from rural zones with high natural value (HNV) agriculture systems are an important source of beneficial microbial species that can be useful for various biotechnological purposes, such as transfer of suppressiveness against plant pathogens from suppressive to disease-inducing soils by using inoculation with antagonistic selected strains. The main goal of the paper was to present the results of the research carried out on strains isolated from soil microbial populations in HNV agriculture system (Mureș county, Romania) responsible for specific suppressiveness against soil-borne phytopathogens. The dual culture method was used for assessing the mechanisms involved in antagonism against a plant pathogenic strain from genus Fusarium. The global microbial activity measured as soil respiration was intense. Total counts of bacteria and fungi estimated by dilution plate were also high. The community of heterotrophic aerobic bacteria included 13 species. Associations of fluorescent pseudomonads and actinomycetes were dominant and presented antagonistic activity against Fusarium. Twenty fungal species presented cellulolytic capability evidenced by growth on culture media with cellulose as sole source of carbon. Over cellulolytic capacity, the selected isolate of Trichoderma viride presented antagonistic activity against pathogenic Fusarium strain. Both biochemical mechanism and hyperparasitism were evidenced as involved in its antifungal activity.