Published Paper Details:

Soil algae represent an important component of terrestrial microbial communities and play a significant role in soil fertility, nutrient cycling, and ecosystem functioning. The present study investigated the diversity and distribution of soil algae in cultivated agricultural soils of Buldhana district, Maharashtra, India. Soil samples were collected from four major agricultural tehsils representing different cropping systems, including sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum), soybean (Glycine max), chilli (Capsicum annuum), and pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan). Algal isolation was carried out using serial dilution and enrichment techniques on selective culture media such as BG-11, Bold's Basal Medium (BBM), Chu No. 10, COMBO, and WC media. The isolates were identified based on morphological characteristics using standard phycological taxonomic keys. The analysis revealed a diverse algal flora belonging to five major classes: Bacillariophyceae, Chlorophyceae, Cyanophyceae, Euglenophyceae, and Xanthophyceae. Among these groups, Cyanophyceae represented the most dominant group, followed by Chlorophyceae and Bacillariophyceae, while Euglenophyceae and Xanthophyceae were comparatively less abundant. The occurrence of diverse algal taxa in cultivated soils may be associated with favourable environmental conditions created by agricultural practices such as irrigation, fertilizer application, and organic matter accumulation. Several cyanobacterial genera identified in the study, including Anabaena, Nostoc, and Cylindrospermum, are known to contribute to soil fertility through biological nitrogen fixation.