Microbial Bioactives | Online ISSN 2209-2161
Volume 8 Number 1 2025
REVIEWS (Open Access)
Impacts of Pesticides on Soil Microbial Communities: Balancing Agricultural Productivity and Environmental Health
Raja Noor Zaliha Raja Abd.Rahman 1, Suriana Sabri 1,2, Masriana Hassan 1*
Microbial Bioactives 8 (1) 1-8 https://doi.org/10.25163/microbbioacts.8110465
Submitted: 19 June 2025 Revised: 04 August 2025 Accepted: 10 August 2025 Published: 11 August 2025
Abstract
Soil microorganisms play a pivotal role in sustaining ecosystem functions through nutrient cycling, organic matter decomposition, and soil structure maintenance. However, the widespread use of chemical pesticides in modern agriculture poses significant challenges to these vital microbial processes. This review synthesizes recent research to elucidate how pesticide applications influence soil microbial diversity, activity, and function. A systematic examination of published literature was conducted to evaluate the direct and indirect effects of various pesticide classes on soil microbes under differing environmental conditions. Findings reveal that the impact of pesticides is highly variable, depending on factors such as chemical composition, dosage, exposure duration, and soil properties. While some pesticides inhibit beneficial microbial populations, thereby impairing soil fertility and nutrient turnover, others may stimulate microbial activity by serving as alternative carbon or energy sources. Additionally, the emergence of pesticide-degrading and resistant microbial strains highlights a dual phenomenon—bioremediation potential on one hand and disruption of native community balance on the other. Indirect effects, including altered plant–microbe interactions and shifts in root exudation, further complicate these dynamics. The review concludes that a nuanced understanding of pesticide–microbe interactions is essential to designing sustainable pest management strategies that minimize ecological harm while maintaining agricultural productivity.
Keywords: soil microbes, pesticides, microbial diversity, soil health, pesticide degradation
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