Transforming Agricultural and Sulfur Waste into Fertilizer: Assessing the Short-Term Effects on Microbial Biodiversity via a Metagenomic Approach.

Fungi and soil bacteria are vital for organic matter decomposition and biogeochemical cycles, but excessive synthetic fertilizer use contributes to soil degradation and loss of biodiversity. Despite this, about 97% of soil microorganisms are unculturable, making them difficult to study. Metagenomics offers a solution, enabling the direct extraction of DNA from soil to uncover microbial diversity and functions.