Impact of Floods and Landslides on Beneficial Soil Microbes and Nutrients in Selected High Ranges of Kerala, India

To ascertain the impacts of flood-affected and landslide-impacted soils on the microbial community and soil nutrient status, an assessment between disturbed and undisturbed soils was conducted. Without discernible differences between soils impacted by flooding and landslides, the total bacterial and fungal population had decreased in disturbed soils. The lack of organic carbon and copper in flood-affected soils profoundly impacted the bacterial population. The disturbed soils were found to have reduced organic carbon, nitrogen and micronutrients. The microbial isolates that persisted even in these degraded conditions may be considered potential bioagents for the restoration of disturbed soils.