(i) Increase in soil fertility: Bacteria decompose the dead bodies of plants and animals and mix them with the soil. As a result, soil organic matter increases and fertility increases.
(ii) Nitrogen fixation: Bacteria such as Azotobacter, Pseudomonas, Clostridium etc. capture nitrogen from air and mix it with soil. Rhizobium fixes nitrogen from the air in the roots of leguminous plants. Rhizobium is currently being used as a microbial fertilizer. Three species of Rhizobium form nodules on lentil roots. These are Rhizobium bangladashense, Rhizobium bine and Rhizobium lentis. Bangladeshi scientist Dr. Harun or Rashid discovered these three species.
(iii) Nitrification: In the process of nitrification, nitrite is produced from ammonia under the action of nitrifying bacteria. Nitrite is then produced from nitrite. Nitrate increases soil fertility.
(iv) As insecticides: Some bacteria are used as insecticides in the field. For example, Bacillus thuringiensis.
(v) Increase in yield: By applying some bacteria to the field, it was possible to increase the yield of rice by 31.8% and the yield of wheat by 20.8%.
(vi) Creation of improved varieties of crops: Transgenic crops have been created by transferring genes with the help of bacteria. These transgenic crops are of superior quality.
(vii) Production of Organic Fertilizers: At present organic fertilizers are being produced by decomposing dung and garbage with the help of bacteria. Organic fertilizers are being used instead of chemical fertilizers on the land.
(viii) Fodder or silage making: Paddy straw, grass and leguminous plants are cut into small pieces. The pieces are mixed with chitagur and kept in a sealed container. During the fermentation process Lactobacillus bacteria turn them into high quality cow feed. This cow feed is called silage.
(ix) In jute industry: Jute is decomposed with the help of bacteria like Clostridium butricum and fibers are separated.
(x) Cellulose digestion: Ruminococcus albus and Ruminococcus flavefaciens bacteria live in the stomach of cattle. All these bacteria produce cellulase enzyme. Cellulase enzymes aid in the digestion of raw grasses and plants.
