Question

Find out the role of microbes in the following and discuss it with your teacher.
(a) Single cell protein (SCP)
(b) Soil

Answer 1

Hint: Single cell protein is the protein obtained from the microbial cultures, living or dead biomass. It can be in crude or refined form as well as in edible form. Soil is a mixture of components like gases, minerals, micro organisms, water which is essential for the living organisms.

Complete answer:
Single cell protein (SCP)- SCP is the protein which is obtained from the microbial culture of the microbial biomass. The organisms which make SCP are the algae fungi, bacteria yeast etc. These are the protein source which is edible by humans and act as health supplements.

Soil-The microorganisms are one of the important constituents of the soil. The microorganisms present in the soil act as decomposers which decompose the dead matter (plants and animals) and help in recycling of the nutrients back to the soil. These nutrients are taken up by plants. The plants are further eaten up by animals. In this way a complete food chain is formed.

The microbes present in the soil also help in fixing atmospheric nitrogen to the soil. This improves the soil fertility.

Note: The SCP is obtained from the single celled microbes. Thus it is named as single celled protein. It is consumed either in the crude or refined form. Commonly used organisms to obtain SCP are algae like Spirullina, Chlorella etc. The soil bacteria which fix nitrogen are Rhizobium, Azotobacter. They also help in the formation of the soil.