Articles | Volume 6, issue 2
https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-6-513-2020
© Author(s) 2020. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-6-513-2020
© Author(s) 2020. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Original research article
| 
22 Oct 2020
Original research article |
| 22 Oct 2020
| 22 Oct 2020
Microbial communities and their predictive functional profiles in the arid soil of Saudi Arabia
Munawwar A. Khan
Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, College of Natural and
Health Sciences, Zayed University, Dubai, 19282, UAE
Department of Agricultural Microbiology, Faculty of Agricultural
Science, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, UP, India
Viewed
Total article views: 6,261 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
Cumulative views and downloads
(calculated since 09 Jun 2020)
| HTML | XML | Total | Supplement | BibTeX | EndNote | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4,965 | 1,149 | 147 | 6,261 | 431 | 152 | 180 |
- HTML: 4,965
- PDF: 1,149
- XML: 147
- Total: 6,261
- Supplement: 431
- BibTeX: 152
- EndNote: 180
Total article views: 5,526 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
Cumulative views and downloads
(calculated since 22 Oct 2020)
| HTML | XML | Total | Supplement | BibTeX | EndNote | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4,623 | 806 | 97 | 5,526 | 240 | 103 | 137 |
- HTML: 4,623
- PDF: 806
- XML: 97
- Total: 5,526
- Supplement: 240
- BibTeX: 103
- EndNote: 137
Total article views: 735 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
Cumulative views and downloads
(calculated since 09 Jun 2020)
| HTML | XML | Total | Supplement | BibTeX | EndNote | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 342 | 343 | 50 | 735 | 191 | 49 | 43 |
- HTML: 342
- PDF: 343
- XML: 50
- Total: 735
- Supplement: 191
- BibTeX: 49
- EndNote: 43
Viewed (geographical distribution)
Total article views: 6,261 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
Thereof 5,853 with geography defined
and 408 with unknown origin.
Total article views: 5,526 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
Thereof 5,229 with geography defined
and 297 with unknown origin.
Total article views: 735 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
Thereof 624 with geography defined
and 111 with unknown origin.
| Country | # | Views | % |
|---|
| Country | # | Views | % |
|---|
| Country | # | Views | % |
|---|
| Total: | 0 |
| HTML: | 0 |
| PDF: | 0 |
| XML: | 0 |
- 1
1
| Total: | 0 |
| HTML: | 0 |
| PDF: | 0 |
| XML: | 0 |
- 1
1
| Total: | 0 |
| HTML: | 0 |
| PDF: | 0 |
| XML: | 0 |
- 1
1
Cited
26 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Extreme Arabian environments and their microbiomes: new frontiers for astrobiology and biosignature discovery J. Schultz et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00792-026-01426-5
- Profiling the microeukaryote diversity in arid sabkha soils in NEOM, Saudi Arabia, using 18S rRNA-based eDNA metabarcoding J. Gopi et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecofro.2025.07.013
- Illumina sequencing of 16S rRNA genes reveals a unique microbial community in three anaerobic sludge digesters of Dubai M. Khan et al. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0249023
- Storage, not plant residues, may influence bacterial communities in air-dried soils even at -80 ℃ J. Yang et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00374-025-01935-z
- Microbial Diversity of Soil in a Mediterranean Biodiversity Hotspot: Parque Nacional La Campana, Chile C. Quinteros-Urquieta et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms12081569
- Deciphering endemic rhizosphere microbiome community’s structure towards the host-derived heavy metals tolerance and plant growth promotion functions in serpentine geo-ecosystem R. Senthil Kumar et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.131359
- Ribosomal Genes‐Based Identification, Bioprospecting of Algae, and the Impact of Nanomaterials on Their Cell Integrity A. Khan et al. https://doi.org/10.1002/jobm.70130
- Consortia-based microbial inoculants for sustaining agricultural activities S. Khan https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsoil.2022.104503
- High-throughput sequencing reveals the structure and metabolic resilience of desert microbiome confronting climate change W. Mousa et al. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2024.1294173
- Indigenously produced biochar retains fertility in sandy soil through unique microbial diversity sustenance: a step toward the circular economy M. Khan et al. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2023.1158784
- Soil microbial biomass and bacterial diversity in southern European regions vulnerable to desertification V. Catania et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2022.109725
- The hidden network of biocrust successional stages in the High Arctic: Revealing abiotic and biotic factors shaping microbial and metazoan communities G. Mugnai et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171786
- Drought stress affects bacterial community structure in the rhizosphere of Paeonia ostii ‘Feng Dan’ C. Zhang et al. https://doi.org/10.1080/14620316.2022.2095311
- Irrigation water salinity structures the bacterial communities of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera)-associated bulk soil D. Loganathachetti et al. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2022.944637
- Climatology and phytogeography of Saudi Arabia. A review O. Sayed & Y. Masrahi https://doi.org/10.1080/15324982.2023.2169846
- Conversion to Greenhouse Cultivation from Continuous Corn Production Decreases Soil Bacterial Diversity and Alters Community Structure Y. Fan et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14092144
- Desert mycobiome of Saudi Arabia is driven by vegetation patterns I. Mani et al. https://doi.org/10.3897/mycokeys.130.176937
- Microbiome and One Health in GCC countries: current status, research gaps, and future directions M. Aldriwesh et al. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2026.1821688
- Exploring thermophilic bacteria as a potential source for the development of new antimicrobial agents I. Alhanbali et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biteb.2025.102496
- Responses of soil microorganisms to simulated climate change in desert grassland in northern China Y. Zhang et al. https://doi.org/10.2166/wcc.2022.365
- Metagenomic Analysis of Sediment Bacterial Diversity and Composition in Natural Lakes and Artificial Waterpoints of Tabuk Region in King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Royal Natural Reserve, Saudi Arabia Y. Al-Awthan et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/life14111411
- Engineered Nanomaterials in Soil: Their Impact on Soil Microbiome and Plant Health S. Khan et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11010109
- Succession of soil bacterial community along a 46-year choronsequence artificial revegetation in an arid oasis-desert ecotone F. An et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.152496
- Soil Water and Nutrient Availability Drive Increased Bacterial Diversity and Metabolic Strategy Shifts Along a Desertification Reversal Sequence A. Wang et al. https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.70400
- Stress-resilient endospore-forming diazotrophs from red lateritic soils of India: functional profiling and first evidence of Priestia abyssalis and Bacillus gaemokensis as nitrogen-fixers with multifunctional PGPR traits J. Sarwar & S. Barua https://doi.org/10.1007/s11274-026-04787-3
- Nitrogen fixation by methanogenic Archaea, literature review and DNA database-based analysis; significance in face of climate change Z. Riyaz & S. Khan https://doi.org/10.1007/s00203-024-04191-1
26 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Extreme Arabian environments and their microbiomes: new frontiers for astrobiology and biosignature discovery J. Schultz et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00792-026-01426-5
- Profiling the microeukaryote diversity in arid sabkha soils in NEOM, Saudi Arabia, using 18S rRNA-based eDNA metabarcoding J. Gopi et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecofro.2025.07.013
- Illumina sequencing of 16S rRNA genes reveals a unique microbial community in three anaerobic sludge digesters of Dubai M. Khan et al. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0249023
- Storage, not plant residues, may influence bacterial communities in air-dried soils even at -80 ℃ J. Yang et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00374-025-01935-z
- Microbial Diversity of Soil in a Mediterranean Biodiversity Hotspot: Parque Nacional La Campana, Chile C. Quinteros-Urquieta et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms12081569
- Deciphering endemic rhizosphere microbiome community’s structure towards the host-derived heavy metals tolerance and plant growth promotion functions in serpentine geo-ecosystem R. Senthil Kumar et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.131359
- Ribosomal Genes‐Based Identification, Bioprospecting of Algae, and the Impact of Nanomaterials on Their Cell Integrity A. Khan et al. https://doi.org/10.1002/jobm.70130
- Consortia-based microbial inoculants for sustaining agricultural activities S. Khan https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsoil.2022.104503
- High-throughput sequencing reveals the structure and metabolic resilience of desert microbiome confronting climate change W. Mousa et al. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2024.1294173
- Indigenously produced biochar retains fertility in sandy soil through unique microbial diversity sustenance: a step toward the circular economy M. Khan et al. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2023.1158784
- Soil microbial biomass and bacterial diversity in southern European regions vulnerable to desertification V. Catania et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2022.109725
- The hidden network of biocrust successional stages in the High Arctic: Revealing abiotic and biotic factors shaping microbial and metazoan communities G. Mugnai et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171786
- Drought stress affects bacterial community structure in the rhizosphere of Paeonia ostii ‘Feng Dan’ C. Zhang et al. https://doi.org/10.1080/14620316.2022.2095311
- Irrigation water salinity structures the bacterial communities of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera)-associated bulk soil D. Loganathachetti et al. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2022.944637
- Climatology and phytogeography of Saudi Arabia. A review O. Sayed & Y. Masrahi https://doi.org/10.1080/15324982.2023.2169846
- Conversion to Greenhouse Cultivation from Continuous Corn Production Decreases Soil Bacterial Diversity and Alters Community Structure Y. Fan et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14092144
- Desert mycobiome of Saudi Arabia is driven by vegetation patterns I. Mani et al. https://doi.org/10.3897/mycokeys.130.176937
- Microbiome and One Health in GCC countries: current status, research gaps, and future directions M. Aldriwesh et al. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2026.1821688
- Exploring thermophilic bacteria as a potential source for the development of new antimicrobial agents I. Alhanbali et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biteb.2025.102496
- Responses of soil microorganisms to simulated climate change in desert grassland in northern China Y. Zhang et al. https://doi.org/10.2166/wcc.2022.365
- Metagenomic Analysis of Sediment Bacterial Diversity and Composition in Natural Lakes and Artificial Waterpoints of Tabuk Region in King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Royal Natural Reserve, Saudi Arabia Y. Al-Awthan et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/life14111411
- Engineered Nanomaterials in Soil: Their Impact on Soil Microbiome and Plant Health S. Khan et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11010109
- Succession of soil bacterial community along a 46-year choronsequence artificial revegetation in an arid oasis-desert ecotone F. An et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.152496
- Soil Water and Nutrient Availability Drive Increased Bacterial Diversity and Metabolic Strategy Shifts Along a Desertification Reversal Sequence A. Wang et al. https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.70400
- Stress-resilient endospore-forming diazotrophs from red lateritic soils of India: functional profiling and first evidence of Priestia abyssalis and Bacillus gaemokensis as nitrogen-fixers with multifunctional PGPR traits J. Sarwar & S. Barua https://doi.org/10.1007/s11274-026-04787-3
- Nitrogen fixation by methanogenic Archaea, literature review and DNA database-based analysis; significance in face of climate change Z. Riyaz & S. Khan https://doi.org/10.1007/s00203-024-04191-1
Saved (final revised paper)
Latest update: 01 Jun 2026
Short summary
Soil is a renewable resource for purposes ranging from agriculture to mineralization. Soil microbiome plays vital roles in facilitating process like providing nutrients to plants, or their mobilization for plant uptake, consequently improving plant growth and productivity. Therefore, understanding of these microbial communities and their role in soil is crucial for exploring the possibility of using microbial community inoculants for improving desert soil fertility and agricultural potential.
Soil is a renewable resource for purposes ranging from agriculture to mineralization. Soil...
