Soil microorganisms: role in soil health

Abstract

Microorganisms drive nutrient cycles in soil and without this key activity, many essential elements would not be available to plants. Conversely, without the input of carbon and energy, primarily from photosynthesis by green plants, soil would consist mainly of mineral particles produced by the weathering of rocks. Residues from plant, animal and microbial activity provide organic components, making soils fertile and binding together mineral particles into aggregates that, with the associated pore spaces, confer structure to the matrix that supports terrestrial life. In addition to providing a substrate for plants, soil also hosts a complex food web of microorganisms, micro- and mesofauna.