Knowra Soil ecosystem Soil ecosystem A soil ecosystem is the community of organisms living in soil and the physical and chemical processes that shape their interactions. It links geological material, water, nutrients, and living organisms.
Decomposition : The breakdown of dead organic matter into simpler substances by physical, chemical, and biological processes. Fungi, bacteria, and soil animals release nutrients by decomposing litter and dead organisms.
Soil microbiology : The study of microorganisms and their activities in soil. Bacteria and archaea perform many of the ecosystem’s chemical transformations.
Soil health : The capacity of soil to function as a living system that sustains plants, animals, and people. Its indicators include biological activity, nutrient cycling, and the maintenance of soil structure.
Soil carbon : Carbon stored in soil as organic matter, living biomass, and inorganic compounds. Decomposition and plant inputs determine whether the ecosystem stores or releases carbon.
Soil degradation : A decline in soil condition or capacity to perform ecological and productive functions. Erosion, salinization, and contamination can simplify communities and impair ecosystem processes.
Soil food web : The network of feeding relationships among organisms living in soil. It shows how energy and nutrients pass among roots, microbes, and soil animals.
Soil fungi : Fungi that inhabit soil, including decomposers, pathogens, and root symbionts. Their hyphae connect resources, decompose resistant material, and bind soil particles.
Regenerative agriculture : A farming approach that seeks to improve soil and ecosystem conditions through land-management practices. Practices such as cover cropping can protect habitat and feed soil organisms.
Carbon sequestration : The capture and long-term storage of carbon dioxide or carbon in a reservoir. Soil ecosystems can store atmospheric carbon in organic forms, though storage is reversible.
Soil sealing : The covering of soil with impermeable materials, such as concrete or asphalt. Sealing cuts off many organisms from water, air, and organic inputs.
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