Protozoa are single-celled animals that feed primarily on bacteria, but also are known to eat other protozoa, organic debris, and fungi. They are several times larger than bacteria – ranging from 1/5000 to 1/50 of an inch in diameter. When they eat bacteria, protozoa release nitrogen that can be used by plants as well as…
What Exactly Do Soil Bacteria Do? Bacteria grow in many different microenvironments and enjoy specific niches in the soil. Bacteria populations expand rapidly and the bacteria are more competitive when easy to digest simple sugars are readily available around in the rhizosphere (“living” area of soil). Roots, dead plant debris, and simple sugars are abundant…
Introduction Fungi are an important part of your microbiome ecology. The majority of fungi decompose the lignin and the hard-to-digest soil organic matter, but some fungi consume simple sugars. Fungi dominate in low pH or slightly acidic soils where soils tend to be undisturbed (Lavelle & Spain, 2005). Fungi break down the organic residues so…
Basics Nematodes are the most abundant multicellular animals on earth, present in just about every underground habitat. They are small, non-segmented worm-like animals about less than 5 mm long. Most nematode species have a beneficial role in the soil, but a few are pests that feed on plant roots, damage roots directly or make them…