Soil Biology Primer

Did you know that healthy soil is alive & brimming with biological activity? Do you know what you call soil that has no life in it? Dirt!

The soil food web is the community of organisms living all or part of their lives in the soil. A food web diagram shows a series of conversions (represented by arrows) of energy and nutrients as one organism eats another (see food web diagram below).

An incredible diversity of organisms make up the soil food web. They range in size from the tiniest one-celled bacteria, algae, fungi, and protozoa, to the more complex nematodes and micro-arthropods, to the visible earthworms, insects, small vertebrates, and plants.

As these organisms eat, grow, and move through the soil, they make it possible to have clean water, clean air, healthy plants, and moderated water flow.

Soil Biology Primer [online]. Available: soils.usda.gov/sqi/concepts/soil_biology/biology.html

Learn more by reading the whole primer:

Soil Biology Primer

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