soil ecosystem
Dirt's living network
A soil ecosystem is the community of living organisms—bacteria, fungi, insects, worms, plant roots—together with the nonliving components like minerals, water, and air that exist within soil.
These elements interact in complex ways, cycling nutrients, decomposing organic matter, and supporting plant growth.
Healthy soil ecosystems are essential for agriculture and carbon storage.
Earthworms are keystone species in many soil ecosystems.
- earthwormsSoil-dwelling segmented invertebrates
- worm castingsEarthworm digestive output
- clayMoldable earth for ceramics
- loamFertile soil mixture
- humusDecayed organic soil matter
nematodes · root · root zone · mycorrhizae · bacteria · microbial life · water filtration · protozoa · arthropods · food web · fungi · decomposer · mineralization · carbon · carbon sequestration · nitrogen fixation · symbiosis · mulch
soil ecosystemdepleted soil
Land stripped of nutrients
toxic soil · dead zone · eroded soil · concrete · asphalt