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terrestrial ecosystem. soil organism, any organism inhabiting the soil during part or all of its life. Soil organisms, which range in size from microscopic cells that digest decaying organic material to small mammals that live primarily on other soil organisms, play an important role in maintaining fertility, structure, drainage, and aeration ...
- Megafauna
Megafauna, in soil science, animals such as earthworms and...
- Macrofauna
macrofauna, in soil science, animals that are one centimetre...
- Rhizobium
Other articles where Rhizobium is discussed: bacteria:...
- Sulfur Cycle
Sulfur-containing proteins are degraded into their...
- Megafauna
- Bacteria
- Protozoa
- Fungi
- Algae
- Nematodes
- Annelids
- Mollusks
- Insects and Orthopods
- Amphibians
- Reptiles
These are organisms that are present everywhere, like in air, water, and land.However, the soil has more bacteria, and it is their natural habitat. As per an estimate, there is a ton of active bacteria in an acre of soil.Soil provides them with a required environment for growth, multiplication, and protection from the harsh climate.They break down soil pollutants and pesticides. Further, they enhance soil water retention capacity and are also involved in disease suppression.Other animals and plants benefit from the presence of bacteria in the soil. One can find the bacteria even in the deepest layers of the earth.These are microbesthat have cells similar to animal cells and are motile and lack a cell wall.Like bacteria, they are spread in the soil and mostly include ciliates and ameboids.Of the amoebas, naked ones dominate the soil. These protozoa feed on bacteria and fungi.They digest the bacteria and release more amount of nitrogen than the carbon consumed.Fungi are multi-cellular animals that are found largely in soils.They are microscopic and grow as long threads called hyphae.Like bacteria, they are also scavengers and help in the decomposition of waste.These are similar to fungi but are autotrophic in nature.These are parasitic animals that can be found in soil.They are long and slender and can live as parasites on other animals and plants.Nematodes are said to be the largest population of animals livingin the world.They are of different types like bacteria feeders, fungal feeders, root feeders, etc.Earthworms are the best examples of this class living in the soil.They make burrows in the soil and live in it.These burrows help the penetration of water deep into the soil and also enhance soil fertility.Earthworms decompose dead and decaying matter and release tons of casts per acre every year. Thus, they help in the recycling of nutrients in the soil and are farmer’s friends.These are animals with smooth bodies having calcium shells over them.They are found in large numbers in calcium-rich soils.A large number of insects, arthropods like spiders, centipedes, etc., live in the soil. Ants, beetles, and mites are also found in large numbers in the soil.
As the name indicates, they can reside in the water and also on the land and in burrows.However, frogs and toads live in the soil for a considerable period. They even undergo a hibernation period in the soil layers for quite a long.These include lizards and a few types of snakes.Soil morphology is also one of the foundations for soil taxonomy. In the past, soil morphology has relied mostly on human sensors to detect features like color, consistency, texture, horizons, roots, pores, etc. Developments in digital sensors, remote and proximal, now offer more sophisticated tools to describe soils.
Soil morphology is the branch of soil science dedicated to the technical description of soil, [1] particularly physical properties including texture, color, structure, and consistence. Morphological evaluations of soil are typically performed in the field on a soil profile containing multiple horizons. [2]
Soil morphology is defined as the branch of soil science that deals with the description, using standard terminology, of in situ spatial organization and physical properties of soil regardless of potential use. From: Encyclopedia of Soils in the Environment, 2005. About this page.
This level of information requires great specialist technical knowledge and a familiarity with the organisms. Many of the methods used are not transferable to other groups. For example the description of microbial species is mainly based on biochemical and physiological information rather than gross anatomy where as for arthropods, for example, the emphasis is placed on morphology and life ...
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Jul 29, 2015 · Several factors influence soil structure, including soil texture, soil moisture, organic matter content, compaction, the activity of soil organisms, and management practices. Soil structure is easiest to observe in dry soil. When characterizing soil structure, the shape, size, and grade of the structural units (peds) are defined.
