Role of soil biology in life: achievements and challenges

Abstract

Soil plays a vital role in sustaining life on the Earth. It is a non-renewable dynamic natural resource that is essential to life. Soil is a critical component of nearly every ecosystem provides a home for organisms. Soil biota plays an integral role in soil ecosystems by decomposing leaves, downed logs, and animals, and providing the primary nutrient source for vegetation. Soil biota includes both flora (plants) and fauna (animals). Soil flora includes organisms as small as diatoms and algae up to the size of tree roots. An important member of soil flora is mycorrhizae, fungi that form a symbiotic (mutually beneficial) relationship with plant roots. Most plants contain roots infected with mycorrhizal fungi. Mycorrhizae enhance water and nutrient absorption by increasing root surface area and accelerate mineral weathering which releases nutrients to the soil Water movement; water quality, land use, and vegetation productivity all have relationships with soil. Nearly all of the food that humans consume, except for what is harvested from marine environments, is grown in the Earth's soils. Other obvious functions that soils provide humans include fiber for paper and clothing, fuel-wood production, and foundations for roads and buildings. Less obvious functions that soils serve are providing a medium to attenuate pollutants and excess water, groundwater recharge, nutrient cycling, and habitat for microorganisms and biota. Soils have many secondary uses such as ingredients in confectionaries, insecticides, inks, paints, makeup, and medicines; uses of clays range from drilling muds, pottery, and artwork, to providing glossy finishes on various paper products. This study introduces many important soil concepts including development, classification, properties (physical, chemical, and biological), quality, and conservation. A general understanding of soil concepts and these interwoven relationships is essential to making sound land management decisions. Soil acts as the basis of the ecosystem foundation, as soil productivity determines what an ecosystem will look like in terms of the plant and animal life it can support. For example, in forest ecosystems, soils can determine species composition, timber productivity, and wildlife habitat, richness, and diversity. The role soil plays in forests is critical to maintaining water quality and long-term site productivity. In cultivated fields, soil quality plays a significant role in crop productivity since soil nutrients and soil physical properties can directly impact yields Collectively, soil biota carries out enzymatic and physical processes that decompose organic matter, build soil humus, and make nutrients available for plants. Decomposition is one of the most critical roles that soil biota play in an ecosystem. Without efficient decomposition, organic material would accumulate on the soil surface and nutrients would be bound within the material. Decomposition is initiated immediately when a leaf, twig, or fruit hits the ground. Once on the ground surface, biota begins to physically break down the material, creating more surface area to which flora can adhere.