Soil flora

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Soil flora and Soil fauna are terms used to describe the organisms that live within soils. The flora is composed primarily of microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi (though some fungi are visible to the unaided eye). The fauna is composed of insects and other arthropods, worms, cephalopods, and so on, though the definition is sometimes broadened to include some higher animals (such as moles).

The soil flora and fauna play important roles in agriculture and horticulture, performing such roles as decomposing organic materials, moving nutrients through soil layers, fixing atmospheric nitrogen, and improving soil structure.

Some parts of the soil flora and fauna are plant pathogens, while others are antagonists.