Soil Biology and Soil Nutrients

Numerous articles about the importance of soil biology have been posted on this website. Click the links below to access the most pertinent ones.

Cropland Management Effects on Soil Microbial Necromass–blog

Promoting the Importance of Soil Microbes–blog

The Soil Microbiome: Its Importance and Need for Enhancement–blog

The Soil Microbiome–White Paper

Soil Microbes and Soil Biology–White Paper

Joy Youwakim of Decode 6 has composed an article titled “How Does Soil Biology Impact Nutrient Availability” that provides a concise summary of just how important the soil microbial population is in both affecting and effecting the availability of nutrients that are needed for plant growth and development. A summary of major points in that article follow.

•   Soil microbes influence nutrient cycling and availability of those nutrients for plant uptake.

•   Certain soil bacteria solubilize otherwise inaccessible minerals such as phosphurus [P], Iron [Fe], and Zinc.

•   Soil microbes can transform elements to a form that is useable by plants. An example is the activity of nitrogen-fixing bacteria.

•   Mycorrhizal fungi form symbiotic associations with plant roots that will significantly increase the surface area for nutrient and water absorption.

•   Soil microbial activity can affect soil pH which in turn can affect the availability of nutrients such as P and Fe.

•   An abundance of beneficial microbes in the soil rhizosphere will result in the greatest positive influence on a growing crop’s nutritional status and productivity.

In summary, soil biology is a significant driver of nutrient availability to a growing crop. Conservation agriculture practices that promote healthy soil biology will thus optimize nutrient availability to a crop, which in turn should optimize that crop’s yield and nutrient profile.

Composed by Larry G. Heatherly, Oct. 2024, larryh91746@gmail.com