What Is the Soil Food Web?
The Soil Food Web is the network of organisms that drive energy transfer, nutrient cycling, and soil health. Simply put, it is the relationships between visible organisms—plants, insects, worms, birds, and mammals—and microscopic life forms like bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and nematodes. These interactions create a thriving, self-sustaining ecosystem that supports plant growth and resilience.
How Does The Soil Food Web Work?
Plants are the conductors of the Soil Food Web Symphony. In the first movement, plants release foods to attract bacteria and fungi to their root zone. These microbes begin ‘mining’ the organic matter and minerals of the soil, releasing the nutrients stored within - this is known as nutrient mobilization. Bacteria and fungi then absorb these nutrients, storing them in an organic form that is protected from the effects of leaching. Meanwhile, their activity begins to improve soil structure by forming aggregates of sand, silt, clay and organic matter. Bacteria produce glues that bind small particles together into tiny clusters called ‘micro-aggregates’. The web-like structure of the fungal hyphae connects these micro-aggregates, creating larger ‘macro-aggregates’. This aggregation enhances soil porosity, allowing air and water to move freely through the soil and promotes deeper root growth for plants.
The second movement in this soil symphony introduces our next cast of characters. Bringing with them an ominous tone reminiscent of the movie Jaws, they are the vital but commonly missing key to unlocking the nutrients now tied up in the bacteria and fungi. The Predators, as we will call them, are the protozoa and nematodes. They are attracted to the root zone of the plants by their desire to partake of the microbial smorgasbord placed before them. They enter the scene and begin consuming the bacteria, fungi and even each other at times. As the bacteria and fungi are so rich in the nutrients released from the soil and stored in their bodies, these predators must expel the excess nutrition or face the consequences of a major tummy ache.
Enter the third movement. As the tones shift from the dark and macabre, an uplifting mood is experienced as the brilliance of this interconnection is fully understood and integrated: It just so happens that the waste products (poop) expelled by the predators in order to avoid intense digestive discomfort are nutrients released in a plant-available form. Not only that, but these plant-available nutrients just so happen to be deposited directly in the root zone of the plants…(And here begins the rollicking finale of the fourth movement)...the very same plants that are orchestrating this entire performance! This is nutrient cycling. When all the major players of the Soil Food Web - plants, bacteria, fungi, protozoa and nematodes - are present, your plants receive the nutrition they require to be healthy and resilient.