Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
of plants. Once infected, a symbiotic relationship ensues where the bacteria is fed from
exudates or chemicals that are released from the roots, and in return, the plant receives a
consumable form of nitrogen that is needed for growth.
All these organisms, from tiny bacteria up to the large earthworms and insects, interact
with one another in a multitude of ways within the soil ecosystem. Organisms not directly
involvedindecomposingplantwastesmayfeedoneachother,eachothers'wasteproducts,
or other released substances. Among the materials released by the various microbes are
vitamins, amino acids, sugars, antibiotics, gums and waxes. Bacteria and other soil
organisms perform important services related to water dynamics, nutrient cycling and
disease suppression.
Summary
In this chapter we covered the basics of soil science: what soils are made of, how they are
made, some characteristics of different types of soils and a brief overview of the types of
organismsthatliveinthesoil,whoassistwiththeformationofsoilstructureandbenefiting
plant growth.
In the next chapter we'll dive into the invisible world of electricity and the charges present
within the soil. The role of electrical charge, ions, chemicals and more will help with
building your understanding of electrochemical processes in soil, which is critical for
getting a solid understanding of the science behind electroculture.
