''Soil organisms are vital to the substantial fertility of the ecosystem'' Discuss this with reference to a) Breakdown of organic material b) Replenish the nutrient available pool.

The first 200 words of this essay...

''Soil organisms are vital to the substantial fertility of the ecosystem''

Discuss this with reference to

a) Breakdown of organic material

b) Replenish the nutrient available pool

Soil organisms are a key biological component in both the breakdown of organic material and the replenishment of the nutrient available pool. They are also vital to the sustainability of fertility of any ecosystem. Over 80% of organic matter fixed by the process of photosynthesis enters the soil. Due to soil biota, the nutrients within the organic matter are released, contributing to the nutrient available pool. Without the presence and activity of soil organisms, ecosystems will constitute of litter within a matter of years. Nutrients are also essential to the growth and fertility of plants. Nitrogen in the atmospheric state is inert, and has no role in the biological cycle. However, with the presence of certain bacteria's (e.g. nitrifying bacteria), nitrates are formed which is a fundamental aspect of life.

The breakdown of matter, which contributes to the substantial fertility of ecosystems, is a result of many kinds of terrestrial decomposers. A dead organism holds valuable nutrients, all of which remains intact without the activity