Soil microbiology

Soil microbiology is the study of the tiny living organisms—bacteria, fungi, and other microbes—that live in soil and play vital roles in keeping ecosystems healthy. These invisible creatures break down dead plants and animals, release nutrients that help living plants grow, and filter water as it passes through the ground. Without soil microbes, plants would struggle to survive, nutrients would get stuck in dead matter, and many natural processes we depend on would simply stop working.