Soil fauna in humus
Soil fauna plays an essential role in the humus cycle. The living part of the soil, which contains soil animals such as beetles, insect larvae and springtails, and soil microbes such as fungi, bacteria and algae mainly break down soil organic matter (SOM), which is essential for the formation of stable humus in the soil.
Soil animals are essential for humus formation
Soil animals are mainly involved in the decomposition process of SOM, which contributes to humus formation. Soil animals such as beetles, insect larvae and springtails break down the dead organic matter in the soil. Earthworms bring the decomposed dead organic matter into the soil pores, where it is in turn decomposed by fungi and bacteria and eaten by earthworms. In this way, the excretions of one organism are eaten by other organisms and the cycle continues. In the meantime, the organic matter is broken down into smaller pieces until soil humus is finally formed.
Three groups of soil microbes
Soil microbes that initiate and accelerate the decomposition of soil organic matter (SOM) for humus formation are split up into three groups.Group 1 is a group of decomposer microbes that are largely insensitive to environmental conditions. This group of microbes can affect the decomposition of organic matter in both aerobic and anaerobic situations. In general, it is better that the process of humus build-up begins with the presence of oxygen, but short-term anaerobic periods in the middle of the process of humus establishment can be beneficial.
Group 2 is greatly sensitive to environmental conditions. The activity of these microbes leads to the establishment of nutritious humus, which produces combinations containing relatively simple organic compounds that can easily get decomposed and has the capacity to directly make the nutrients available in the soil to be suitably absorbed by plant root. To achieve this, there is the necessity that homogeneous humidity conditions, oxygen, and suitable habitat be provided in the soil.
Group 3 are microbes that can break down the nutrient-rich humus created by the activity of the microbes in group 2 and convert the humus compound into a compound that can be more easily absorbed by the plants. These microbes live in the hairy roots of plants and react to root secretions, among other things. This group of microbes obtains its energy from the plants' carbohydrate compounds and, in contrast, supplies the plants with the necessary nutrients through nutritious humus.