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2. Soil Fundamentals
Some activities of nematodes in soil are:
•
Predation of pests such as cutworms
•
Consumption of fungi or bacteria
•
Grazing on plant roots
•
Parasitizing plant roots
•
Spreading diseases between plants
Some examples of microarthropods are
Springtails and mites.
Some activities of microarthropods in soil are:
•
Predation of pests such as cutworms
•
Consumption of fungi and bacteria
•
Grazing on plant roots
•
As microarthropods feed, they can free
up nutrients for plants to use
•
Parasitizing plant roots
•
Spreading diseases between plants
•
Chewing plant tissues into small pieces
and moving them around
Invertebrates
Glossary
Nematodes
microscopic, worm-like organisms that feed
on plants and other soil organisms.
Glossary
Microarthropods
small insects, many of which are important in
the decomposition process.