Soil Journal - Entry #3

Most people think that they know everything about what happens to a plant after it sprouts, and the processes that it goes through. However, the majority of people don't think about what is in the soil, helping the plant. While the roots expand and the plant grows, there are hidden workers in the soil, assisting plant growth.  

The plant needs to produce sugars, usually glucose, which is a simple sugar the plant can use to feed itself. They send 10% of their sugar down to the roots. Since they know that they can’t live with pure glucose and need specific minerals, they know they need to call underground workers; microorganisms.  

However, there is a problem. The plant can live through hard or anaerobic soil, but good microorganisms can’t. These microorganisms are the ones the plant needs, since they won't hurt the plant and will begin the food web chain reaction under the soil.  

Their food chain goes like this: Bacteria and Fungi (Main prey), the protozoa (the predator of bacteria, algae, and fungi), and nematodes (predator of all of the organisms here). These microorganisms will consume each other to release excess minerals they don't need, but that the plant will gladly take.  

These groups will be discussed about in a later entry, but for now, the plant is being fed and growing. But what about when the environment changes? Rain or snow, or hot and cold? And what if there are too little organisms to give enough nutrients to the plant? We’ll find out in the next entry. 

Arian F.

Student Soil Consultant

2/12/26