The degree of dependency of soil ecosystem services on the soil microbiota activity

To reveal the degree of dependency of soil ecosystem services on soil biota activity, the detailed investigations at macroscopic -microscopic level had been used. At macroscopic level, the physical data showed a low to medium bulk density and consequently a high to medium porosity. The poral space quantified by the image analysis at microscopic level showed the dominance of the pores in the size classes of 100-300 mu m (equivalent pore diameter), the elongated pores being dominant. Among them the fine fissures delimitating the biological pedofeatures by the surrounding matrix were also included and represent the path for water and air circulation, creating thus hospitable conditions for the microorganisms developed on the biogenic pedofeatures surfaces. The micromorphological investigation showed textural differences in the macrofauna coprolites: many areas with skeleton grains concentrations depleted of plasmic material. But their further ingestion by the soil mezofauna resulted in the re-mixing of soil constituents, mezofauna proving to have an active role in the textural soil matrix restoration. Soil biota covered all the web food needs for the "factory fertility": the main soil ecosystem service.