Arthropods - They Live In Your Soil
By John Yazo
Arthropods are classified as animals not insects. They have six or more jointed legs and segmented bodies. They range in size from microscopic to several inches long and are the largest animal group on earth.
Arthropods found on land, in trees, both in fresh or saltwater and underground. Some of the most common arthropods are ants,bee's, beetles, crabs, flies, scorpions, shrimp and spiders.
Arthropods are a major benefit to insect control and improving thesoil structure of soil. Applying a heavy layer of organic mulch to your plants give arthropods the food source they need to survive and work to your benefit.
The work that arthropods do is they ingest decaying organic material to eat the bacteria and fungi on it's surface. As they graze on the bacteria and fungi they stimulate the growth of other fungi and the decomposing process of organic matter both in garden soil and in composting.
Arthropods
distribute nutrients
through the soil by carrying bacteria on there exoskeleton and
digestive system, by mixing
microbes with there food arthropods enhance
the decomposition of organic matter.
As arthropods graze they turn nutrients in bacteria and fungi minerals. Then excrete the mineral nutrients in a form that plants can feed from. Every time organic matter passes through a arthropods digestive system it is thoroughly mixed with the soil in the form of fecal pellets. These fecal pellets are highly concentrated nutrient resource needed for the growth of bacteria and fungi.
Not all arthropods burrow through soil. The ones that do help to improve the structure of soil. by adding porosity, aerate the soil, increase water infiltration and the bulk density of the soil.
There are arthropods that can be damaging to plants. Having a good full time food source of organic matter will help prevent them from damaging plants. No-till gardens with plenty of organic mulch for arthropods to graze on is the ideal condition for them.
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