Effects of moisture on soil flora and fauna

Soil moisture:
– influenced by soil texture and crumb structure/pore space
– occurs as a liquid, vapour or ice(solid)
– Most available as liquid
– all living organisms require moisture
– for hydration of enzymes during physiological reaction
– soil at field capacity most suitable for soil organisms
– water logging of soil expels air from soil
– detrimental to the growth of aerobic organisms
– few anaerobic organisms are adapted to water logged soil
– e.g sulphur bacteria and denitrifying bacteria
– complete absence of soil water is also detrimental
– does not permit physiological processes
– few organism survive by going in to suspended metabolism/aestivation