Soil Science

Management effects on soil biota

What happens to the organisms that live in the soil when land is managed for agriculture, forestry and mining? The production of food, fibre, wood products and mineral ores sometimes involves profound disturbances to the habitat of soil organisms. We clear the land of trees for grazing or cropping, we selectively log trees in forests or clear fell forests, we physically disturb the soil through ploughing or digging, we replace native plants with exotic ones, large herbivores graze the land, we use agrochemicals for suppressing weeds, invertebrate and microbial pests of plants and the parasites of livestock. How do the activities listed below affect soil biota?

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