Soil Isn’t Dead Dirt; It’s a Living Ecosystem
The “soil food web” is a phrase coined by Elaine Ingham in the 1980s to describe all the layers of soil biology. She saw soil as a living ecosystem, not just a chemical and physical substrate. At the time, that was a big deal.
Fast forward to 2026, and we are aware of the value of earthworms, fungi, and bacteria. Many farmers, arborists, and turf professionals still have a hard time thinking of protozoa and nematodes as anything but pathogens.
According to nematology resources and ecological research, only a small fraction of soil organisms is pathogenic. Plant‑parasitic nematodes represent roughly 5–10% of total nematode species, while pathogenic protozoa are rare, well under 1%, with most protozoa functioning as beneficial bacterial grazers.
To learn more about this science see the citations at the bottom of this post.
That means when you apply a nematicide, you’re getting most of those 5 – 10% of pathogenic nematodes. You’re also wiping out the other 90 – 95% of the beneficial microorganisms your plants need to thrive. And when the good guys are gone, what returns? The pathogens. So you apply another round of nematacide. Do you see where this is going? Pretty soon, you simply have nothing living in your soil. Now you have dead dirt.
Your solution may be increased NPK. But you’ve disrupted microbial networks, your soil is degrading, and your organic matter is nonexistent. Is it time to consider the importance of that soil food web and act on what your observations of decreasing field fertility quality?
The opportunity lies in rebuilding soil biology through a stable carbon infrastructure. You may even have to “seed” some microorganisms in with the carbon and nutrients. Your plants don’t create food; microorganisms break down the nutrients in the soil and feed the plants.
Fast forward to 2026, and we are aware of the value of earthworms, fungi, and bacteria. Many farmers, arborists, and turf professionals still have a hard time thinking of protozoa and nematodes as anything but pathogens.
According to nematology resources and ecological research, only a small fraction of soil organisms is pathogenic. Plant‑parasitic nematodes represent roughly 5–10% of total nematode species, while pathogenic protozoa are rare, well under 1%, with most protozoa functioning as beneficial bacterial grazers.
To learn more about this science see the citations at the bottom of this post.
That means when you apply a nematicide, you’re getting most of those 5 – 10% of pathogenic nematodes. You’re also wiping out the other 90 – 95% of the beneficial microorganisms your plants need to thrive. And when the good guys are gone, what returns? The pathogens. So you apply another round of nematacide. Do you see where this is going? Pretty soon, you simply have nothing living in your soil. Now you have dead dirt.
Your solution may be increased NPK. But you’ve disrupted microbial networks, your soil is degrading, and your organic matter is nonexistent. Is it time to consider the importance of that soil food web and act on what your observations of decreasing field fertility quality?
The opportunity lies in rebuilding soil biology through a stable carbon infrastructure. You may even have to “seed” some microorganisms in with the carbon and nutrients. Your plants don’t create food; microorganisms break down the nutrients in the soil and feed the plants.
Why Soil Biology Drives Crop Performance
The physical particles of soil are loaded with nutrients. Around every particle of sand, silt, or clay is a fine film of water. In that film live the microbes that cycle nutrients to your crops for healthy growth and high yields.
Bacteria and fungi act as decomposers. They turn organic matter into molecules of nutrients in plant-available forms. In return, the plants give microbes a custom-blended food supply of carbon, sugars, amino acids, secondary metabolites, and organic acids. Plants feed certain microbes that give them exactly what they need at any growth phase. Plants don’t feed pathogens.
But if no beneficial microbes are in the soil, there is plenty of plant root real estate for pathogenic activities.
Bacteria and fungi act as decomposers. They turn organic matter into molecules of nutrients in plant-available forms. In return, the plants give microbes a custom-blended food supply of carbon, sugars, amino acids, secondary metabolites, and organic acids. Plants feed certain microbes that give them exactly what they need at any growth phase. Plants don’t feed pathogens.
But if no beneficial microbes are in the soil, there is plenty of plant root real estate for pathogenic activities.
Larger Microorganisms and Earthworms in the Soil Food Web
Protozoa and nematodes are microbial grazers. When protozoa eat bacteria, they release excess nitrogen as ammonium (NH4), which plants love. With plenty of soil biology you have naturally occurring nitrogen right where you need it, at the root zone of your plants. And it didn’t cost you anything.
The grazing by protozoa and nematodes releases nutrients in plant-available forms, stimulates microbial diversity, improves soil structure, and so much more.
Earthworms are soil architects. They create tunnels lined with worm poop. These tunnels make air and water infiltration easier. Plant roots use the nutrients in these tunnels as they grow into them. Organic matter on the soil surface is pulled down into the soil by earthworms. They shred it so it becomes small enough for bacteria and fungi to extract the nutrient molecules for themselves and their host plants.
Those leaves or crop stubble left over from last fall? That is worm food and eventually nutrients for your plants. Tilling it in gives a quick boost to soil biology and a quick boost of nitrogen, but in the long term, your fields will suffer from a nutrient deficit. And there will be too much nitrogen at the time when your plants are small and don’t need as much. Nitrogen is mobile, and you lose a lot of that goodness to leaching.
The grazing by protozoa and nematodes releases nutrients in plant-available forms, stimulates microbial diversity, improves soil structure, and so much more.
Earthworms are soil architects. They create tunnels lined with worm poop. These tunnels make air and water infiltration easier. Plant roots use the nutrients in these tunnels as they grow into them. Organic matter on the soil surface is pulled down into the soil by earthworms. They shred it so it becomes small enough for bacteria and fungi to extract the nutrient molecules for themselves and their host plants.
Those leaves or crop stubble left over from last fall? That is worm food and eventually nutrients for your plants. Tilling it in gives a quick boost to soil biology and a quick boost of nitrogen, but in the long term, your fields will suffer from a nutrient deficit. And there will be too much nitrogen at the time when your plants are small and don’t need as much. Nitrogen is mobile, and you lose a lot of that goodness to leaching.
How Biochar Interacts With Soil Biology
Biochar acts as a soil reef, home to microorganisms and a temporary repository for nutrients. The pore structure of biochar (learn about the structure of different biochars) offers protection for microbes from drying out in droughts and a hiding place from predators.
Most nutrient molecules in soil have either positive or negative charges. That charge determines what they’re attracted to; opposites attract. It so happens that biochar and microbes also have electrical charges.
Biochar has both positively and negatively charged sites. The negatively charged sites hold positive nutrients such as calcium, magnesium, ammonium, and manganese to create a measurable cation exchange capacity (CEC). The positively charged sites have a measurable anion exchange capacity (AEC) and attract nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphate, and boron. These are harder for soil to hold because most soil particles are also negatively charged.
Biochar, which acts as a habitat for microorganisms and attracts nutrients, is a strong connector. It puts nutrients and microorganisms close to each other to enhance nutrient cycling. Your plants gain resilience and have higher nutrient profiles because of this triad of biochar, microbes, and nutrients.
Most nutrient molecules in soil have either positive or negative charges. That charge determines what they’re attracted to; opposites attract. It so happens that biochar and microbes also have electrical charges.
Biochar has both positively and negatively charged sites. The negatively charged sites hold positive nutrients such as calcium, magnesium, ammonium, and manganese to create a measurable cation exchange capacity (CEC). The positively charged sites have a measurable anion exchange capacity (AEC) and attract nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphate, and boron. These are harder for soil to hold because most soil particles are also negatively charged.
Biochar, which acts as a habitat for microorganisms and attracts nutrients, is a strong connector. It puts nutrients and microorganisms close to each other to enhance nutrient cycling. Your plants gain resilience and have higher nutrient profiles because of this triad of biochar, microbes, and nutrients.
Biochar Enhances Water Dynamics in Your Fields
When you have good soil structure and roots in the ground, drought and floods don’t impact your overall plant resilience as much. One of the major benefits of biochar is increased water-holding capacity. Studies across multiple soil types have shown, that plant- available water and soil water retention are improved with the addition of a biochar soil amendment.
When you create the conditions for moisture stability, you also increase the populations of beneficial microbes. Microbes are essentially water creatures, living in the film of eater surrounding each particle of soil. With improved water infiltration, you increase mycorrhizal fungi populations that bring nutrients from distances plant roots are unable to access.
The research shows that the application of biochar blends increases microbial biomass by as much as 15%-40%. Enzyme activity improves, and the mycorrhizal response rate increases 20-70%. More nutrients are retained in the plant root zone across all soil types.
How to Use Biochar to Improve Soil Biology
First, no biochar should be applied as a sil amendment without pre-charging. Many organic materials can be used for charging, such as manure, worm castings, compost, liquid biologicals, and humates.
Pre-charging matters. Biochar alone has little to no nutritional value. It is a soil conditioner, improving soil structure, whether sandy or clay. It is also a home for beneficial microbes that speed up the nutrient cycle to give your plants’ roots the needed nutrients for strong growth.
Placement matters. You want the nutrients to be in the root zone, but not below it. Gravity will move the biochar through the soil. You want your plants to benefit from the nutrient cycling in the rhizosphere. Incorporating liquid or granular biochar blends in the top 6 inches of soil around the plant, banding, or spraying liquid biochar blends on the soil around your plants all work. When you pair biochar with compost teas, mycorrhizal inoculants, organic fertilizers, or humates, your plant’s appearance will show you how they’ve benefited.
Application rate varies depending on the type of biochar, the biological inputs it is charged with, and the pH and ash content. Biochar standards are established, and the IBI (International Biochar Initiative) with the US Biochar Initiative published those standards. Always ask a biochar supplier if they are IBI certified. It is the sign of a high-quality biochar.
The project goals also determine the rate of charged biochar application. We have published recommended rates for different industries.
Pre-charging matters. Biochar alone has little to no nutritional value. It is a soil conditioner, improving soil structure, whether sandy or clay. It is also a home for beneficial microbes that speed up the nutrient cycle to give your plants’ roots the needed nutrients for strong growth.
Placement matters. You want the nutrients to be in the root zone, but not below it. Gravity will move the biochar through the soil. You want your plants to benefit from the nutrient cycling in the rhizosphere. Incorporating liquid or granular biochar blends in the top 6 inches of soil around the plant, banding, or spraying liquid biochar blends on the soil around your plants all work. When you pair biochar with compost teas, mycorrhizal inoculants, organic fertilizers, or humates, your plant’s appearance will show you how they’ve benefited.
Application rate varies depending on the type of biochar, the biological inputs it is charged with, and the pH and ash content. Biochar standards are established, and the IBI (International Biochar Initiative) with the US Biochar Initiative published those standards. Always ask a biochar supplier if they are IBI certified. It is the sign of a high-quality biochar.
The project goals also determine the rate of charged biochar application. We have published recommended rates for different industries.
Biochar Blends are Soil Biological Infrastructure
Elaine Ingham helped popularize the idea that soil is a living system held together by relationships, not just chemistry and physics. Modern research has expanded that picture, showing that soil biology is the true foundation of soil health, driving nutrient cycling, structure, water dynamics, and plant resilience.
When the soil food web is intact, plants grow with less stress, fewer inputs, and greater efficiency. The biology is doing the work nature designed it to do.
Biochar strengthens this entire biological network by providing long‑lasting habitat, stabilizing nutrients, and improving the physical environment where microbes, fungi, and roots interact. Its benefits compound over time: better water retention, more efficient nutrient use, stronger microbial communities, and more resilient crops season after season.
Instead of a one‑year amendment, biochar becomes a permanent piece of soil infrastructure. It is a long‑term investment in soil function that reinforces the living systems Ingham first described, but with the durability and consistency growers need today.
When the soil food web is intact, plants grow with less stress, fewer inputs, and greater efficiency. The biology is doing the work nature designed it to do.
Biochar strengthens this entire biological network by providing long‑lasting habitat, stabilizing nutrients, and improving the physical environment where microbes, fungi, and roots interact. Its benefits compound over time: better water retention, more efficient nutrient use, stronger microbial communities, and more resilient crops season after season.
Instead of a one‑year amendment, biochar becomes a permanent piece of soil infrastructure. It is a long‑term investment in soil function that reinforces the living systems Ingham first described, but with the durability and consistency growers need today.
Citations for Your Refence
Yeates, G.W., Bongers, T., De Goede, R.G.M., Freckman, D.W., & Georgieva, S.S. (1993).
Feeding habits in soil nematode families and genera—an outline for soil ecologists.
Journal of Nematology, 25(3), 315–331.
➡ Establishes trophic groups and shows that plant‑parasitic nematodes are a minority relative to bacterial‑feeding, fungal‑feeding, predatory, and omnivorous groups.
Bongers, T. (1990).
The maturity index: an ecological measure of environmental disturbance based on nematode species composition.
Oecologia, 83, 14–19.
➡ Provides the ecological framework showing that most nematodes are free‑living, not parasitic.
Ferris, H. (2001).
Nematode faunal analysis: an integrative approach to soil food‑web structure.
Annual Review of Phytopathology, 39, 319–343.
➡ Confirms that plant‑parasitic nematodes represent a small fraction of total nematode biodiversity.
Feeding habits in soil nematode families and genera—an outline for soil ecologists.
Journal of Nematology, 25(3), 315–331.
➡ Establishes trophic groups and shows that plant‑parasitic nematodes are a minority relative to bacterial‑feeding, fungal‑feeding, predatory, and omnivorous groups.
Bongers, T. (1990).
The maturity index: an ecological measure of environmental disturbance based on nematode species composition.
Oecologia, 83, 14–19.
➡ Provides the ecological framework showing that most nematodes are free‑living, not parasitic.
Ferris, H. (2001).
Nematode faunal analysis: an integrative approach to soil food‑web structure.
Annual Review of Phytopathology, 39, 319–343.
➡ Confirms that plant‑parasitic nematodes represent a small fraction of total nematode biodiversity.
