It also includes the roots that grow in the soil and interact with other species above and below ground. In both natural and agricultural ecosystems, the different groups of soil biota are responsible for, or strongly influence soil properties and processes, including soil pedogenesis, nutrient and water cycles, plant protection and growth, etc.
Agricultural practices have significant positive and negative impacts on soil biota.
Therefore, an integrated approach to agriculture should enhance the biological efficiency of soil processes, in order to maintain soil fertility, productivity and crop protection. This may be useful in modern commercial agriculture, and it is of major importance in marginal lands to avoid degradation, in degraded lands in need of reclamation and in regions where high external input agriculture is not feasible.