# Soil Microbes / Microbial Biomass < 5% soil mass

* The microbial biomass of soil is defined as the part of the organic matter in the soil that constitutes living microorganisms smaller than the 5-10 um3
* The microbial biomass decompose plant and animal residues and soil organic matter to release carbon dioxide and plant available nutrients.
* The microbial biomass can be a measure of soil health and farming practise changes

Soil microbes can be divided into 4 groups:

## Archae

A group of single celled micro-organisms that are similar to, but evolutionarily distinct from bacteria.

## Bacteria

* Tiny one-celled organisms A teaspoon of soil generally contains between 100 million -> 1 billion.
* Typically, bacteria thrive on more simple carbon sources – “green materials”, molasses, sugar, fruit juice, milk, fish emulsion.

## Fungi

* Microscopic plant-like cells that grow in long threadlike structures (hyphae) that make a mass called mycelium. 
* Four major groups of soil fungus: Zygomycota, Ascomycota, Basidiomycota, and Deuteromycota.
* Fungi require more complex carbons – cellulose, lignins, “brown materials” such as humates, woodchip, fish oils.

## Protozoa

A group of single-celled eukaryotes, either free-living or parasitic, that feed on organic matter such as other microorganisms or organic tissues and debris.

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**Documents**

- [What is soil?](https://eagronom.getoutline.com/s/96e3c8d3-79b7-4af0-89ec-a283ee06eb8b/doc/what-is-soil-gRuZM4zZR6)
- [Soil Microbes / Microbial Biomass < 5% soil mass](https://eagronom.getoutline.com/s/96e3c8d3-79b7-4af0-89ec-a283ee06eb8b/doc/soil-microbes-microbial-biomass-5-soil-mass-qg38xBHeSj)
- [Functions of the Microbial Biomass](https://eagronom.getoutline.com/s/96e3c8d3-79b7-4af0-89ec-a283ee06eb8b/doc/functions-of-the-microbial-biomass-TSEVOVTRuS)
- [What are SOM and SOC?](https://eagronom.getoutline.com/s/96e3c8d3-79b7-4af0-89ec-a283ee06eb8b/doc/what-are-som-and-soc-w0gOjdsBo2)
- [How to score your soil?](https://eagronom.getoutline.com/s/96e3c8d3-79b7-4af0-89ec-a283ee06eb8b/doc/how-to-score-your-soil-Oyv3RohGUy)
- [How to increase SOM?](https://eagronom.getoutline.com/s/96e3c8d3-79b7-4af0-89ec-a283ee06eb8b/doc/how-to-increase-som-YSKc4fav2d)
- [How to calculate from SOC % to t/ha?](https://eagronom.getoutline.com/s/96e3c8d3-79b7-4af0-89ec-a283ee06eb8b/doc/how-to-calculate-from-soc-to-tha-ccMWIj01CD)
- [How long will it take for the soil to be "full" of carbon?](https://eagronom.getoutline.com/s/96e3c8d3-79b7-4af0-89ec-a283ee06eb8b/doc/how-long-will-it-take-for-the-soil-to-be-full-of-carbon-IQ9NTVfbSY)
- [How to maintain the organic matter level in soil?](https://eagronom.getoutline.com/s/96e3c8d3-79b7-4af0-89ec-a283ee06eb8b/doc/how-to-maintain-the-organic-matter-level-in-soil-e4Tu2KRJUf)
- [Agronomical Benefits of increasing SOM](https://eagronom.getoutline.com/s/96e3c8d3-79b7-4af0-89ec-a283ee06eb8b/doc/agronomical-benefits-of-increasing-som-QZzWrYXd8d)
- [Choosing cover crops](https://eagronom.getoutline.com/s/96e3c8d3-79b7-4af0-89ec-a283ee06eb8b/doc/choosing-cover-crops-byZi137O0k)
- [Common cover crop species](https://eagronom.getoutline.com/s/96e3c8d3-79b7-4af0-89ec-a283ee06eb8b/doc/common-cover-crop-species-hjBpvpwnpF)
- [How to do cover crop mixes?](https://eagronom.getoutline.com/s/96e3c8d3-79b7-4af0-89ec-a283ee06eb8b/doc/how-to-do-cover-crop-mixes-3upeHsTZo1)
- [Establishment methods of cover crops](https://eagronom.getoutline.com/s/96e3c8d3-79b7-4af0-89ec-a283ee06eb8b/doc/establishment-methods-of-cover-crops-Ah2i9bkmxw)
- [Termination methods of cover crops](https://eagronom.getoutline.com/s/96e3c8d3-79b7-4af0-89ec-a283ee06eb8b/doc/termination-methods-of-cover-crops-JURSvNl1cr)
- [Residue management](https://eagronom.getoutline.com/s/96e3c8d3-79b7-4af0-89ec-a283ee06eb8b/doc/residue-management-rU53bPH69y)