Soil science visuals worth sharing.

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• Soil health11
• Biologicals8
• Carbon8
• Water3
• Plant nutrition7

Showing all 37 visuals

• Bacterial movement in the mycorrhizal hyphosphereBiologicals

  Bacteria can't swim far through soil on their own, so many of them travel along fungal threads. This illustration maps the ways bacteria move through the mycorrhizal hyphosphere, the zone around fungal hyphae. They follow chemical signals from roots and soil animals, form protective biofilms, attach to hyphal surfaces, glide, swarm, twitch and spread into new microsites. Water films on hyphae act as a fungal highway, moist hyphal tunnels work like a subway, and even dead hyphae become pathways. Adapted for educational use from Krug Vieira et al. (2025).

• The rhizophagy cycle explainedBiologicals

  The rhizophagy cycle shows how plants “farm” soil microbes for nutrients. Roots release exudates, such as sugars, amino acids and organic acids, that attract beneficial microbes into the rhizosphere. The microbes gather nitrogen, phosphorus, iron, zinc and magnesium from the soil, then enter the root near its tip. Inside root cells, the plant produces reactive oxygen species that partly break down microbial cell walls and release those nutrients. Surviving microbes leave through growing root hairs, recover in the soil and start the loop again. Created for the Rhizosphere Series with Todd Colter of MitoGrow.

• The microbial loopPlant nutrition

  The microbial loop is nature’s nitrogen recycling system. Bacteria take up inorganic nitrogen (ammonium) and build it into their own biomass, which locks it away from plants for a while. Protozoa and nematodes then graze on those bacteria. Because grazers need far less nitrogen relative to carbon than their prey contains, the surplus can’t be built into their bodies and is excreted as ammonium. Plant roots take up that released nitrogen, and the loop continues. It explains why an active soil food web keeps nitrogen moving to crops.

• The hidden world around mycorrhizaeBiologicals

  Mycorrhizal fungi build a whole ecosystem around plant roots. Inside root cells, arbuscules trade nutrients for the plant’s sugars and fatty acids across the peri-arbuscular membrane. Outside the root, extraradical hyphae stretch far into the soil, carrying carbon out and nutrients back. The hyphosphere around these hyphae hosts its own bacteria, fed by hyphal exudates, which release enzymes that turn organic nutrients into forms the fungus and plant can use. This illustration follows that carbon and nutrient flow from root cell to soil. Concept adapted from Faghihinia et al. (2023).

• Plant-microbe mechanisms of nitrogen cyclingPlant nutrition

  Plants and microbes work together to fix nitrogen and keep it in the soil. This illustration shows five mechanisms: endophytic bacteria fixing atmospheric nitrogen inside plant tissues, sugar-rich root mucilage fuelling nitrogen-fixing microbes, protective biofilms that boost biological nitrogen fixation, root exudates that slow nitrification and denitrification so less nitrogen is lost, and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi reshaping the hyphosphere to cut nitrous oxide emissions. Together they raise nitrogen use efficiency in crops. Concept inspired by Raglin and Kent (2025).

• What happens when soil biology becomes activeBiologicals

  What actually changes when soil biology becomes active? This illustration turns a BeCrop functional microbiome analysis into a single picture, comparing soil before and after a biological product was applied. It shows enhanced nutrient cycling pathways alongside measured increases in key microbial groups: 77% more siderophore-producing microbes, 60% more ACC-deaminase producers, 44% more microbes in the nitrogen release pathway, 15% more auxin producers and 14% more salt-tolerance promoting microbes. Created with MitoGrow Pro and BeCrop data.

• Hydraulic lift, day and nightWater

  Hydraulic lift is how deep roots rewet dry topsoil at night. During the day, transpiration pulls water from the soil up through the roots to the leaves. At night, transpiration drops, and roots passively move water from moist deep soil into the dry upper layers, driven by the difference in soil water potential. That released water keeps shallow fine roots and soil microbes active through dry spells, and shallow roots reuse it the next day. Created for the Rhizosphere Series with Todd Colter of MitoGrow.

• Trichoderma in actionBiologicals

  Trichoderma is one of agriculture’s most important beneficial fungi. This illustration shows how it attacks a plant pathogen: a Trichoderma hypha coils tightly around the pathogen’s hypha, then releases enzymes that degrade its cell wall. Beyond this direct parasitism, Trichoderma colonises roots, competes with pathogens for space and food, and helps suppress disease-causing organisms in soil. Understanding the mechanism helps growers use Trichoderma-based biocontrol more effectively.

• Where does fertilizer phosphorus go?Plant nutrition

  Where does fertilizer phosphorus go once it reaches the soil? Only part of it ends up in the crop. This illustration follows phosphorus from the bag through soluble P in soil water, which roots absorb, to its other fates. Much of it binds to soil particles (sorbed P) or precipitates as calcium, iron or aluminium phosphates that dissolve slowly. Manure and plant residues add organic phosphorus that microbes mineralise. Some is lost as runoff to surface water or by leaching to groundwater. It explains why phosphorus efficiency is often low.

• The hidden carbon story: forests vs grasslandsCarbon

  Forests and grasslands store carbon in very different places. In forests, roughly 75 to 80% of the carbon sits above ground in trunks, branches and leaves, with only about 20 to 25% in soils and roots. Grasslands are the opposite: only about 10% is above ground, and up to 90% is held below ground in roots and soil organic matter. That underground carbon feeds soil microbes, supports biodiversity and is less exposed to fire or felling, which is why protecting grasslands matters for climate. Based on root-to-shoot ratios (Mokany et al., 2006) and WRI data.

• Healthy soils for a healthy lifeSoil health

  Healthy soils underpin food, water, biodiversity and climate. This infographic gathers key facts from the FAO and others: 95% of our food is directly or indirectly produced on soils, over 1,000 species of invertebrates can live in one square metre of forest soil, and grazing occupies about 26% of the earth’s land surface. Soils store and purify water, help regulate greenhouse gases, and forming one centimetre of topsoil can take hundreds to thousands of years, which makes soil effectively non-renewable. Sustainable soil management could produce up to 58% more food.

• The soil hidden chain: what soil is made ofSoil health

  Soil is a dynamic mix of minerals, water, air and organic matter, and each part links to the next. Organic matter comes from decomposed leaves, roots and microorganisms; it feeds the soil with nutrients, improves structure and helps it hold moisture. That organic matter in turn supports soil organisms: bacteria and actinomycetes, fungi, earthworms, algae and microfauna that break down material, cycle nutrients and support plant roots. This chain explains why healthy soil breathes, holds water and sustains life below ground.

• What does healthy soil mean?Soil health

  What does healthy soil mean? Soil health is a balance of physical, chemical and biological properties working together. Physically, healthy soil has good aggregation, porosity and water-holding capacity, so roots can grow and water can move. Chemically, it supplies essential nutrients in available forms, keeps a balanced pH and avoids harmful substances. Biologically, it holds a living community of microbes, fungi and fauna that cycle nutrients, build organic matter and suppress disease. Improving one side without the others rarely gives lasting results.

• How plant-driven pathways regulate water holding capacityWater

  Plants change how much water their soil can hold. Using Miscanthus giganteus as the example, this illustration shows direct plant-driven pathways, wetting and drying cycles, rhizodeposits released by roots and root morphology, and indirect biological pathways through the microbial community, macro and mesofauna, and extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) that bind soil particles. Together they shape soil structure and water retention. Adapted from Nelson et al. (2025), DOI 10.1002/agg2.70181.

• Feeding the microbes: labile carbonCarbon

  Healthy soil needs more than added nutrients. Over 80% of nutrient cycling is driven by soil microbes, and those microbes rely on labile carbon, the easily available forms of carbon, for energy. This illustration shows that idea simply: feed the microbes with labile carbon and they keep nutrients moving to the plant. It is a reminder that soil fertility programmes work best when they feed soil biology, not just the crop. Created with SecondHand Carbon.

• Understanding the system behind oak declineSoil health

  Oak decline isn’t caused by a single problem. It’s a system-level failure in the root zone, where several stress factors interact and compound each other. This illustration breaks down six of them: soil compaction that limits root expansion, poor drainage and waterlogging, inactive soil biology, nutrient locking where nutrients are present but unavailable, environmental stress from heat, drought and urban conditions, and finally canopy decline. What we see in the canopy is the last symptom of what is happening below ground. Created for MitoGrow Pro.

• Why landscape installations fail in their first seasonSoil health

  Over 25% of new landscape plantings fail in their first season because roots can’t establish fast enough. This illustration shows the chain of events: fine roots are lost to damage at transplant, the weakened root system can’t take up enough water and nutrients, and stress soon exceeds what the roots can handle, so the plant begins to decline. Supporting root function and root-zone biology in that first season is the key to establishment. Created for MitoGrow Pro.

• Phosphorus? You have plentyPlant nutrition

  Most soils already contain plenty of phosphorus. The problem is reach: a root system on its own can only access the phosphorus in the small volume of soil around it. This illustration compares a root system alone with a root system plus a mycorrhizal hyphal network, which extends far beyond the roots and draws phosphorus from soil the roots would never occupy. The plant doesn’t always need more phosphorus; it needs more reach. Created for MitoGrow Pro.

• Fertiliser run-offWater

  Excess fertilizer doesn’t stay where it is applied. This illustration shows nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium leaching through the soil profile and running off into lakes and rivers. There, extra nutrients drive eutrophication: algal blooms that use up oxygen and harm aquatic life. Fertilizer runoff also contaminates drinking water, affects coastal areas and contributes to soil degradation, while some nitrogen escapes to the air. Matching fertilizer to crop needs and keeping nutrients in the root zone protects both farms and water.

• The soil food webBiologicals

  The soil food web is the way nature builds healthy soils. Organic matter from plant residues, animal waste and microbes feeds the primary consumers, fungi (mycorrhizal and saprophytic) and bacteria. These are eaten by secondary consumers such as protozoa, nematodes and arthropod shredders, which are in turn eaten by earthworms, predatory nematodes and predatory arthropods, and higher still by birds and animals. At every level, nutrients are released back into the soil where plant roots can take them up.

• Organic matter is not organic fertilizerCarbon

  Organic matter and organic fertilizer are not the same thing. Organic matter is the living and decomposing material in soil, full of microbes, fungi, roots and residues, and it builds soil structure, water holding and biology over time. An organic fertilizer is a product, often a bottle or bag labelled “organic”, that supplies nutrients but doesn’t automatically build organic matter. Soil listens to biology, not branding. Every 1% increase in soil organic matter can help soil hold up to about 20,000 more gallons of water per acre.

• The backbone of modern biologicalsBiologicals

  Three groups of microbes form the backbone of modern biologicals. Bacillus is versatile and resilient, known for phosphate solubilisation, biocontrol and biofilm formation, and widely used in biofertilizers, biopesticides and seed treatments. Trichoderma is the go-to for root protection, suppressing pathogens and promoting plant growth. Mycorrhizae are the original nutrient networkers, improving phosphorus uptake, water efficiency and crop resilience, and are essential in regenerative inputs. Used well, they help lower input costs while supporting yield and return on investment.

• How soil handles pollutantsSoil health

  Soil is a natural filter, and this illustration shows how it handles pollutants. Pollutants enter soil from natural and human-made sources. Plant roots absorb some of them into their tissues. Others attach to clay minerals or organic matter (sorption) or become locked into stable, less mobile forms (sequestration). Microbes break some pollutants down into less harmful compounds (biodegradation), while what remains mobile can run off or leach into deeper layers and groundwater. Healthy soil with organic matter and active microbes filters more effectively.

• Soils and N₂O: a human-made climate crisisCarbon

  Nitrous oxide (N₂O) is 265 to 298 times more potent than carbon dioxide at trapping heat, and it also damages the ozone layer. This illustration maps the main sources of human-induced N₂O, with agriculture the largest, alongside fossil fuels and industry, deforestation, biomass burning, wastewater and atmospheric nitrogen deposition to soil. Human activity releases about 7.3 million tons each year, and nitrogen fertilizers on croplands drive about 52% of it. Better nitrogen management is one of farming’s biggest climate opportunities.

• The carbon cycle in agricultureCarbon

  The carbon cycle in agriculture links the air, crops, livestock and soil. Plants capture carbon dioxide through photosynthesis and move carbon into the soil through roots, litter and plant residues, where it builds soil carbon. At the same time, soil respiration, burning, manuring, livestock and fertilizer use release carbon dioxide, methane and nitrogen gases back to the atmosphere. This illustration shows those flows side by side, so it is clear which practices add to soil carbon and which ones take it away.

• Soil acidificationSoil health

  Soil pH shapes what a soil can grow. This illustration explains soil acidification and its causes, both human-induced (excess nitrogen fertilizers, acid rain, industrial emissions, mining, legume monocropping and removal of biomass and bases) and natural (high rainfall, weathering, volcanic activity and organic matter decomposition). The outcomes include lower pH, metal toxicity and nutrient imbalance, aluminium toxicity, reduced microbial activity and nitrate leaching. A soil pH chart from 2 to 11 shows which soils and crops sit where, from acid sulfate soils to sodic soils.

• Soil erosionSoil health

  Every year, an estimated 75 billion tons of soil are lost to erosion worldwide, about 30 soccer fields of fertile land every minute. This illustration shows the two sides of the damage. On site, erosion reduces soil quality: soil organic carbon, clay and silt, topsoil depth, fertility and water availability decline, transforming the landscape. Off site, it harms soil, water and air quality through buried topsoils, water and pollutant runoff, eutrophication and greenhouse gas emissions. Both paths lead to a decline in ecosystem functions and services.

• Biochar's impact on soil healthCarbon

  Biochar can improve soil health in several ways at once. Its stable carbon structure, high porosity, large surface area and nutrient content let it absorb harmful substances such as lead, cadmium and copper, improve soil structure and support a more diverse bacterial community. Biochar application also tends to improve soil pH, cation exchange capacity and water-holding capacity. How much it helps depends on conditions such as nitrogen rate, biochar load and residence time. Based on research published in Science of the Total Environment (2023), DOI 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.164961.

• Healthy soil, healthy humansSoil health

  Healthy soil and healthy humans are linked by a chain. Soil properties such as porosity, organic carbon, pH, structure and biodiversity determine soil functions: sustainable agriculture, water management, nutrient cycling, biodiversity and climate change mitigation. Those functions provide ecosystem services, from storing carbon to supplying essential resources. And those services support human well-being through nutrient-rich food, cleaner food and water, stronger immunity, better mental health and food security. Damage one link and the effects reach all the way to people.

• How beneficial bacteria colonise the rhizosphereBiologicals

  Beneficial bacteria colonise the rhizosphere in three main steps. First, chemotaxis: bacteria sense root exudates and swim towards the root using chemoreceptors and signalling proteins. Second, root surface attachment using adhesins such as flagella and pili. Third, biofilm formation, held together by extracellular polymeric substances. Once established, they metabolise root nutrients, produce auxins and antimicrobial compounds, and exchange signals with the plant. The result is better plant growth, resistance to biotic stress and tolerance to abiotic stress.

• The power of EC and CECPlant nutrition

  Electrical conductivity (EC) and cation exchange capacity (CEC) are two of the most useful soil measurements. EC indicates salt levels: too high and plant growth suffers, too low and nutrients are lacking. CEC measures a soil’s ability to hold and supply nutrients such as calcium, magnesium and potassium; soils with high CEC work like nutrient banks. EC helps plants absorb water and nutrients, while CEC keeps those nutrients available over time. Understanding both supports better decisions on irrigation, fertilisation and crop selection. Created with Wind River Microbes.

• Roots shape soil's living architectureSoil health

  Roots shape the living architecture of soil, even after they die. This illustration shows how each root zone builds soil structure, from the root cap and elongation zone to the root hair and lateral root zones, through mechanical, hydro-physical, biochemical and biological processes. Root hairs, fungal hyphae, microorganisms and soil fauna bind particles into aggregates. When a root decays, it leaves a legacy: persistent soil organic carbon and biopores that guide new roots and improve water infiltration. Based on research in Soil Biology and Biochemistry, DOI 10.1016/j.soilbio.2024.109396.

• Black soil: a double-edged sword in the carbon cycleCarbon

  Black soils are among the most fertile soils on earth, with a high potential to store carbon, but they can work both ways. As a carbon sink, their high clay content, granular structure, iron and aluminium minerals and diverse microbes protect organic matter from decomposition. As a carbon source, intensive tillage, deforestation, overgrazing, excessive fertilizer use and monocropping break that protection down and release carbon dioxide, methane and nitrogen gases. How black soils are managed decides which side wins.

• Major and micronutrients: the forms plants take upPlant nutrition

  Plants can only absorb nutrients in specific chemical forms. This reference chart lists the six major nutrients, nitrogen (as ammonium or nitrate), phosphorus (as phosphate ions), potassium, calcium, magnesium and sulphur (as sulphate), with their typical content in plant tissue. It also lists the micronutrients iron, manganese, zinc, copper, boron (as boric acid), molybdenum (as molybdate) and chlorine, with their usual concentrations in parts per million. It is a quick guide for reading soil and tissue tests.

• Cadmium in fertilizersPlant nutrition

  Cadmium is a naturally occurring element in phosphate rock, and it reaches farms through phosphate fertilizers. This illustration follows the path: phosphorus extraction introduces cadmium, it is carried into fertilizer production and application, crops absorb it into their edible parts, and it accumulates further in animal-derived foods. In people, cadmium bioaccumulation is linked to effects on the thyroid, lungs, kidneys and bones and joints. It shows why fertilizer quality and soil monitoring matter for food safety.

• Good soil is the pre-condition to good plant protectionSoil health

  Plant protection starts below ground. Plants release part of the sugar they make through their roots to feed beneficial microbes, which in return bring mineral nutrients to the roots and, when they die, enrich the soil with carbon. When good microbes are scarce, pathogens take those sugars and attack the roots, and chemical treatments often harm the good microbes too. When soil is rich in beneficial microbes, they colonise roots, outcompete pathogens and make plants more resilient to stress. Illustrated by Jagdish Patel for Gujarat Eco magazine.

• Soil organic carbon lossCarbon

  Soil organic carbon (SOC) supports life in the soil, and losing it causes problems far beyond the field. This illustration shows the main causes of SOC loss: erosion by water and wind, deforestation and land-use change, aggressive tillage that breaks down soil aggregates, overgrazing that leaves the ground exposed, and monocropping that lowers soil organic matter and fertility. Each one releases carbon dioxide, speeds up organic matter breakdown and can wash dissolved organic carbon away. Reversing these practices is how soils rebuild carbon.