Soil Microbiology

Adomako, M. O. et al. "Potential Roles of Soil Microorganisms in Regulating the Effect of Soil Nutrient Heterogeneity on Plant Performance." https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9786772/, December 2022. 

This source explains in depth the effects of microorganisms on nutrients and a great summary of the many facets of microorganisms and nutrient importance in soil. This study has a large amount of scientific data which supports multiple hypotheses. Since ESSRE is involved in experiments with bacteria, yeast, mold, protozoa, and other microorganisms, this article would be useful if an intern would like to study the data of our microorganisms and the effects on soil nutrient content. This study and journal provide great facts which are scientifically supported, which gives them a 9+.

Basu, S. et al. "Role of soil microbes in biogeochemical cycle for enhancing soil fertility." https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780444643254000134, 2021. 

This article discusses the importance of soil microbes in their solid ability to support plant life. Soil microbes control biogeochemical cycling for soil mineral nutrients essential to plant growth. Soil microbes also use carbon to carry out the recycling and decompose organic matter in the soil. Overall, this site gets at 7 out of 10, because it is only the abstract of a larger article, but explains the role of soil microbes in a concise way. The article was written by 4 credible authors, highlighted keywords, and was written this year.

Bell, T. "Understanding and Managing Soil Microbes." https://extension.psu.edu/understanding-and-managing-soil-microbes, April 2021. 

This source summarizes two articles to help people without a background in soil microbiology learn about their function. The authors at Penn state updated it one year ago. This article is for people in organic agriculture rather than ecology/environmental science but it covers the fundamentals of soil microorganisms. Microbes are usually concentrated near sources of soil organic matter and the highest biodiversity of microbes is the highest near plant roots (the rhizosphere) and other places with organic matter. Although they can compete for nutrients with plants – they’re mostly a positive force as they perform nitrogen fixation (i.e. bringing nitrogen from the air into the soil) and suppress pests or pathogens. Microbes perform nutrient cycling, break down crop residues, and stimulate plant growth. The authors are cited, as well as their positions (graduate students and educators) all at Penn State - which means it’s possible to find their contact information. This adds to the credibility of this source. The article was last updated in 2021 and currently has one visual that shows the scale of a microbe’s relationship with a plant root. Because of the following reasons – this source scores a +9

Bruslind, L. "Introduction to Microbiology." https://open.oregonstate.education/generalmicrobiology/chapter/introduction-to-microbiology/, 2019. 

This source was created for the website of Oregon State University under General Microbiology. It’s part of a textbook written by Dr. Linda Bruslind - a professor in the department of microbiology at Oregon state university. It’s possible to find her contact information after a quick google search. The article describes the two categories microbes can fall into (agents/acellular microbes or cellular microbes/organisms.) Acellular microbes include viruses and infectious agents while cellular microbes are like algae and protozoa. She proposes a new definition for microbes — that microbes are organisms that are not highly differentiated (there is no set division of labor) rather than their size as some microbes are observable without a microscope. It describes the history of microbe’s discovery and goes in-depth about their size, and their classification. It then has a separate paragraph for each domain classification (bacteria, archaea, and eukarya) and also viruses (as they’re more parasites between cells.) It then explains taxonomic ranks (how organisms are classified and organized) and explains why this is necessary. It provides some study questions and keywords at the end of this article. Although there is a startling lack of visuals, there is a link to an interactive diagram that compares the size of things( like coffee beans to different microbes) – which helps the reader visualize the scale of microbes. This is the first article in a series of 22 different articles about microbes. Other chapters have much more visuals. Through the versioning tab, there is a log of every revision with the date, location in the text, and reason. The content is easy to understand and is appropriate for a high school level. The article does not have any typography mistakes or formatting issues. For the reasons above this source scores a +8.77.

Chatterjee, A. et al. “Chapter 10 - Role of Algae as a Biofertilizer.” https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/B9780444637840000102, 2017.

This chapter provides an overview of the role of algae as biofertilizers in sustainable agriculture, highlighting their beneficial effects on paddy fields, soil aggregation, nutrient restoration, and crop growth. The length of the linked excerpt is appropriate, providing a concise overview of the chapter's content; it would be useful for individuals interested in understanding the role of algae as biofertilizers and their potential contributions to sustainable agriculture, specifically in terms of soil health and crop productivity. Overall, this site gets a 7.55- on a scale of 1-10.

Grubinger, V. "Soil Microbiology: A Primer." https://www.uvm.edu/vtvegandberry/factsheets/SoilMicrobes.html, November 2004. 

This source gives a specific overview of the microbes found in soil, while also giving specific examples of species and their role in maintaining the soil's properties. For example, soil microbes make gummy substances called mucilages which help hold soil particles together. When fungi create long strings of cells called hyphae, they surround soil particles and hold them together, stabilizing the soil’s structure. This article scored an 8.6+. Being published by a professor at the University of Vermont, the reliability and author’s credentials were great. It also had a good length and depth. However, the source is 20 years old and lacks citations, bringing its score down.

Haack, S. “Bacteria and Their Effects on Ground-Water Quality.” https://mi.water.usgs.gov/h2oqual/GWBactHOWeb.html, January 2017. 

This article delves into microbes and their effect on water and soil. It is a good article for the subcategory of microorganisms in soil. This would be a great article for an ESSRE intern who wants to observe the relationship between microorganism rich soil and water content. This article provides concise detailed information about bacteria and their effect on soil and water sources, although it lacks pictures, therefore it receives a 8.7+.

Hoorman, J. J. “Role of Soil Bacteria.” https://ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/anr-36, 2016. 

This article describes the characteristics, classifications, groups, and benefits of bacteria. The functions of bacteria, such as decomposers, mutualists, pathogens, and lithotrophs, are described. The article explains the connection between bacteria and the nitrogen cycle and how nitrogen fixing bacteria is capable of processing atmospheric nitrogen into a form usable by plants. It is written by an assistant professor at Ohio State University and the information. There is detailed information and an extensive reference list. Some of the article is a little complicated which makes it slightly less useful and there are minimal visuals, but it is otherwise easy to navigate. Overall, this site scores a 7.6 on a scale of 1-10.

Hoorman, J. J. et al. “Understanding Soil Microbes and Nutrient Recycling.” https://ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/SAG-16, September 2010. 

This article breaks down the estimated population of each microorganism and the biomass they take up and then goes into detail about organic soil decomposition and how microorganisms need a consistent source of active organic soil matter in order to live. In order to help keep the richness of soil organic matter non-tilling of the soil is necessary. As microorganisms can play an important role in the nitrate fixation process, when the soil is tilled or unhealthy this will cause a smaller release of nitrogen. Microbial populations and their ability to decompose also depend on temperature, moisture, pH, soil depth and the Carbon to Nitrogen ratio. In summary, this article received a +8.667. It was very reliable and it provided helpful visuals, and a bibliography so it received a 10 in these categories. It received the lowest ratings in the currency (2010) and since it was hard to comprehend as an introduction to microbes.

Jacoby, R. et al. “The Role of Soil Microorganisms in Plant Mineral Nutrition - Current Knowledge and Future Directions.” https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2017.01617/full, September 2017. 

This article talks about plants and root related bacteria. Plant growth around microbial habits are related to 3 main reasons. One specifically, is where microbes increase the availability of inorganic nutrients. Since fertilizer is contributing to environmental changes, safer ways to fertilize through lowering the amount of mineral fertilizer placed is being tested. Studies are also showing that specific plant genes choose what bacteria taxa is around them. Understanding of plant genes and microbe interactions for nutrition will further help more sustainable inorganic nutrition to grow plants. This article received a rating of -8.444. It earned the highest ratings for its bibliography, author credentials and for its good visuals for understanding. The article fell off at its long length and for its lack of easy navigation.

Kaminsky, L. et al. “Soil Microbes in Organic Cropping Systems 101.” https://eorganic.org/node/34601, April 2021. 

This text introduces soil microbes in organic cropping systems, explaining what microbes are and where they are located in farm soils. It discusses the functions of soil microbes, including their roles in nutrient cycling, disease suppression, plant growth promotion, and soil health maintenance. The text also highlights the importance of beneficial microbes such as nitrogen-fixing bacteria, mycorrhizal fungi, and biocontrol organisms, as well as the negative impact of harmful pathogens and nutrient-depleting microbes. Additionally, it emphasizes the general functions supported by microbes, such as organic matter decomposition and soil aggregation. While this resource is a bit lengthy, it is well-written and can be useful for individuals interested in gaining an in-depth understanding of soil microbes in organic cropping systems and their significance in agricultural practices. There are also several visual aids as well as headings to help give this resource structure. Overall, this site gets an 8.22+ on a scale of 1-10.

Kumar, A. & Verma, J. P. “The Role of Microbes to Improve Crop Productivity and Soil Health.” https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-981-13-0149-0_14, August 2018. 

This text provides an overview of the importance of soil microbes in enhancing soil fertility and health, particularly concerning plant growth promotion and disease control. It emphasizes the role of plant growth-promoting microbes and arbuscular mycorrhizae in improving plant growth and yields under normal and stress conditions through various mechanisms such as the production of plant growth regulators and conversion of atmospheric nitrogen. The text also highlights the microbial diversity in rhizospheric soil and its contribution to soil health and productivity. This website can be a good resource for someone interested in learning about the role of soil microbes in soil microbiology, specifically in enhancing agricultural production and maintaining soil health captured concisely. Overall, this site gets a 7.77+ on a scale of 1-10.

Landscape Boards South Australia. "What is soil microbiology?" https://www.landscape.sa.gov.au/mr/land-and-farming/support-for-land-managers/soil-extension-officer/what-is-soil-microbiolgy, 2025. 

This resource introduces the reader to the basic ideas of soil microbiology. It starts by defining soil microbiology and a number of microorganisms found in soil such as bacteria, fungi, nematodes, etc. Next, the article discusses what microbes do in the soil and provides several specific examples. The article then covers the microbial life cycle and the bacteria and fungi ratio and how that affects plant growth. It also discusses how one can test their soil at home. This article explains all the information very well, making this a good reading level for ESSRE. It also covers the basics of a number of microorganisms tested for in ESSRE. The article features very helpful images with specific captions, a chart for the bacteria-fungi ratio, and several links to related articles. The article does not list a specific author but is instead associated with an organization. Overall, this source gets a -7.33 out of 10.

Lang, A. K. et al. “Forest structural diversity is linked to soil microbial diversity.” https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.4702, November 2023. 

This source was compiled by a team of 11 reputable researchers from various science departments at colleges and universities. This article was published in the research journal “Ecosphere” during November 2023. The article discusses a study that explores the correlation between aboveground and belowground diversity of plants and microorganisms. This connection may be important when drawing conclusions based on the plants and organisms identified in our group data. The experiment utilized soil properties to predict plant diversity and conducted a series of tests to identify microbial groups. The website is slightly difficult to navigate; there are side menus for accessing figures and references, but there are no shortcuts or tabs within the article. The article is well categorized with graphs and diagrams, and there are no typographical errors. While lengthy, the content is understandable due to the thorough research presented. Overall, this article receives a rating of 9.33+.

Laurent, P. et al. “The Interplay Between Microbial Communities and Soil properties.” https://doi.org/10.1038/s41579-023-00980-5, October 2023. 

This article was authored by a team of five reputable researchers from various research institutes and universities. It is published in a section of the journal “Nature Reviews Microbiology.” The article was published in October 2023. The article discusses a research study that focuses on soil microorganisms and their impact on soil properties. The article covers several concepts mentioned during our experiments, such as fungi, bacteria, PH, as well as mentions of various chemical compounds like ammonia, potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, and more. The experiment delves into how microorganisms can influence soil composition and minerals. Although locating the PDF copy of the article was difficult, the article itself is well organized and easy to follow, with labeled graphs and diagrams used as visual cues. The content is accurate with no typographical errors. Overall, this article receives a rating of 9+.

Lee, S. & Ryu, C. “Algae as New Kids in the Beneficial Plant Microbiome.” https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2021.599742, February 2021. 

Authors Sang-Moo Lee and Choong-Min Ryu, researchers from the Infectious Disease Research in Center, KRIBB, Daejeon, South Korea wrote this article about algae’s role in soil. This study shows that algae is beneficial to plant growth and protects plants by changing their cell walls. Algae changes plant cell walls by using compounds; in turn, it protects the plants against environmental stressors. When algae is implanted into a plant, there is evidence that it secretes growth hormones for the plant, increasing its growth and yield. This article was written in 2021 and is from NIH’s National Library of Medicine so it is reputable. The rating of this article is a 9.8.

Maron, P. et al. “High Microbial Diversity Promotes Soil Ecosystem Functioning.” https://aem.asm.org/content/84/9/e02738-17, April 2018. 

This website researches the importance of functional redundancy related to increased carbon. The decrease in microbe diversity directly negatively affects the decomposition of plant residue and reduces carbon. The article shows C cycling is very harmful towards the microbe diversity in soil ecosystems. Microbes are crucial for life in the soil and the diversity decomposes organic matter quicker. This article has appropriate visuals and is very specific towards the topic of microbes and soil relationship. Overall this article earns a 9.3+.

Naasko, K. I. et al. "Influence of soil depth, irrigation, and plant genotype on the soil microbiome, metaphenome, and carbon chemistry" https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/mbio.01758-23, September 2023. 

This article was written by 11 reputable researchers from all over the US, making it a very trustworthy source. This article summarizes a study conducted to observe how soil moisture and perennial plants affect biotic and abiotic soil properties in unfertilized calcareous soil. The study revealed several specific compounds that reflect changes in inorganic, organic, and oxidizable soil carbon. The study demonstrates the connection between soil depth and plants and the microbes living in the soil, which could help ESSRE students when they are looking at those factors in their sites. The article is well-written, well-researched, and well-organized. However, the article is a little more complicated than most and would require careful reading, but it is not too far above the level for ESSRE provided one does some additional research. Overall, the article gets an 8- on a scale of 1-10.

Papatheodorou E. M, Interventions Change Soil Functions and the Mechanisms Controlling the Structure of Soil Microbial Communities, https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms11061502, June 5, 2023.

Author Effimia M Papatheodorou from the Ecology Department of the School of Biology in Greece studied the relationship between soil microbes and their ability to maintain their ecosystems. Climate change is becoming an increasingly large problem affecting biodiversity all around the world. Papatheodorou acknowledges this and addresses how climate change plays an increasing role in the study of microbial communities.This source is useful for people looking to learn about the role of soil microbes and the soil’s chemical composition. It is also helpful for people studying how the functionality of soil microbes and ecosystems is affected by climate change. It also explains the limitations of scientific data in agriculture despite technological advancements such as next-generation sequencing. While the vocabulary used in the article was a little difficult to digest and has limited visuals to help with this, it is very specific which is helpful for scientific and educational purposes. This article received an 8.0+ because of its concision and numerous references.

Pelczar, M. J. & Pelczar, R. M. "Microbiology." https://school.eb.com/levels/high/article/microbiology/110586, 2024. 

This article gives a thorough explanation of the field of microbiology. Microbiology involves the study of the structures, functions, and classifications of microorganisms, microbes, and simple life forms and how they interact with other organisms and their environment. The article identifies and explains the types of microorganisms, and the major concepts having to do with these microorganisms are also explained such as the nitrogen cycle and pathogenesis. The nitrogen cycle shows the relationship between soil microbes and the environment in soil biology. The environment of this soil such as whether natural bodies of water are present affects the soil microbes present; plankton refers to aquatic photosynthetic microbes like algae. Overall this site gets an 8 out of 10, because it is from a credible encyclopedia, uses helpful visuals, integrated links, and was written this year.

Raab, M., et al, Two decades long-term field trial data on fertilization, tillage, and crop rotation focusing on soil microbes, https://www.nature.com/articles/s41597-025-05314-z#citeas, June 12, 2025.

A group of 13 researchers from various universities studying various fields such as agriculture, crop science, soil science, and applied sciences, researched long-term data from trials on the effects of soil microbes on fertilization, tillage, and crop rotation. This article discusses the conventional and modern monitoring methods that allow for the creation of through datasets that help to create models of predictions and forecasts of the impact of climate change on microorganisms in agroecosystems. Soil microbial diversity was studied in field soil and rhizospheric soil, obtaining microbes. This article received a rating of 8.1+ based on the fact that it is very current and has numerous reliable references. This source is helpful in the way that it is structured and broken down into different sections, easily accessible through links. It is useful in learning more about microbes through diagrams that break down the findings of their studies into digestible pieces.

Rath, D. "Soil Microbes: An Introduction." https://sarep.ucdavis.edu/sites/g/files/dgvnsk5751/files/inline-files/copy_of_IntroductiontoSoilMicrobesNov2017.pdf, n.d. 

This is a PowerPoint created by a graduate student at UC Davis studying microbiology. It introduces different types of microbes, their scale, and how they play a role in cycling different building blocks of life/nutrients. It explains the different compounds that microbes break down and how (microbes use different enzymes to break down complex compounds like cellulose, lignin, and simpler compounds like glucose all to use for energy.) There are some technical words like extracellular polymeric substances (polysaccharides) that someone without a biology background may not know. Other than that this source is always at a high school reading level. The source has a summary at the end, as well as a guide on how to manage soil health. There is a great range of information, without obvious typos or errors. The speaker notes (what the speaker said with each slide) are available on the top left yellow icon of each slide. Some of the formatting (like font size) is not consistent; there is also a lack of citations. Since this was created by a professor at ucdavis.edu, it’s a trustworthy source. His email address is not listed, but it’s possible to find the author through the universities website. The source has many consistent visuals and diagrams. For the following reasons this source scores a +8.44.

Reid, G. & Wong, P. "Soil Bacteria." https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0017/41642/Soil_bacteria.pdf, 2005. 

This source gives an effective overview of the types and characteristics of bacteria found in soil. The article covers decomposers, nitrogen fixers, disease suppressors, actinobacteria, and sulfur oxidizers. These types of bacteria each have their own job to maintain the soil and plants that live in it. For example, disease-suppressive bacteria inhibit plant killing fungi Rhizoctonia solani, while sulfur oxidizers convert sulfides into sulfates so plants can use it. This source is a good reading level and length for highschool students and is a great overview of soil bacteria. However, the source is just under 20 years old, and the authors’ credentials/citations aren’t present, dropping its score to a 7.9-.

Sapkota, A. "Microorganisms found in soil with effects and examples." https://microbenotes.com/microorganisms-in-soil/, June 2023. 

This article introduces the reader to the various kinds of microorganisms present in soil. It begins by giving an overview of soil microbiology. The article then addresses the most common microorganisms found in soil: bacteria, fungi, actinomycetes, protozoa, blue-green algae, viruses, and nematodes. For each type of microorganism, the article explains what it is, provides examples of the microorganism, and discusses the possible positive and negative effects of its presence. The article provides plenty of detail for each microorganism, but it's explained very clearly, making it a good level for ESSRE. Additionally, this article pertains to ESSRE because it gives the reader background knowledge on many of the microorganisms that are tested for in ESSRE. The article could use some more visuals and has a few typos but is very well researched, citing a number of sources. Overall, the article gets a 7.33- on a scale of 1-10.

Scoll, J. P. "The Soil Microbes in Your Future." http://www.jstor.org/stable/44376652, 2014. 

This article explains David Montgomery’s thesis from his recent book; topsoil is a result of complex biological processes whereby organic waste is cycled through the soil by actions soil microbes types, bacteria, protozoa, fungi, nematodes, earthworms, and arthropods. Montgomery advocates for sustainable agriculture by eliminating tillage to preserve soil microbes by planting cover crops to enhance microbial diversity, improve soil health, and increase the amount of water the soil can hold. Montgomery hopes to implement this conservation agriculture into farms in the future. Overall this site gets a 7.1 out of 10, because it is a credible source, written by a lawyer, and uses outside sources, but does discuss soil microbes throughout or use any visuals. However, there is a lot of other information explaining the legal constraints to making this sustainable change.

Stark, L. A. “Beneficial Microorganisms: Countering Microbiophobia.” https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2995750/, 2010. 

This article talks about the negative reputations of microorganisms and how these assumptions are incorrect. Microbes play a crucial role in photosynthesis for half of the planet. It then begins to outline the many important roles which microbes play in everyday life. It talks specifically about the importance of microbes in the human body. Next it shows the importance in soil, where soil microbes play a role in the food chain. Lastly, it provides a link to help understand specific types of microbes. This article received a -8.667 in rating. It earned high ratings in the categories for its reliability, bibliography, and for its good visuals. Although, some of the links for this website were not usable and it received a low rating for its lack of complexity for information.

Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education. “Soil Microbiology.” https://www.sare.org/sare-category/soil-management/soil-microbiology/, n.d. 

This article is useful in outlining the basics of soil microbiology, common soil microorganisms, and the measurement of soil microbial activity. This text is concise and the terminology used is not too complex, however, additional links are provided if one wishes to gain a more in-depth understanding of some of the concepts mentioned. The website page is well structured and the article’s organization can be trusted, as it is affiliated with USDA as well as the University of Maryland. Overall, this site gets a 7+ on a scale of 1-10.

Wang, X. et al. "Important soil microbiota's effects on plants and soils: a comprehensive 30-year systematic literature review." https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2024.1347745, March 2024. 

This journal article from Frontiers in Microbiology reviews publications from the last 30 years to summarize the principles of soil microbes and their interactions with plants and soil. Having all this information in one well-organized spot can make a reference for harnessing soil microbes to repair damaged ecosystems. The article had three main findings: (1) in the last 30 years there has been an increase in publications on microorganisms, (2) bacteria, fungi, and archaea influence soil development in a myriad of ways (including nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium dissolution, organic matter decomposition, and pathogen inhibition,.), and (3) that microorganisms help reduce pollution in their ecosystem through phosphorus removal, denitrification, and biofertilizer production.. This article earns a 9.2+ for excellent reliability, currency, and their bibliography.

Xue, P. et al. “Soil Properties Drive Microbial Community Structure in a Large Scale Transect in South Eastern Australia.” https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6078944/, August 2018. 

This website states that microbe communities are diverse and play vital roles in the soil ecosystem by nutrient cycling, carbon mineralization and stabilization. Microbes are comprised of particular spatial structures controlled by soil properties; soil nutrients, electrical conductivity, clay content and pH. The article provided evidence and testing of multiple sites, environmental variables, and microbial communities. The authors have very strong credentials, along with multiple references. The website repeated various facts and statements throughout the article, the only pictures were graphs and maps, and there was not a contact address, therefore this article earned an 8.9-.

Yaeger, R. G. "Protozoa: Structure, Classification, Growth, and Development." https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK8325/, 1996. 

This article gives information of protozoa including its structure, classification, life cycle, reproduction, and nutrition. There are brief summaries of each topic and a longer, more detail explanation. The summaries give important background information such as how protozoa are found worldwide, are microscopic unicellular eukaryotes, and are currently classified into six phyla. The author is experienced in the field of biology and there are a multiple references. Some of the content is a bit too difficult for high school students, and there are not many visuals, but the article is otherwise easy to navigate. Overall, this site scores a 7.8 on a scale of 1-10.

Yu, Y. et al. “Distinct response patterns of plants and soil microorganisms to agronomic practices and seasonal variation in a floodplain ecosystem.” https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2023.1094750/full, January 2023. 

This research article was supervised by a team of 10 reputable researchers from various research laboratories, colleges and universities. It was published in January 2023 and can be found in the National Library of Medicine (NIH) under the Terrestrial Microbiology section of the journal “Frontiers in Microbiology.” The article discusses a research study that evaluated seasonal floodplains based on the diversity, type, structure, and traits of plants and soil microorganisms. Because my group’s site was a seasonal floodplain, this article is relevant. The experiment involved the use of nitrogen fertilizer, glyphosate, and seasonal variation. The website is easy to navigate, with links to the reference sources provided after each in-text citation. The article is well-organized and paired with captioned graphs and diagrams. The content is accurate with no typographical errors. Although somewhat lengthy, it is balanced with the intensive research presented. Overall, this article receives a rating of 9.78+.https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2023.1094750, January 2023.

Zhang, T. et al. “Global negative effects of nitrogen deposition on soil microbes.” https://www.nature.com/articles/s41396-018-0096-y#citeas, March 2018. 

This website focuses on the soil microbe’s diversity relationship to the nitrogen in the soil. Nitrogen addition results in reduction of microbes in the soil and affects the balance of the diversity. The nitrogen abundance leads to affected microbial growth and function. The addition also resulted in reduced microbial respiration and increased root respiration. Overall this website was easy to use, has various sources, but there are only a few visuals that are mainly graphs. This website earns a 9.2-.