Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

The Soil Ecosystem

The Soil Ecosystem

Plants obtain inorganic minerals and water from the soil, which acts as a natural medium for land plants. The composition and quality of soil depend not only on the chemical constituents but also on the presence of living organisms. In general, soils contain three major components:

The Sulfur Cycle

The Sulfur Cycle

Sulfur, an important element in the chemical makeup of proteins, is recycled through the atmosphere and aquatic and terrestrial environments. Found in the atmosphere as sulfur dioxide (SO2), sulfur is released by decaying organisms, weathered rocks, geothermal vents, volcanos, and burning fossil fuels. It is deposited into the ecosystem, cycled through the biotic community, and either released back into the atmosphere as gas or deposited in marine sediment for long-term storage and eventual...

The Carbon Cycle

The Carbon Cycle

Carbon is the basis of all organic matter on Earth, and is recycled through the ecosystem in two primary processes: one in which carbon is exchanged among living organisms, and one in which carbon is cycled over long periods of time through fossilized organic remains, weathering of rocks, and volcanic activity. Human activities, including increased agricultural practices and the burning of fossil fuels, has greatly affected the balance of the natural carbon cycle.

The Phosphorus Cycle

The Phosphorus Cycle

Unlike carbon, water, and nitrogen, phosphorus is not present in the atmosphere as a gas. Instead, most phosphorus in the ecosystem exists as compounds, such as phosphate ions (PO43-), found in soil, water, sediment and rocks. Phosphorus is often a limiting nutrient (i.e., in short supply). Consequently, phosphorus is added to most agricultural fertilizers, which can cause environmental problems related to runoff in aquatic ecosystems.

What are Biogeochemical Cycles?

What are Biogeochemical Cycles?

The most common elements in organic molecules, carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, and phosphorus, are only available in the ecosystem in limited amounts. Therefore, these nutrients must be recycled through both biotic and abiotic components of the ecosystem, in processes generally called biogeochemical cycles.

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Reversible Dopant-Induced Cross-Linking of Semiconducting Polymer Films for Sequential Multilayer Deposition.

Advanced materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)·2026

Same author

Retrospective treatment comparisons in patients with Susac syndrome.

Journal of neuroimmunology·2026

Same author

Time-Dependent Structure Assessment of Conjugated Polymer Aggregates in Solution by Single-Molecule Fluorescence Spectroscopy.

Macromolecules·2026

Same author

Correction: Silicon fertilizer increased potato drought tolerance and reduced soil N<sub>2</sub>O emissions in two Danish soils at field scale.

Scientific reports·2026

Same author

Real world outcomes of intravitreal and systemic therapy in primary and secondary vitreoretinal lymphoma.

Scientific reports·2026

Same author

Biogeochemical Element Cycling in Plant-Soil Systems: Implications for Ecosystem Dynamics and Services.

Biology·2026

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Nov 18, 2025

Monitoring Pedogenic Inorganic Carbon Accumulation Due to Weathering of Amended Silicate Minerals in Agricultural Soils.

Monitoring Pedogenic Inorganic Carbon Accumulation Due to Weathering of Amended Silicate Minerals in Agricultural Soils.

Published on: June 4, 2021

Silicon Cycling in Soils Revisited.

Jörg Schaller¹, Daniel Puppe¹, Danuta Kaczorek^1,2

¹Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), 15374 Müncheberg, Germany.

Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

|February 9, 2021

Summary

Soil silicon (Si) speciation is crucial for plant growth and ecosystem health. Understanding Si reactions and human impacts on the soil Si cycle is vital for soil properties and function.

Keywords:

andosols clay neoformation crop yield land use change micro aggregate stability phytoliths sediments silicon cycling silicon extraction methods silicon pore water speciation

More Related Videos

Soil Lysimeter Excavation for Coupled Hydrological, Geochemical, and Microbiological Investigations

Soil Lysimeter Excavation for Coupled Hydrological, Geochemical, and Microbiological Investigations

Published on: September 11, 2016

A Method to Preserve Wetland Roots and Rhizospheres for Elemental Imaging

A Method to Preserve Wetland Roots and Rhizospheres for Elemental Imaging

Published on: February 15, 2021

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Nov 18, 2025

Monitoring Pedogenic Inorganic Carbon Accumulation Due to Weathering of Amended Silicate Minerals in Agricultural Soils.

Monitoring Pedogenic Inorganic Carbon Accumulation Due to Weathering of Amended Silicate Minerals in Agricultural Soils.

Published on: June 4, 2021

Soil Lysimeter Excavation for Coupled Hydrological, Geochemical, and Microbiological Investigations

Soil Lysimeter Excavation for Coupled Hydrological, Geochemical, and Microbiological Investigations

Published on: September 11, 2016

A Method to Preserve Wetland Roots and Rhizospheres for Elemental Imaging

A Method to Preserve Wetland Roots and Rhizospheres for Elemental Imaging

Published on: February 15, 2021

Area of Science:

Soil Science
Geochemistry
Environmental Science

Background:

Silicon (Si) is a beneficial element for plant growth, yet its chemistry in soils is complex.
Si reaction rates are slow and depend on specific Si species, influencing soil processes.
Current thermodynamic models struggle with long reaction times (months to millennia).

Purpose of the Study:

To review the occurrence and transformation of Si species in soil solutions.
To highlight the importance of solid compounds in controlling Si availability and reactivity.
To discuss drivers of soil Si cycling and human interference.

Main Methods:

Literature review on Si speciation and reactions in soil solutions.
Analysis of polymerization, depolymerization, and condensation processes.
Discussion of thermodynamic limitations and solid-phase controls.

Main Results:

Si speciation in soil solution is dynamic, influenced by slow reactions.
Solid compounds significantly control Si availability, reactivity, and function.
Human activities can interfere with natural soil Si cycling.

Conclusions:

A deeper understanding of soil Si cycling drivers, including speciation and human impacts, is essential.
This knowledge is fundamental for managing soil properties like water storage and nutrient availability.
Addressing Si cycling is key for overall ecosystem functioning and soil health.