ABSTRACT
In nature, the soil is one of the key elements that enable life on earth. It plays a central role in all terrestrial ecosystems and functions as the habitat for many organisms and as a …lter and buffer, allowing clean groundwater storage. Important parts of the natural cycle of carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulfur take place in the soil. The main ecological functions of soil are those related to organic matter breakdown and nutrient mineralization by soil invertebrates and microbes. The soil-dwelling organisms play a crucial role in the ecosystem by mediating the geochemical cycling of elements and nutrient supplies to plants. They are also very bene…cial to soil structure and structural stability. The widespread introduction of chemical pesticides to control pests (microbial pathogens, weeds, nematodes, snails, insects, and rodents) has signi…cantly increased grain yields. However, because pesticides are often unspeci…c, they have the potential to profoundly modify the soil communities. It is important to understand how pesticide use affects the ecology of the ecosystem and to consider the implication of these changes.
