ABSTRACT
The soil environment is particularly important as the process of decomposition can be altered considerably by soil type, pH, moisture, and oxygen content. The physical and chemical activities sustaining living organisms cease upon death and result in changes to the cellular environment that begin the process of decomposition and ultimately nutrient recycling. The chemical and biological processes that facilitate decomposition are strongly influenced by climatic conditions and the specific environment of the decomposition site. The soil system is composed of three phases, namely, solid, liquid, and gas. The solid phase is a mixture of inorganic and organic materials that make up the skeletal framework of soils. Decomposition within a soil environment is largely affected by the interaction of physical and chemical properties of the surrounding soil in combination with the prevailing microbial community. Soil bacteria can be found in abundance in food-rich soils.
