Soil organisms saprophytic

At ecological scale, since most soil organisms are saprophytic or mutualis-tic, i.e., dependent on the primary production of the plants, mineralization and immobilization in the rhizosphere represent the keystone processes determining the availability, quality, and renewal rate of soil resources used by plants. 

Neutral interactions are found extensively in the rhizosphere of all crop plants. Saprophytic microorganisms are responsible for many vital soil processes, such as decomposition of organic residues in soil and associated soil nutrient mineralization/turnover processes. While these organisms do not appear to benefit or harm the plant directly (hence the tenn neutral), their presence is obviously vital for soil nutrient dynamics and their ab.sence would clearly influence plant health and productivity. 

Saprophyte—This refers to an organism that derives its energy by decomposing dead organic matter. Many species of mushroom-producing fungi live off the organic debris that is present in the mineral soil and, especially, the surface litter of leaves and woody debris on the forest floor. 

The fungal population of soils constitutes a very heterogeneous group of organisms. The fungi known to occur in the soil cover the range from chytrids to agarics, from saprophytes to root parasites, and from parasites of amoebae to parasites of man [9]. 

The fungal kingdom includes yeasts, molds, rusts, and mushrooms. Most fungi are saprophytic, which means that they live on dead organic matter in the soil or on decaying leaves or wood. A few of these fungi can cause opportunistic infections if they are introduced into a human through wounds or by inhalation. Some of these infections can be fatal. There are relatively few... 

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