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Soil Microbiology
Soil is the loose outer material of earth's surface, a layer which is different from the underlying bedrock. Agriculturally, it supports plant life. Chemically, it contains a multitude of organic and inorganic substances not found in the underlying strata.

Microbiologically, it contains a vast array of microorganisms representing a dynamic site of biological interaction. Thus soil is a consortium (mixture) of living cells in an organic or mineral matrix. Neither the living cells nor the composition of the organic/ inorganic matrix are constant, both vary with time and location. Thus soil microbiology is the study of the microflora and microfauna of soil.