La vita ipogea nei suoli vesuviani

This chapter describes the underground life of the Vesuvian soils. Vesuvius, with its frequent eruptions, has given rise to very heterogeneous soils in terms of mineral quality, represented by more than 35 minerals rich in macro and microelements essential for the life of plants and microorganisms. The Vesuvian soils are considered fertile soils for plants crop. In order to be fertile, a soil must not only contain the mineral substances for plant growth, but must possess all the biological actors that allow a soil to be self-sufficient and self-regulate: microorganisms degrading organic matter, bacteria promoting plant growth, “eaters” of bacteria and fungi, nitrogen fixing bacteria of the soil and water and decontaminators of toxic substances. This high speciographic and functional biodiversity allows the soil to maintain its biological fertility which can only be threatened by spills of toxic and noxious waste, intensive agriculture and poor management of the forest environment.