← Elaine Ingham · Research and publications

Bacteria and nematodes: how the soil food web contributes to plant nutrition

A 1985 study coauthored by Elaine Ingham examines microorganisms, nematodes and nitrogen availability.

Study published: 1 March 1985 · Sources checked: 22 October 2026

A research collection for shared learning

This article opens our collection on the research of Dr Elaine Ingham and her collaborators. We aim to explain each study’s questions, findings and context, supporting education in regenerative agriculture.

What was tested

The researchers grew blue grama grass (Bouteloua gracilis) in controlled microcosms containing sandy loam low in inorganic nitrogen. They compared bacteria or a fungus with and without their nematode grazers, also testing chitin as an organic nitrogen source. [1]

What they found

Plants with bacteria and bacterial-feeding nematodes grew faster and initially absorbed more nitrogen than plants with bacteria alone. The interpretation involved increased mineralization, ammonium excretion by nematodes and early root exploration. Fungal-feeding nematodes produced no additional growth or nitrogen uptake under the tested conditions. [1]

Interpreting the finding

The authors linked benefits from microbial grazers to periods when microbial mineralization alone falls short of plant requirements. [1]

A question for our fieldwork

For our Center, the study offers an educational question: which organisms are present in a sample, and how do they relate to plant nutrition? In our own work, we aim to connect microscopy with crop observations and field history.

Evidence consulted: the published scientific abstract. This is an editorial presentation by our Center.

← Elaine Ingham · Research and publications