2. The role of soil fauna in the functioning of agricultural soils

Soil fauna influence the functioning of agricultural soils by modulating the functions of (i) recycling nutrients, (ii) maintaining soil stability/structure, (iii) controlling pests and (iv) supporting biodiversity. From the point of view of cultivated plants, these functions are respectively associated with (i) their nutrition, (ii) the physical environment in which the plants develop, (iii) their health and (iv) interactions between plants (figure 7 ).