How do protozoans help recycle nutrients in soil?

Protozoans contribute significantly to soil fertility and nutrient cycling through their interactions with other microorganisms. By grazing on soil bacteria, protozoans regulate bacterial populations and maintain them in an active, growing state known as physiological youth. This process accelerates the rate at which bacteria decompose dead organic matter, thereby facilitating the breakdown of nutrients within the soil ecosystem.1

Furthermore, protozoans act as direct contributors to nutrient availability. As a byproduct of their metabolism, they excrete nitrogen and phosphorus in the forms of ammonium and orthophosphate. These excreted nutrients are essential for plant growth, and the presence of protozoan communities in soil has been shown to enhance overall plant development.1