Recycling Nutrients With Autumn Leaves

Applause IconOct 27, 2025 • 3:51 PM UTC
Location IconUnited States
Applause Icon140x Magnification
Applause IconPlants
Holly Stuart (Foldscope Team)

Education Specialist at Foldscope Instruments

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During the fall, leaves change color, fall to the ground, and provide food for microbes living in the soil. When the microbes eat the leaves, they recycle the nutrients that had been stored in the plant back to the soil and creating an environment just right for next year's plants to thrive in!
The below image shows a leaf that has fallen off of a plant. Even though it is brown, there are still distinct cell walls visible. This one uses the 140X lens.
This image shows a leaf that has been on the ground for a while. It looks fuzzy because there are no cell walls to focus on and it is starting to decompose. This one also uses the 140X lens.
The microbes were very active all around the leaf and you can see the bacteria moving about as they do their work! These videos used the 140X lens plus 3X digital zoom on my phone.
These videos used the 340X lens plus 3X digital zoom on my phone.
Are the leaves changing where you are? If so, I would love to see your pictures of fall leaves under the Foldscope or videos of a bustling soil microbiome! Happy Foldscoping!

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