How do decomposers and plants cycle nutrients in soil?

Decomposers, such as fungi and bacteria, break down dead organic matter, releasing nutrients back into the soil in forms that plants can absorb. This process enriches the soil with essential elements like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Plants then take up these nutrients through their roots, using them for growth and development. When plants die or shed leaves, they contribute organic material back into the soil, continuing the nutrient cycling process.