Soils Are Alive

Acknowledgements

Introduction

How to use this book

PART 1: What is in soil and what does it do?

• Introduction
• 1.1 Introduction to soil fertility
• 1.2 Biodiversity and biomass of organisms in soil
• 1.3 Soil is a habitat for living organisms
• 1.4 Activities of soil biota

PART 2: How do soil organisms affect soil?

• Introduction
• 2.1 Chemical transformations mediated by soil organisms
• 2.2 Physical transformations mediated by soil organisms

PART 3: How do soil organisms affect plants?

• Introduction
• 3.1 Plant roots and soil biota
• 3.2 Mycorrhizal associations
• 3.3 Nitrogen-fixing associations
• 3.4 Soil-borne plant pathogens

PART 4: What affects soil organisms?

• Introduction
• 4.1 Types of soil disturbance
• 4.2 Effects of soil disturbance on organisms
• 4.3 Effects of soil disturbance on biological processes

PART 5: How do soil organisms interact with each other?

• Introduction
• 5.1 Interactions among soil organisms

PART 6: What are the options for managing soil organisms?

• Introduction
• 6.1 Indirect ‘manipulation’ of soil organisms through land management practices
• 6.2 Direct microbial manipulation

PART 7: How is knowledge of soil organisms relevant to sustainable land management?

• Introduction
• 7.1 Microbial indicators of the biological state of soil
• 7.2 A role for the scientist
• 7.3 Economic implications of considering soil biology in decision-making for sustainable land management
• 7.4 Guidelines for land management to sustain soil biological fertility

References

Biological

• What are soil organisms, how do they help soil fertility?
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Chemical

• Which elements are essential for plant health and which may be toxic to plants?
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Physical

• How do soil physical properties affect water movement and nutrient uptake through the plant roots?
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Soils are Alive!

• The complete soil health reference for farmers, consultants and researchers
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