Soil Microbiology An Exploratory Approach

About this book

This is the ideal book for anyone with a beginning interest in soil science or microbiology. This comprehensive, easy-to-follow book describes soil organisms, explains what they do and why. It shows how they directly influence the food we eat, the water we drink and the air we breathe. A must for anyone studying or pursuing a career in the natural sciences and environmentalism.

Contents

Part 1 Introduction: an historical perspective of soil microbiology. Part 2 Who's there?: ants, earthworms and other creatures - the macrofauna; mesofauna - the nematodes; microfauna - the protozoa and archezoa; the chromista - algae; fungi; filamentous bacteria - the actinomycetes; non filamentous bacteria - the rest of the bacterial world; mycoplasma, viruses, viroids and prions - the rest of the microbiota; methods of studying soil microbes. Part 3 The soil as a microbial ecosystem: soil as a microbial habitat; environmental influences - temperature, reduction - oxidation and pH; water relationships; microbial growth and metabolism; soil enzymes. Part 4 Soil microbes and nutrient cycles: the sulphur cycle; the phosphorus cycle; iron and manganese transformations; the nitrogen cycle - mineralization; the nitrogen cycle - immobilization.

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