Soil ecology & management

Soil Ecology and Management describes the organisms inhabiting the soil, their functions and interactions and the dimensions of human impact on the activity of soil organisms and soil ecological function. Chapters discuss basic soil characteristics and biogeochemical cycling, key soil flora and fauna as well as community-level dynamics (soil food webs). Unlike other soil biology and ecology textbooks, this text also conveys a better understanding of how human activities impact upon soil ecology in a section on ecosystem management and its effects on soil biota. The authors provide a unique perspective on the utility of soil organisms by exploring the biodiversity of soil food webs, how they are impacted by human activities and intervention and their management.

1. Fundamental properties of the soil ecosystem. 2. Characteristics of soil organic matter. 3. Nutrient cycling: nitrogen, phosphorus and sulphur. 4. Ecological and pedological functions of soil biota. 5. Soil food webs. 6. Soil biological diversity. 7. Ecosystem management and soil biota. 8. Soil biota as indicators of soil quality.