Ebook: Soil Biological Fertility: A Key to Sustainable Land Use in Agriculture

This book presents a comprehensive scientific overview of the components and processes that underpin the biological characteristics of soil fertility. It demonstrates the interdependence of soil biological fertility with physical and chemical characteristics of soil. The book highlights the enormous diversity of life in soil and the resulting effects that management of land can have on the contribution of this diverse community to soil fertility in an agricultural context. It is becoming more relevant to explore soil biological processes in terms of their contribution to soil fertility.

It is becoming more relevant to explore soil biological processes in terms of their contribution to soil fertility. For instance, some agricultural chemicals may either overshadow or enhance biological contributions to soil fertility. The challenge is to select land management practices that improve the capacity of biological processes to contribute to soil physical and chemical fertility while increasing the sustainability of farming systems for particular soils and climates.

This book presents a comprehensive scientific overview of the components and processes that underpin the biological characteristics of soil fertility. It demonstrates the interdependence of soil biological fertility with physical and chemical characteristics of soil. The book highlights the enormous diversity of life in soil and the resulting effects that management of land can have on the contribution of this diverse community to soil fertility in an agricultural context. It includes case studies of sustainable farming systems in relation to soil biological fertility and gives a global perspective on sustainability of soil management in relation to international agreements and environmental issue

It is becoming more relevant to explore soil biological processes in terms of their contribution to soil fertility. For instance, some agricultural chemicals may either overshadow or enhance biological contributions to soil fertility. The challenge is to select land management practices that improve the capacity of biological processes to contribute to soil physical and chemical fertility while increasing the sustainability of farming systems for particular soils and climates.

This book presents a comprehensive scientific overview of the components and processes that underpin the biological characteristics of soil fertility. It demonstrates the interdependence of soil biological fertility with physical and chemical characteristics of soil. The book highlights the enormous diversity of life in soil and the resulting effects that management of land can have on the contribution of this diverse community to soil fertility in an agricultural context. It includes case studies of sustainable farming systems in relation to soil biological fertility and gives a global perspective on sustainability of soil management in relation to international agreements and environmental issue
Content:
Front Matter....Pages I-XI
What is Soil Biological Fertility?....Pages 1-15
Impact of Fauna on Chemical Transformations in Soil....Pages 17-35
Impact of Microorganisms on Chemical Transformations in Soil....Pages 37-59
Role of Fauna in Soil Physical Processes....Pages 61-80
Contributions of Rhizosphere Interactions to Soil Biological Fertility....Pages 81-98
Contributions of Rhizobia to Soil Nitrogen Fertility....Pages 99-128
Contributions of Arbuscular Mycorrhizas to Soil Biological Fertility....Pages 129-162
Relevance of Plant Root Pathogens to Soil Biological Fertility....Pages 163-185
Relevance of Interactions amongst Soil Microorganisms to Soil Biological Fertility....Pages 187-201
Managing the Soil Habitat for Enhanced Biological Fertility....Pages 203-224
Sustainable Farming Systems and their Impact on Soil Biological Fertility - Some Case Studies....Pages 225-239
Sustainability of Soil Management Practices - a Global Perspective....Pages 241-254
Back Matter....Pages 255-264

It is becoming more relevant to explore soil biological processes in terms of their contribution to soil fertility. For instance, some agricultural chemicals may either overshadow or enhance biological contributions to soil fertility. The challenge is to select land management practices that improve the capacity of biological processes to contribute to soil physical and chemical fertility while increasing the sustainability of farming systems for particular soils and climates.

This book presents a comprehensive scientific overview of the components and processes that underpin the biological characteristics of soil fertility. It demonstrates the interdependence of soil biological fertility with physical and chemical characteristics of soil. The book highlights the enormous diversity of life in soil and the resulting effects that management of land can have on the contribution of this diverse community to soil fertility in an agricultural context. It includes case studies of sustainable farming systems in relation to soil biological fertility and gives a global perspective on sustainability of soil management in relation to international agreements and environmental issue
Content:
Front Matter....Pages I-XI
What is Soil Biological Fertility?....Pages 1-15
Impact of Fauna on Chemical Transformations in Soil....Pages 17-35
Impact of Microorganisms on Chemical Transformations in Soil....Pages 37-59
Role of Fauna in Soil Physical Processes....Pages 61-80
Contributions of Rhizosphere Interactions to Soil Biological Fertility....Pages 81-98
Contributions of Rhizobia to Soil Nitrogen Fertility....Pages 99-128
Contributions of Arbuscular Mycorrhizas to Soil Biological Fertility....Pages 129-162
Relevance of Plant Root Pathogens to Soil Biological Fertility....Pages 163-185
Relevance of Interactions amongst Soil Microorganisms to Soil Biological Fertility....Pages 187-201
Managing the Soil Habitat for Enhanced Biological Fertility....Pages 203-224
Sustainable Farming Systems and their Impact on Soil Biological Fertility - Some Case Studies....Pages 225-239
Sustainability of Soil Management Practices - a Global Perspective....Pages 241-254
Back Matter....Pages 255-264
....