Download or read book Soil Organic Matter and Biological Activity written by D. Vaughan and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2012-12-06 with total page 475 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: It has long been recognized that soil organic matter is the key to soil fertility. As a nutrient store it gradually provides essential elements which the soil cannot retain for long in inorganic form. It buffers growing plants against sudden changes in their chemical environment and preserves moisture in times of drought. It keeps the soil in a friable, easily penetrated physical condition, well-aerated and free draining, providing young seedlings with an excellent medium for growth. But it has another property, the nature and extent of which have been the subject of argu ment and controversy ever since scientists began to study the soil, and that is its ability to affect growth directly, other than by providing nutrient elements. Any one wishing to learn about these effects has been faced with a daunting mass of literature, some confusing, often contradictory, and spread through a multitude of journals. Individual aspects have been covered from time to time in reviews but there has obviously been a need for a modern authoritative text book dealing with the many facets of this subject, so the publication of this volume is timely. The editors and authors are all specialists in their fields, fully familiar with the com plex nature of soil organic matter and with the particular difficulties arising in any study of its properties. Where controversies exist they have presented all sides of the argument and have highlighted areas where further work is badly needed.
Download or read book Soil Organic Matter and Biological Activity written by D. Vaughan and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 1985-07-31 with total page 492 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Soil organic matter - a perspective on its nature, extraction, turnover and role soil fertility. Influence of humic substances on growth and physiological processes. Influence of humic subtances on biochemical processes in plants. Phenolic acids in soils and their influence on plant growth and soil microbial processes. Origin, nature and biological activity of aliphatic substances and growth hormones found in soil. Soil enzymes. The soil biomass. Carbohydrates in relation to soil fertility. Soil nitrogen: its extraction, distribution and dynamics. Soil phosphorus. Sulphur in soils and plants. Organic matter and trace elements in soils. Organic farming.
Download or read book Soil Organic Matter and Biological Activity written by Elouise Kunde and published by . This book was released on 2018 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book The Importance of Soil Organic Matter written by Alexandra Bot and published by Food & Agriculture Org.. This book was released on 2005 with total page 96 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Soil organic matter - the product of on-site biological decomposition - affects the chemical and physical properties of the soil and its overall health. Its composition and breakdown rate affect: the soil structure and porosity; the water infiltration rate and moisture holding capacity of soils; the diversity and biological activity of soil organisms; and plant nutrient availability. This document concentrates on the organic matter dynamics of cropping soils and discusses the circumstances that deplete organic matter and their negative outcomes. It then moves on to more proactive solutions. It reviews a "basket" of practices in order to show how they can increase organic matter content and discusses the land and cropping benefits that then accrue.--Publisher's description.
Download or read book Soil Organic Matter written by Robert L. Tate and published by Wiley-Interscience. This book was released on 1987-01-19 with total page 312 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This timely volume provides a basic introduction to the biological aspects of soil organic matter. With rapidly increasing societal demands on the soil ecosystem and the current recognition that the pools of organic matter in agricultural soils are declining, we have come to realize the essential function that soil organic matter performs in the ecosystem. The author shows how, in many cases, the total nature and longevity of the the entire ecosystem are controlled by the chemical, biological, and physical properties of the soil organic matter pool. Covers fauna, microbes, and enzymes in the soil; organic matter transformation and humification; mathematical modeling; ecosystem management, and much more.
Download or read book Soil Organic Matter written by M. M. Kononova and published by Elsevier. This book was released on 2013-10-02 with total page 545 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Soil Organic Matter: Its Nature, Its Role in Soil Formation and in Soil Fertility focuses on the contributions of soil organic matter in soil formation and fertility, including weathering, decomposition, and synthesis of humus substances. The publication first elaborates on the main stages in the history of soil humus study and ideas on the composition of soil organic matter and nature of humus substances. Discussions focus on organic substances of individual nature, strictly humus substances in soil organic matter, and humus substances as a complex of high molecular- weight compounds. The text then examines the biochemistry of humus formation, including the role of physical, chemical, and biological factors, origin of humus substances, possible participation of lignin in the formation of humus substances, and the role of oxidizing enzymes in the synthesis of humus substances. The manuscript takes a look at the importance of organic matter in soil formation and soil fertility and the natural factors of humus formation. Topics include the role of organic matter in the weathering and decomposition of soil minerals; role of organic matter in the formation of soil structure; effect of organic matter on the growth and development of plants; and influence of chemical and physicochemical soil properties on humus formation. The publication is a dependable source material for readers interested in the influence of soil organic matter in soil formation and fertility.
Download or read book Soil Biology and Land Management written by and published by . This book was released on 2004 with total page 20 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Soil Organic Matter and Soil Function Review of the Literature and Underlying Data written by Brian William Murphy and published by . This book was released on 2014 with total page 155 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A review has been undertaken into how soil organic matter affects a range of soil properties that are important for the productive capacity of the soils. The potential effect of varying the amount of soil organic matter in soil on a range of individual soil properties was investigated using a literature search of published information largely from Australia, but also including relevant information from overseas. The soil properties considered included aggregate stability, bulk density, water holding capacity, soil erodibility, soil thermal properties, soil colour, soil strength, compaction characteristics, friability, nutrient cycling, cation exchange capacity, soil acidity and buffering capacity, capacity to form ligands and complexes, salinity and the interaction of soil organic matter with soil biology. Overall this review concentrated on the soil physical properties and results from some of the field studies on soil organic matter and soil properties and so is intended to compliment the earlier review by Krull et al (2004) and another on the role of soil carbon in nutrient cycling (Macdonald and Baldock 2010). Some conclusions on the effects of soil organic matter on several soil properties were made. Soil organic matter had clear effects on water holding capacity, cation exchange capacity, aggregate stability and buffering capacity to acidification. Soil organic matter also had a definite effect on the compaction and strength characteristics of soils which in combination with friability can determine how the soil responds to traffic and tillage. Soil organic matter was an important factor in providing a nutrient supply and in nutrient cycling, especially of nitrogen, but also of significant proportions of phosphorus and sulphur and other micronutrients. The relative importance of soil organic matter to provide certain functions in soils varied with texture, with soil organic matter generally being more critical in soils with lower clay contents. Different soil organic fractions had different properties and varied in their importance for different soil properties. While data was generally lacking, it appears that the humus fraction is more important for the functions requiring chemical activity such as cation exchange capacity and pH buffering capacity and the particulate organic carbon is more important for aggregate stability of the larger aggregates, the rapid recycling of nutrients and as a food and energy source for the soil microbial population. The level of soil organic matter and the levels of certain factions can influence the biological activity and microorganisms in the soil. The development of new methodologies such as the measurement of microbial biomass, substrate analysis, phospholipid analysis, DNA analysis and enzyme evaluation has given improved insight into many of the biological processes in soils. This has shown that land management and even different plants or crops can change the biological populations. However, a more complete understanding of the overall effect some of these changes can have on overall productivity and nutrient cycling requires a higher level of understanding then is currently available. There were some values for the levels of soil organic carbon required to maintain the soil properties in a functional form and the value of 2% soil organic carbon occurred a number of times as a useful guide. One important conclusion is that by increasing soil organic matter it is possible to improve several soil properties simultaneously and so have a cumulative effect on productivity. A final part of the review was to consider the capacity of the dry land agricultural systems to achieve levels of soil organic matter that could improve soil properties. This was done using soil carbon data from across Australia from a range of sources including the National Soil Carbon Project. In general there was a percentage of soils that had soil organic carbon levels sufficiently low as to affect soil properties. These also seemed to occur in areas where available land management practices could increase the levels of soil organic carbon above the measured levels and so there is a potential to improve productivity in these areas by increasing levels of soil organic carbon. A large proportion of the soils also had higher levels of soil organic carbon which although not ideal for soil properties, could be more difficult to increase under standard land management systems. A small percentage of soils had high levels and probably indicate what is possible under the more specialised land management systems. One conclusion was that for many soils, increases in soil organic matter have the capacity to strongly influence only the surface soils, perhaps only the top 10 cms and the top 20 cms at most. This limits the capacity of soil organic matter to influence soil productivity. Even so the top 10 to 20 cm is a critical zone for the soil. It is the interface where seeds are sown, germinate and emerge. It is where a large proportion of plant materials are added to the soil for decomposition and the recycling of nutrients and where the rainfall either enters the soil or runs off. So the potential to improve soil condition in the top 10 to 20 cm is still critical for plant productivity. A deficiency in the studies on the effects of soil organic matter on soil properties and productivity is the need to consider the impact of soil organic matter across a wide range of seasons and soil types. The means to address this deficiency is perhaps a program of applying biophysical models using the known effects of soil organic matter on the soil properties.
Download or read book Experiments in Soil Biology and Biochemistry written by Fran Russell & Danni Gilmore and published by Scientific e-Resources. This book was released on 2018-08-14 with total page 372 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Soil science is the study of soil as a natural resource on the surface of the Earth including soil formation, classification and mapping; physical, chemical, biological, and fertility properties of soils; and these properties in relation to the use and management of soils. Soil biology is the study of microbial and faunal activity and ecology in soil. Soil life, soil biota and soil fauna are collective terms that encompasses all organisms that spend a significant portion of their life cycle within a soil profile, or at the soil-litter interface. Soils are rich ecosystems, composed of both living and non-living matter with a multitude of interaction between them. Soils play an important role in all of our natural ecological cycles. They also provide benefits through their contribution in a number of additional processes, called ecosystem services. These services range from waste decomposition to acting as a water filtration system to degrading environmental contaminants. Soil biochemistry is one of the branches of soil science dealing with the formation and decomposition of soil organic matter, biochemical reactions of carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur, metals and xenobiotic in soils, and biochemistry of the plant-root rhizosphere. The book will suit to the needs of students, teachers, scholars and general readers.
Download or read book Soil Organic Matter in Sustainable Agriculture written by Fred Magdoff and published by CRC Press. This book was released on 2004-05-27 with total page 411 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Recognition of the importance of soil organic matter (SOM) in soil health and quality is a major part of fostering a holistic, preventive approach to agricultural management. Students in agronomy, horticulture, and soil science need a textbook that emphasizes strategies for using SOM management in the prevention of chemical, biological, and physical problems. Soil Organic Matter in Sustainable Agriculture gathers key scientific reviews concerning issues that are critical for successful SOM management. This textbook contains evaluations of the types of organic soil constituents—organisms, fresh residues, and well-decomposed substances. It explores the beneficial effects of organic matter on soil and the various practices that enhance SOM. Chapters include an examination of the results of crop management practices on soil organisms, organic matter gains and losses, the significance of various SOM fractions, and the contributions of fungi and earthworms to soil quality and crop growth. Emphasizing the prevention of imbalances that lead to soil and crop problems, the text also explores the development of soils suppressive to plant diseases and pests, and relates SOM management to the supply of nutrients to crops. This book provides the essential scientific background and poses the challenging questions that students need to better understand SOM and develop improved soil and crop management systems.
Download or read book Laboratory Methods for Soil Health Analysis Soil Health series Volume 2 written by Douglas L. Karlen and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2021-08-17 with total page 356 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Laboratory Methods for Soil Health Analysis Analyzing, comparing, and understanding soil health data The maintenance of healthy soil resources is instrumental to the success of an array of global efforts and initiatives. Whether they are working to combat food shortages, conserve our ecosystems, or mitigate the impact of climate change, researchers and agriculturalists the world over must be able to correctly examine and understand the complex nature of this essential resource. These new volumes have been designed to meet this need, addressing the many dimensions of soil health analysis in chapters that are concise, accessible and applicable to the tasks at hand. Soil Health, Volume Two: Laboratory Methods for Soil Health Analysis provides explanations of the best practices by which one may arrive at valuable, comparable data and incisive conclusions, and covers topics including: Sampling considerations and field evaluations Assessment and interpretation of soil-test biological activity Macro- and micronutrients in soil quality and health PLFA and EL-FAME indicators Offering a practical guide to collecting and understanding soil health data, this volume will be of great interest to all those working in agriculture, private sector businesses, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), academic-, state-, and federal-research projects, as well as state and federal soil conservation, water quality and other environmental programs.
Download or read book Soil Conditions and Plant Growth written by Peter J. Gregory and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2012-12-07 with total page 508 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Building on the extremely successful and popular Russell’s Soil Conditions and Plant Growth, Wiley-Blackwell is pleased to publish this completely revised and updated edition of the soil science classic. Covering all aspects of the interactions between plant and soil, Peter Gregory and Stephen Nortcliff, along with their team of internationally-known and respected authors, provide essential reading for all students and professionals studying and working in agriculture and soil science. Subject areas covered range from crop science and genetics; soil fertility and organic matter; nitrogen and phosphoros cycles and their management; properties and management of plant nutrients; water and the soil physical environment and its management; plants and change processes in soils; management of the soil/plant system; and new challenges including food, energy and water security in a changing environment. Providing a very timely account on how better to understand and manage the many interactions that occur between soils and plants, Soil Conditions and Plant Growth is sure to become the book of choice - as a recommended text for students and as an invaluable reference for those working or entering into the industry. An essential purchase for all universities and research establishments where agricultural, soil, and environmental sciences are studied and taught.
Download or read book Biological Processes and Soil Fertility written by J. Tinsley and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2012-12-06 with total page 409 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The success of shifting cultivation systems developed by subsistence farmers testifies to the resilience of the "natural" soil-plant ecosystems to recover from the offtake of nutrients in crops and loss of soil struc ture. By contrast, the development of intensive cropping systems requires large inputs especially of nitrogen, together with phosphorus, sulphur and other essential elements in order to maintain the nutrient levels needed for abundant crop yields. As Dr. Cooke ably pointed out in his introductory lecture, the dis coveries and experiments of the 19th century encouraged farmers in temperate zones to rely greatly on chemical fertilizers supplements. However, the work of Charles Da{win on soil mixing by earthworms and the discovery by Hellriegel and Wilfarth in 1886 that the nodules on legume roots contain colonies of symbiotic bacteria able to "capture" atmospheric nitrogen molecules to the benefit of the host plant heralded a growing realization of the importance of soil biota in fertility studies. Biological fixation of nitrogen has been the theme of many meetings and publi~ations hitherto but at this Conference, convened on the delightful campus of Reading University, attention was mainly focussed on other biological processes in soil fertility. These Proceedings record the dominant themes and include six keynote addresses delivered at plenary sessions and seven introductory lectures to paper reading sessions by invited individuals plus 22 of the proferred papers, in six sections as tabled in the contents list.
Download or read book Building Soils for Better Crops written by Fred Magdoff and published by Sare. This book was released on 2009 with total page 294 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "'Published by the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program, with funding from the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture."
Download or read book Managing Organic Matter in Tropical Soils Scope and Limitations written by Christopher Martius and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2013-11-11 with total page 260 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Soil organic matter is a reservoir for plant nutrients, provides water-holding capacity, stabilizes soil structure against compaction and erosion, and thus determines soil productivity. All agriculture to some degree depends on soil organic matter. It has long been known that soil organic matter declines when land is taken into cultivation, and that the productivity of new agricultural land is governed by fertility contributions from decomposing natural organic matter. The expansion of agriculture to ever new and more fragile lands, particularly in tropical and developing regions, causes environmental degradation with local effects on soil quality, regional effects on landscape integrity and water quality, and global effects on carbon cycles and the atmosphere. This book summarizes current knowledge of the properties and dynamics of soil organic matter in the tropics, its role in determining soil quality, its stability and turnover, and the options for management in the context of tropical landuse systems, for a readership of resource scientists, economists and advanced students. Maintenance of organic matter is critical for preventing land degradation. Case studies and practical applications are therefore an important part of the book, as are the exploration of future directions in research and management.
Download or read book Soil Biology Primer written by and published by . This book was released on 1999 with total page 56 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Environmental Soil Biology written by M. Wood and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2013-03-07 with total page 157 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Environmental considerations are playing an increasingly important role in determining management strategies for soil and land. Many important environmental issues involve aspects of the biology of soil, and these issues cannot be considered satisfactorily in isolation from a general understanding of soil biology as a whole. This is the second edition of a book first published in 1989 and now thoroughly rewritten to focus on soil ecology and environmental issues. The first part of the book provides an introduction to soils, its inhabitants, and their activities. The second part covers the influence of man on the natural cycles of soil. Topics such as acid rain and nitrogen fertilizers are considered alongside pesticides and genetically modified organisms. A new final chapter has been added which considers how, as we move towards the next millennium, we can apply the concept of sustainability to issues such as global climate change and farming systems. The book is directed at advanced undergraduate and immediate postgraduate students in environmental science and soil ecology, with students of physical geography and earth sciences as an important secondary market.
