The living soil : fundamentals of soil science and soil biology /
Jean-Michel Gobat, Michel Aragno, Willy Matthey ; translated from French by V.A.K. Sarma.
- xxii, 602 pages : illustrations (some colour), colour maps ; 25 cm
Includes bibliographical references (pages 551-582) and index.
The soil, an ecological system -- Building blocks of the soil system : inert constituents and living organisms -- Soil properties -- Life in action -- Formation, development and classification of soils -- Between life and soil : the humus forms -- Soil and vegetation : relationships at many levels -- Dead wood, excrements, carcasses and stones : soil annexes -- Jammed decomposition : from sphagnum to peat -- Compositing, a value addition to our wastes -- Bioremediation of contaminated soils -- Animals and ecological niches -- Food chains and webs in soil -- Soil enzymes -- The rhizosphere : a (micro)biologically active interface between plant and soil -- Soil mutualistic symbioses -- In the future ... soil biology! 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17.
"This book is organized in two parts: the first, for linear reading, provides the essential knowledge of general soil science; the second, for modular reading, covers varied subjects of soil biology, linked to fundamental as well as applied soil science." "Including more than 1300 definitions of terms and concepts, and illustrated by numerous actual and often unpublished examples, it constitutes a manual and at the same time a reference work of use to a wide public of students, teachers, researchers and practitioners."--BOOK JACKET.