Microbial Biomass

A Paradigm Shift in Terrestrial Biogeochemistry

Microbial Biomass informs readers of the ongoing global revolution in understanding soil and ecosystem microbial processes. The first paper on the subject was written by David Jenkinson in 1966, and here new insights and expansions are given on the fascinating world of soil microbial processes. In terms of contemporary issues, it also serves to support urgent efforts to sustainably manage land to feed a growing world population without compromising the environment. It presents new methods of investigation which are leading to more sustainable management of ecosystems, and improved understanding of ecosystem changes in an increasingly warmer world.

The book approaches the topic by looking at the emergence of our understanding of soil biological processes, and begins by tracing the conception and first measurement of soil microbial biomass. Following this, changes in ecosystems, and in natural ecosystem processes are discussed in relation to land management issues and global change. Microbial biomass and its diversity are recognized as key factors in finding solutions for more sustainable land and ecosystem management, aided by new molecular and other tools. Information from the use of these tools is now being incorporated into emerging microbial-explicit predictive models, to help us study changes in earth system processes.

Perfect for use in research and practice, this book is written for undergraduate and graduate students, researchers and professionals of agronomy, chemistry, geology, physical geography, ecology, biology, microbiology, silviculture and soil science.

Contents:

• Through the Eye of the Needle — The Story of the Soil Microbial Biomass (David Powlson, Jianming Xu and Philip Brookes)
• The Role of the Soil Microbial Biomass in Cycling Nutrients (William R Horwath)
• Managing Soil Microbial Biomass for Sustainable Agro-Ecosystems (Elizabeth A Stockdale and Daniel V Murphy)
• Microbial Biomass and Functions in Paddy Soil (Kazuyuki Inubushi and Hirohiko Nagano)
• Soil Biodiversity and Ecosystem Functioning (Richard D Bardgett, Franciska T de Vries and Wim H van der Putten)
• Building Predictive Models for Diverse Microbial Communities in Soil (Steven D Allison)
• Dynamic Compound-Specific Stable Isotope Probing of the Soil Microbial Biomass (Richard P Evershed, Alice F Charteris, Peter J Maxfield, Ian D Bull and Timothy D J Knowles)
• Emerging Culture-Independent Tools to Enhance Our Understanding of Soil Microbial Ecology (Hongwei Liu, Hooman Mirzaee, Vivian Rincon-Florez, Richard Moyle, Marie Spohn, Lilia C Carvalhais and Peer M Schenk)
• Microbial Ecosystem Functions in Wetlands under Disturbance (Anne K Steenbergh, Annelies J Veraart, Adrian Ho and Paul L E Bodelier)
• Arctic Soil Microbial Sensitivity to Seasonal Dynamics and Climate Change (Anders Priemé, Daan Blok, Merian Skouw Haugwitz, Jana Voříšková and Bo Elberling)

Readership: Undergraduate and graduate students, researchers and professionals of agronomy, chemistry, geology, physical geography, ecology, biology, microbiology, silviculture and ecology.