The micro-organisms of the soil

The volume surveys the living community within soil and its interactions with plants, tracing historical ideas about decomposition and nitrification before detailing the biology and ecology of bacteria, protozoa, algae, fungi, and soil invertebrates. It explains microbial roles in breaking down organic matter, cycling nutrients such as nitrogen, and producing plant-available compounds while noting conditions that govern microbial activity and occasional pathogenic effects. Chapters combine observational and experimental perspectives from specialists and conclude with a synthesis of the chemical activities of the soil population and their practical implications for plant growth and agricultural management.