Soil EcologySpringer Science & Business Media, 8 mai 2007 - 654 pages A number of excellent textbooks on general ecology are currently available but‚ to date‚ none have been dedicated to the study of soil ecology. This is important because the soil‚ as the ‘epidermis’ of our planet‚ is the major component of the terrestrial biosphere. In the present age‚ it is difficult to understand how one could be interested in general ecology without having some knowledge of the soil and further‚ to study the soil without taking into account its biological components and ecological setting. It is this deficiency that the two authors‚ Patrick Lavelle and Alister Spain‚ have wished to address in writing their text. A reading of this work‚ entitled ‘Soil Ecology’‚ shows it to be very complete and extremely innovative in its conceptual plan. In addition‚ it follows straightforwardly through a development which unfolds over four substantial chapters. Firstly‚ the authors consider the soil as a porous and finely divided medium of b- organomineral origin‚ whose physical structure and organisation foster the development of a multitude of specifically adapted organisms (microbial communities‚ roots of higher plants‚ macro-invertebrates). |
Table des matières
1 | |
x | 23 |
SOIL FORMATION | 143 |
SOIL ORGANISMS | 201 |
FUNCTIONING OF THE SOIL SYSTEM | 357 |
531 | |
619 | |
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Expressions et termes fréquents
abundance accumulate acid Actinobacteria aggregates alfisol anecic ants areas associated bacteria biological biomass biota calcium carbon cations Chapter characteristic chemical classification clay minerals climate colonies communities components compounds comprise concentrations crop decomposing densities depending depth digestion distribution dominant earthworms ecosystem effects Enchytraeidae endogeic environments epigeal estimated example exudates factors feed Figure forest formation fungal groups growth higher plants horizons humic humid hyphae important increase influence ingest inorganic inputs interactions invertebrates Lavelle layers leaching lignin litter system major micro-organisms microbial activity microbial biomass microflora mineralisation mounds nematodes nests nitrogen nutrient nutrient elements occur oxides oxisols parent materials particles pedogenesis phosphorus physical populations pores potential present processes production protists rainforest range rhizosphere roles roots savannas scales smectites soil organic matter soil solution soil surface soil water soluble spodosols substantial temperate temperature termites tissues translocation tropical types vegetation vertisols weathering