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Soils into which crop plants root and from which they obtain essential minerals and water contain huge arrays of microbes. Many have highly beneficial effects on crop growth and productivity, others are pathogens causing diseases and losses to yield and quality, a few microbes offer protection from these pathogenic forms and others have little or no effect. These intimate and often complex inter-relationships are being explored with increasing success providing exciting opportunities for increasing crop yields and quality in sustainable harmony with the populations of beneficial soil microbes and to the detriment of pathogens. Soil Microbiology and Sustainable Crop Production explores current knowledge for each of these aspects of soil microbiology and indicates where future progress is most likely to aid in increasing crop productivity by means which are environmentally benign and beneficial.
Author addresses
Preface
1: The Nature of Sustainable Agriculture; Andrew D. Noble and Sawaeng Ruaysoongnern
2: The microbiology of natural soils; Teri C. Balser, Devin Wixon, Lindsey K. Moritz and Laura Lipps
3: Soil microbiology and nutrient cycling; D.W. Hopkins and J.A.J. Dungait
4: The Role of Microbial Communities in the Formation and Decomposition of Soil Organic Matter; Leo Condron, Christine Stark, Maureen O'Callaghan, Peter Clinton and Zhiqun Huang
5: Intimate Associations of Beneficial Soil Microbes with Host Plants; Oksana Y. Shtark, Alexey Y. Borisov, Vladimir A. Zhukov, Nikolay A. Provorov and Igor A. Tikhonovich
6: Soilborne Pathogens and their Interactions with the Soil Environment; Geoffrey R Dixon and Emma L. Tilston
7: The impact of land - use practices on soil microbes; Emma L. Tilston, Tom P. Sizmur, Wilfred Otten and Jim A. Harris
8: The effects of plant breeding on soil microbes; Petra Marschner and Zed Rengel
9: Utilizing Soil Microbes for Biocontrol; Alison Stewart, Michael Brownbridge, Robert A. Hill and Trevor A. Jackson
10: How will climate change impact soil microbial communities? T.C. Balser, J.L.M. Gutknecht and C. Liang
11: Evaluating the economic and social impact of soil microbes; Harpinder S. Sandhu, Vadakattu V.S.R. Gupta and Stephen D. Wratten
"Provides a succinct overview of the complex inter-relationships between beneficial soil microbes and crop plants, and highlights the potential for utilization of these relationships to enhance crop productivity and environmental health. [...] This collection is ideal for graduate and post-graduate students interested in delving into the largely unexplored realm of soil microbes in agricultural production systems, as well as seasoned agricultural research scientists and policy-makers interested in new approaches that bridge multiple disciplines to develop production systems that are truly sustainable."
- Lori A. Hoagland, Chronica Horticulturae, Vol. 51 (2), 2011
"Provides an insight into the developing knowledge of soil microbes and points to ways in which they can be utilised in support of agronomically and environmentally sustainable crop production. The eleven chapters develop the subject in a logical sequence. [...] Prof. Geoffrey Dixon and Dr. Emma Tilston have done an excellent job in the production of this book and it should stand as a key work in this field for many years. It is an absolute must for the bookshelf of every vegetable consultant."
- Rob Jacobson, Vegetable Consultants Association Newsletter, Issue 93, August, 2011
"A welcome addition to the literature. [...] Chapters describes how microbes, plants and their soil environment interact, the effect of land use on microbes, how soil microorganisms can suppress disease and the potential impact of a changing environment on these interactions. [...] the book does its job well in demonstrating the value of soil microbiology research to inform better management of disease. [...] this book is an important waymark on our journey to discover and value one of the most vital resources for agriculture worldwide."
- Richard Thwaites, Plant Pathology, Vol. 60, 2011
