Microfloral and faunal interactions in natural and agro-ecosystems

1. Front Matter

   Pages I-V

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2. Introduction

   • Myron J. Mitchell

   Pages 1-13

3. Nutrient Cycling and Decomposition in Natural Terrestrial Ecosystems

   • O. W. Heal, J. Dighton

   Pages 14-73

4. Decomposition and Nutrient Cycling in Agro-Ecosystems

   • Noorallah G. Juma, William B. McGill

   Pages 74-136

5. Biodegradation of Organic Residues in Soil

   • R. G. Burns, J. P. Martin

   Pages 137-202

6. Root and Soil Microbial Interactions which Influence the Availability of Photoassimilate Carbon to the Rhizosphere

   • A. J. M. Smucker, G. R. Safir

   Pages 203-244

7. The Role of Microorganisms in the Soil Nitrogen Cycle

   • M. Scott Smith, Charles W. Rice

   Pages 245-284

8. The Role of Microflora in Terrestrial Sulfur Cycling

   • J. P. Nakas

   Pages 285-316

9. The Role of Microfloral and Faunal Interactions in Affecting Soil Processes

   • D. C. Coleman

   Pages 317-348

10. Effects of Management on Soil Decomposers and Decomposition Processes in Grassland

    • J. P. Curry

    Pages 349-398

11. Recent Advances in Quantitative Soil Biology

    • D. W. Freckman, K. Cromack Jr., J. A. Wallwork

    Pages 399-442

12. The Role of Modeling in Research on Microfloral and Faunal Interactions in Natural and Agroecosystems

    • H. W. Hunt, W. J. Parton

    Pages 443-494

13. Back Matter

    Pages 495-505

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MYRON J. MITCHELL* The biota of soils constitute an integral part of both natural and agronomic ecosystems. The soil microflora and fauna in conjunction with the belowground portion of the Metaphyta or higher plants constitute the living milieu, components of which are in intimate association with each other as well as the abiotic constituents of the soil. Since these associations or interactions are important in regulat­ ing both the flux and availability of energy and nutrients, the central theme of the present book focuses on these interactions. The effects of microfloral and faunal inter­ actions with regard to overall ecosystem dynamics and specific critical processes will be examined. HISTORICAL ASPECTS The coverage of this volume is an extension of a vast body of literature which dates back to the 18th century. A brief compendium of major books and reviews published from 1960 to 1983 is given chronologically in Tables 1 and 2, respectively. Russell (1961) has reviewed work in the 1800's during which some of the basic tenets on the relationships between plant nutrition and soil properties became estab­ lished. In this period agricultural science was founded and the study of soil bacteriology began. The evolution of soil biology up to the early 1970's has been described by Satch211 in the volume edited by Dickinson and Pugh (1974). *Department of Environmental and Forest Biology, SUNY, College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Syracuse, NY 13210 2 ~ .

• Assimilat
• Flora
• cyclin
• ecosystems
• microorganism
• nitrogen
• residue
• residues
• soil

• College of Environmental Science and Forestry, State University of New York, Syracuse, USA

  Myron J. Mitchell, James P. Nakas

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