University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore

Soil microbiology is relatively a new branch of soil science. There are very few books dealing with microbiological activities in soil and this book aims at understanding the many facets of soil microbial activities which have direct as well as indirect effects on the growth and well-being of plants. It also outlines certain microbiological activities in soil, especially biological nitrogen fixation, that are involved in nutrient absorption by plants. Thus,in a brosad sense, the book will be useful to students of biology, microbiology and agriculture. This revised and updated edition in corporates some of the recent developments in the field.

Introduction -- Soil, the natural medium for plnat growth -- Soil microorganisms -- The rhizosphere and the phyllosphere -- Nitrogen fixation in free-living and associative symbiotic bacteria -- Nitrogen fixation by free-living blue-green algae -- Nitrogen fixation by symbiotic blue-green algae -- Rhizobium and legume root nodulation -- Actinorhizal plants (Frankia - induced nodulation) -- Organic matter decomposition -- Nitrification and denitrification -- Microbial products influencing plant growrh -- Sulphur, phosphorus and trace element nutrition -- Biodegradation of pesticides and pollutants -- Mycorrhizae -- Biotechnology in agriculture