University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore

The book entitled 'Soil biology' imparts a scrupulous understanding of soil biota and soil microbial ecology. In addition to the advances in soil research, it describes the types of organisms dwelling in soil, soil microbial biomass and their interactions. This book provides an overview of the biodiversity of soil micro-organisms, rhizophere and phyllosphere regions. The book also highlights the biodegradation of pesticides, organic wastes, plastics, microbial toxins and decomposition of organic manures by soil organisms. This book elaborately describes the microbial biomass which is a part of the active SOM pool, and as an indicator of state and change of total SOM. It also presents measures for enzyme activity in the soil as an indicator of soil biological status. This text book is an excellent reference for agricultural professionals and post-graduates to execute the research works and provide fundamental knowledge on soil organisms. These compilations allow us to get a good grasp of the complexity of soil biological properties.

Soil Biota -- Soil fertility -- Soil Microbial Ecology -- Types of Organisms -- Soil Microbial Biomass -- Microbial Nutrient Transformation -- Microbial Interactions -- Biodiversity of Soil Micro-organisms -- Rhizosphere -- Phylloshpere -- Biodegrading -- Biodegradation of pesticides -- Microbial Toxins -- Decomposition of organic manures -- Biofertilizer -- Biotic factor in soil formation -- Humus Formation --- Soil Enzymes -- Biological Nitrogen Fixation -- Bioremediation.