Principles and Applications of Soil Microbiology

Written by leading experts in their respective fields, Principles and Applications of Soil Microbiology 3e, provides a comprehensive, balanced introduction to soil microbiology, and captures the rapid advances in the field such as recent discoveries regarding habitats and organisms, microbially mediated transformations, and applied environmental topics. Carefully edited for ease of reading, it aids users by providing an excellent multi-authored reference, the type of book that is continually used in the field. Background information is provided in the first part of the book for ease of comprehension. The following chapters then describe such fundamental topics as soil environment and microbial processes, microbial groups and their interactions, and thoroughly addresses critical nutrient cycles and important environmental and agricultural applications.

An excellent textbook and desk reference, Principles and Applications of Soil Microbiology, 3e, provides readers with broad, foundational coverage of the vast array of microorganisms that live in soil and the major biogeochemical processes they control. Soil scientists, environmental scientists, and others, including soil health and conservation specialists, will find this material invaluable for understanding the amazingly diverse world of soil microbiology, managing agricultural and environmental systems, and formulating environmental policy.

• Includes discussion of major microbial methods, embedded within topical chapters
• Includes information boxes and case studies throughout the text to illustrate major concepts and connect fundamental knowledge with potential applications
• Study questions at the end of each chapter allow readers to evaluate their understanding of the materials

Dr. Terry Gentry is a Professor at Texas A&M University and is also the Director of the Soil and Aquatic Microbiology Laboratory (SAML). He is an environmental microbiologist specializing in the development and use of molecular technologies to enhance the detection and remediation of environmental contamination. This includes the detection and identification of microbial pathogens from animal, human, and natural sources and also the characterization of microbial populations and communities contributing to applied remediation processes such as the bioremediation of organic and metal contaminants. He teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in soil and water microbiology. He is the author or co-author of two textbooks; 16 book chapters; and over 100 peer-reviewed journal articles.

Jeffry J. Fuhrmann is a Professor of Soil Microbiology in the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, with a joint appointment in Biological Sciences, at the University of Delaware. He teaches a graduate course in soil microbiology and undergraduate courses in introductory soil science and soils and sustainability. His research has focused primarily on the ecology and diversity of soybean bradyrhizobia using combined phenotypic and genotypic approaches. More recently, this emphasis has extended into analogous studies of associated bacteriophages. His research has additionally examined broader aspects of the microbial ecology of soils and the rhizosphere. He has served as an associate editor for the Soil Science Society of America Journal.

Dr. David A. Zuberer is a Professor Emeritus of Soil Microbiology in the Department of Soil and Crop Sciences at Texas A&M University. He taught soil microbiology continuously for >30 years in addition to maintaining an active research program in nitrogen fixation and rhizosphere microbiology. He served as a Technical Editor of the Soil Biology and Biochemistry Division (S3) of the Soil Science Society of America Journal. He is a Fellow of both the American Society of Agronomy and the Soil Science Society of America. He was the recipient of the 2003 Soil Science Education Award and the 2012 Agronomic Resident Education Award of the American Society of Agronomy. He is also a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.