Interactions in Soil: Promoting Plant Growth, Softcover reprint of the original 1st ed. 2014 Promoting Plant Growth Biodiversity, Community and Ecosystems Series, Vol. 1

This book investigates soil ecology and biodiversity for its ability to maintain a balance of beneficial organisms to support plant growth. This subject is discussed by a group of international authors in natural, agricultural and urban systems. The importance of biodiversity per se and, specifically, the feedbacks between the plant and soil biota in mediating soil function are emphasized. Examples are selected from allelopathy and invasive plant species along with the, hitherto overlooked, role of viruses in soil. The book is intended to provide a framework for a holistic understanding of the essential role of soil organisms in promoting plant growth.

Preface.- 1. Introduction: Soils and Their Promotion of Plant Growth;J. Dighton.- 1.1. Introduction.- 1.2. Suppressive soils.- 1.3. Soil biodiversity.- 1.4. The rhizosphere as a unique niche.- 1.4.1. Antifungal properties of the rhizosphere.- 1.4.2. Herbivory protection in the rhizosphere.- 1.4.3. Mycorrhizae as a component of the rhizosphere.- 1.5. Viruses.- 1.6. Earthworms: ecosystem engineers and soil disturbance.- 1.7. Pollution, urbanization and invasive species.- 1.8. New tools in the tool box: Molecular determination of diversity and transcriptomics for function.- 1.9. Conclusion.- References.- 2. Soils supporting Biodiversity; E. Havlicek, E. Mitchell.- 2.1. Introduction.- 2.2. Soils as complex systems.- 2.3. Soils as a product of species diversity.- 2.3.1. Functional roles of soil dwellers.- 2.3.2. Plants considered as soil dwellers.- 2.3.3. Soil properties and soil organisms.- 2.4. Aggregates as functional units.- 2.4.1. Structure, a key property of soils.- 2.4.1.1. Good structure versus bad structure.- 2.4.2. Formation of aggregates.- 2.4.2.1. Physical mechanisms in subsoil.- 2.4.2.2. Biological mechanisms in topsoil.- 2.5. Biodiversity as a product of soils.- 2.5.1. Heterogeneity of habitats and functions.- 2.5.1.1. Approach to body size.- 2.5.1.2. Approach according to the function of organisms.- 2.5.2. Why is soil biodiversity so high?.- 2.5.2.1. Spatial heterogeneity.- 2.5.2.2. Food resources.- 2.6. Conclusion: beyond soil science.- References.- 3. Beneficial Interactions in the Rhizosphere; W. H. G. Hol et al.- 3.1. Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria.- 3.1.1. Mechanisms: nutrients, protection, hormones.- 3.1.1.1. Nutrients.- 3.1.1.2. Tolerance to other abiotic stress.- 3.1.1.3. Plant protection.- 3.1.1.4. Plant hormones.- 3.1.2. Role of PGPR species identity, diversity, and function.- 3.1.3. Latest developments.- 3.2. Mycorrhizal fungi.- 3.2.1. Mechanisms: nutrients, protection, hormones.- 3.2.1.1. Nutrients.- 3.2.1.2. Plant protection against herbivores and pathogens.- 3.2.1.3. Tolerance to abiotic stress.- 3.2.2. Role of mycorrhizal species identity and diversity.- 3.2.3. Latest developments.- 3.3. Other plant growth promoting fungi.- 3.3.1. Mechanisms: nutrients, protection, hormones.- 3.3.1.1. Nutrients.- 3.3.1.2. Plant protection against herbivores and pathogens.- 3.3.1.3. Tolerance to abiotic stress.- 3.3.1.4. Plant hormones.- 3.3.2. Latest developments.- 3.4. Interactions between mycorrhizal fungi, other fungi and rhizobacteria.- 3.5. Concluding thoughts and summary.- References.- 4. Trophic Interactions in Soil that Support Primary Production; J. Krumins.- 4.1. Introduction.- 4.2. Cyclic nature of food webs in soils.- 4.3. The paradox of herbivory.- 4.3.1. Herbivore efficiency.- 4.4. Multi-trophic biodiversity of soils supporting plant communities.- 4.4.1. What we know about soil biodiversity.- 4.4.2. How soil diversity can support primary production.- 4.5. Discussion and a view to future research.- References.- 5. Soils Suppressing Biodiversity; G. Pérès.- 5.1. Introduction.- 5.2. Biodiversity belowground as well as aboveground.- 5.2.1. Soil biodiversity and soil properties.- 5.3. Biodiversity of contaminated soils.- 5.4. Soil biodiversity and agriculture.- 5.4.1. Soil tillage.- 5.4.1.1. Earthworms.- 5.4.1.2. Collembola.- 5.4.1.3. Nematodes.- 5.4.1.4. Microoganisms.- 5.4.2. Organic farming and conventional farming.- 5.4.2.1. Impact of organic farming on soil biodiversity.- 5.4.2.2. Organic vineyards.- 5.4.2.3. Organic farming in crop systems.- 5.4.2.4. Organic grassland farming.- 5.4.3. From forest ecosystem to agroforestry systems.- 5.4.3.1. Forest ecosystem.- 5.4.3.2. How can soil biodiversity and functions be impacted in forest ecosystem?.- 5.4.3.3. Agroforestry systems.- 5.5. Conclusions.- References.- 6. Root Pathogens; A. Termorshuizen.- 6.1. Introduction.- 6.2. Examples of root pathogens.- 6.3. Function of root pathogens.- 6.4. Ecology of root pathogens.- 6.4.1. Managed vegetations.- 6.4.2. Unmanaged vegetations.- 6.5. Conclusions.- References.- 7. Non-Trophic Interactions: Allelopathy; P. Pavlović et al.- 7.1. Introduction.- 7.2. Effects of allelopathic chemicals on plants and microbes.- 7.2.1. The mode of action.- 7.2.2. Role of allelopathy in promoting plant growth and ecosystem regeneration.- 7.2.3. Role of allelopathy in restricting plant growth and ecosystem regeneration.- 7.3. Examples of allelopathy in managed and natural ecosystems.- 7.3.1. Managed ecosystems.- 7.3.1.1. Phytotoxicity and soil sickness.- 7.3.1.2. Allelopathic crops.- 7.3.1.3. Agroforestry systems.- 7.3.1.4. Forest ecosystems.- 7.3.2. Natural ecosystems.- 7.3.2.1. Population and community structure changes by invasive species.- 7.4. Conclusion.- 7.5. Acknowledgements.- References.- 8. Viruses in Soil; B. Reavy et al.- 8.1. Introduction.- 8.2. Abundance and diversity of viruses in soils.- 8.3. Effects of viruses pathogenic to soil-inhabiting organisms.- 8.4. Plant-pathogenic viruses in soil.- 8.5. Gene transfer.- 8.6. Future prospects.- References.- 9. Soils Suppressing and Promoting Non-native Plant Invasions; K. Elgersma.- 9.1. Effects of soils on invasion rates.- 9.1.1. Soil fertility and the productivity-invasibility relationship.- 9.1.2. Soil biota and biotic resistance to invasion.- 9.1.3. Interactive effects of soil fertility and soil biota on invisibility.- 9.2. Effects of invasions on soils and plant-soil feedbacks.- 9.2.1. Feedbacks between plant invasion and soil fertility.- 9.2.2. Feedbacks between plant invasion and soil biota.- 9.2.3. Feedbacks driven by interactions between soil biota and fertility.- 9.3. Conclusions.- References.- 10. Urban Soils and the Challenge of Restoring Natural Ecosystems; P.A. Hazelton, A. Clements.- 10.1. Introduction.- 10.2. Case study: Sydney, Australia.- 10.3. Conclusions.- References.- 11. Towards a Holistic Approach to Soils and Plant Growth; D. C. Coleman, S. Fu.- 11.1. Introduction.- 11.2. Temporal and spatial dimensions of soil ecology.- 11.3. An integrative framework.- References.- Index.

Provides a framework for a holistic approach to understanding the supporting role of soil biodiversity for plant growth

Discusses plant-soil feedbacks in natural, agricultural and urban soils

The book takes a novel approach by emphasizing positive as opposed to negative feedbacks in soil. This is a perspective that has been presented far less

Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras