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This book gathers the latest insights into soil health and its
sustainability, providing an up-to-date overview of the various
aspects of soil quality and fertility management, e.g.,
plant-microbe interactions to maintain soil health; and the use of
algal, fungal and bacterial fertilizers and earthworms for
sustainable soil health and agricultural production. It first
discusses the past, present, and future scenarios of soil health,
and then explores factors influencing soil health, as well as the
consequences of degradation of soil health for sustainable
agriculture. Lastly it highlights solutions to improve and maintain
soil health so as to achieve greater productivity and
sustainability without damaging the soil system or the environment.
Soil health is defined as the capacity of a soil to function within
ecosystem frontiers, to sustain biological productivity, to
maintain environmental quality and to promote plant, animal and
human health. Soil health is established through the interactions
of physical, chemical and biological properties, e.g., soil
texture, soil structure, and soil organisms. Healthy soil provides
adequate levels of macro- and micronutrients to plants and contains
sufficient populations of soil microorganisms. As a result of the
increasingly intensified agriculture over the past few decades,
soils are now showing symptoms of exhaustion and stagnating or
declining crop yields. Exploring these developments as well as
possible solutions based on holistic and sustainable approaches,
this book is a valuable resource for researchers in the area of
soil and environmental science, agronomy, agriculture, as well as
students in the field of botany, ecology and microbiology.
This book gathers the latest insights into soil health and its
sustainability, providing an up-to-date overview of the various
aspects of soil quality and fertility management, e.g.,
plant-microbe interactions to maintain soil health; and the use of
algal, fungal and bacterial fertilizers and earthworms for
sustainable soil health and agricultural production. It first
discusses the past, present, and future scenarios of soil health,
and then explores factors influencing soil health, as well as the
consequences of degradation of soil health for sustainable
agriculture. Lastly it highlights solutions to improve and maintain
soil health so as to achieve greater productivity and
sustainability without damaging the soil system or the environment.
Soil health is defined as the capacity of a soil to function within
ecosystem frontiers, to sustain biological productivity, to
maintain environmental quality and to promote plant, animal and
human health. Soil health is established through the interactions
of physical, chemical and biological properties, e.g., soil
texture, soil structure, and soil organisms. Healthy soil provides
adequate levels of macro- and micronutrients to plants and contains
sufficient populations of soil microorganisms. As a result of the
increasingly intensified agriculture over the past few decades,
soils are now showing symptoms of exhaustion and stagnating or
declining crop yields. Exploring these developments as well as
possible solutions based on holistic and sustainable approaches,
this book is a valuable resource for researchers in the area of
soil and environmental science, agronomy, agriculture, as well as
students in the field of botany, ecology and microbiology.
This book provides a comprehensive overview of the benefits of
biofertilizers as an alternative to chemical fertilizers and
pesticides. Agricultural production has increased massively over
the last century due to increased use of chemical fertilizers and
pesticides, but these gains have come at a price. The chemicals are
not only expensive; they also reduce microbial activity in
agricultural soils and accumulate in the food chain, with
potentially harmful effects for humans. Accordingly, it is high
time to explore alternatives and to find solutions to overcome our
increasing dependence on these chemicals. Biofertilizers, which
consist of plant remains, organic matter and microorganisms, might
offer an alternative. They are natural, organic, biodegradable,
eco-friendly and cost-effective. Further, the microbes present in
the biofertilizers are important, because they produce nutrients
required for plant growth (e.g., nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium),
as well as substances essential for plant growth and development
(e.g., auxins and cytokinins). Biofertilizers also improve the
physical properties, fertility and productivity of soil, reducing
the need for chemical fertilizers while maintaining high crop
yield. This makes biofertilizers a powerful tool for sustainable
agriculture and a sustainable environment. The book covers the
latest research on biofertilizers, ranging from beneficial fungal,
bacterial and algal inoculants; to microbes for bioremediation,
wastewater treatment; and recycling of biodegradable municipal,
agricultural and industrial waste; as well as biocontrol agents and
bio-pesticides. As such, it offers a valuable resource for
researchers, academics and students in the broad fields of
microbiology and agriculture.
This book gathers the latest findings on the microbial ecology of
saline habitats, plant-microbe interactions under saline
conditions, and saline soil reclamation for agricultural use. The
content is divided into four main parts: Part I outlines the
definition of salinity, its genesis and impacts, and microbial
diversity in saline habitats. Part II deals with impact of salinity
on microbial and plant life/health. Part III highlights plant -
microbe interactions in saline environments, and Part IV describes
strategies for mitigation and reclamation of saline soils. The
salinization of arable land is steadily increasing in many parts of
the world. An excessive concentration of soluble salts (salinity)
in soils or irrigation water adversely affects plant growth and
survival. This problem is exacerbated in arid and semiarid areas
due to their low precipitation and high evaporation rates. In turn,
poor management practices and policies for using river water for
the irrigation of agriculture crops often lead to the secondary
salinization of soils. Considering the growing demands of a
constantly expanding population, understanding the microbial
ecology and interactions under saline conditions and their
implications for sustainable agriculture is of utmost importance.
Providing both an essential review of the status quo and a future
outlook, this book represents a valuable asset for researchers,
environmentalists and students working in microbiology and
agriculture. .
The book 'Root Biology' written by experts in the field, covers
latest research on cellular, genetic, physiological and ecological
developmental facets of root growth as well as the interaction of
root with an array of microbes whether for the establishment of
symbiosis, increasing plant growth or protecting plant from
pathogens/attackers. Plant roots provide an excellent model to
study physiological, developmental and metabolic processes at a
system level. Root system architecture - an excellent creation of
nature, is closely interconnected with the availability of soil
nutrients. Several strategies including biotechnological
interventions are gaining interest and importance for sustainable
food production and enhanced resource acquisition. Such strategies
have largely focused on root traits for efficient utilization of
soil resources. The biotechnological application of root biology is
expected to promote the production of food while maintaining
ecologically and economically sustainable production systems. With
a fortune of information on technical and experimental aspects
useful in the laboratory, this extensive book is a valuable
resource for researchers, academician and students in the broad
field of microbiology, plant and fungal biology.
This edited volume covers all aspects of the latest research in the
field of soil formation and its functioning, soil diversity, soil
proteomics, the impact of anthropogenic activities on the
pedosphere, plant-microbe interactions in the pedosphere, and
factors influencing the formation and functioning of the soils. In
the pedosphere, all forms of soils possess a particular type of
structure and different organic and mineral components. Thus, the
pedosphere as a whole plays a significant role in providing unique
habitats for a vast diversity of life forms, developing a link
between geological and biological substances circulation in the
terrestrial ecosystems. In the processes making available
vital mineral elements to plants and supporting human health as
various trace elements in the lithosphere are accessed by people
through the formation of soils and such soils are utilized for food
production. With the depth of information on different aspects of
soil, this extensive volume is a valuable resource for the
researchers in the area of soil science, agronomy, agriculture,
scientists in academia, crop consultants, policymakers, government
from diverse disciplines, and graduate and post-graduate students
in the area of soil and environmental science.
This edited volume covers all aspects of the latest research in the
field of soil formation and its functioning, soil diversity, soil
proteomics, the impact of anthropogenic activities on the
pedosphere, plant-microbe interactions in the pedosphere, and
factors influencing the formation and functioning of the soils. In
the pedosphere, all forms of soils possess a particular type of
structure and different organic and mineral components. Thus, the
pedosphere as a whole plays a significant role in providing unique
habitats for a vast diversity of life forms, developing a link
between geological and biological substances circulation in the
terrestrial ecosystems. In the processes making available vital
mineral elements to plants and supporting human health as various
trace elements in the lithosphere are accessed by people through
the formation of soils and such soils are utilized for food
production. With the depth of information on different aspects of
soil, this extensive volume is a valuable resource for the
researchers in the area of soil science, agronomy, agriculture,
scientists in academia, crop consultants, policymakers, government
from diverse disciplines, and graduate and post-graduate students
in the area of soil and environmental science.
This book provides a comprehensive overview of the benefits of
biofertilizers as an alternative to chemical fertilizers and
pesticides. Agricultural production has increased massively over
the last century due to increased use of chemical fertilizers and
pesticides, but these gains have come at a price. The chemicals are
not only expensive; they also reduce microbial activity in
agricultural soils and accumulate in the food chain, with
potentially harmful effects for humans. Accordingly, it is high
time to explore alternatives and to find solutions to overcome our
increasing dependence on these chemicals. Biofertilizers, which
consist of plant remains, organic matter and microorganisms, might
offer an alternative. They are natural, organic, biodegradable,
eco-friendly and cost-effective. Further, the microbes present in
the biofertilizers are important, because they produce nutrients
required for plant growth (e.g., nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium),
as well as substances essential for plant growth and development
(e.g., auxins and cytokinins). Biofertilizers also improve the
physical properties, fertility and productivity of soil, reducing
the need for chemical fertilizers while maintaining high crop
yield. This makes biofertilizers a powerful tool for sustainable
agriculture and a sustainable environment. The book covers the
latest research on biofertilizers, ranging from beneficial fungal,
bacterial and algal inoculants; to microbes for bioremediation,
wastewater treatment; and recycling of biodegradable municipal,
agricultural and industrial waste; as well as biocontrol agents and
bio-pesticides. As such, it offers a valuable resource for
researchers, academics and students in the broad fields of
microbiology and agriculture.
This book gathers the latest findings on the microbial ecology of
saline habitats, plant-microbe interactions under saline
conditions, and saline soil reclamation for agricultural use. The
content is divided into four main parts: Part I outlines the
definition of salinity, its genesis and impacts, and microbial
diversity in saline habitats. Part II deals with impact of salinity
on microbial and plant life/health. Part III highlights plant -
microbe interactions in saline environments, and Part IV describes
strategies for mitigation and reclamation of saline soils. The
salinization of arable land is steadily increasing in many parts of
the world. An excessive concentration of soluble salts (salinity)
in soils or irrigation water adversely affects plant growth and
survival. This problem is exacerbated in arid and semiarid areas
due to their low precipitation and high evaporation rates. In turn,
poor management practices and policies for using river water for
the irrigation of agriculture crops often lead to the secondary
salinization of soils. Considering the growing demands of a
constantly expanding population, understanding the microbial
ecology and interactions under saline conditions and their
implications for sustainable agriculture is of utmost importance.
Providing both an essential review of the status quo and a future
outlook, this book represents a valuable asset for researchers,
environmentalists and students working in microbiology and
agriculture. .
The book 'Root Biology' written by experts in the field, covers
latest research on cellular, genetic, physiological and ecological
developmental facets of root growth as well as the interaction of
root with an array of microbes whether for the establishment of
symbiosis, increasing plant growth or protecting plant from
pathogens/attackers. Plant roots provide an excellent model to
study physiological, developmental and metabolic processes at a
system level. Root system architecture - an excellent creation of
nature, is closely interconnected with the availability of soil
nutrients. Several strategies including biotechnological
interventions are gaining interest and importance for sustainable
food production and enhanced resource acquisition. Such strategies
have largely focused on root traits for efficient utilization of
soil resources. The biotechnological application of root biology is
expected to promote the production of food while maintaining
ecologically and economically sustainable production systems. With
a fortune of information on technical and experimental aspects
useful in the laboratory, this extensive book is a valuable
resource for researchers, academician and students in the broad
field of microbiology, plant and fungal biology.
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