Methods in Soil Biology

In terrestrial ecosystems, soil microorganisms and soil animals are essential for litter degradation, soil formation and the availability of nutrients and trace elements. The measurement of biological soil parameters allows a rapid evaluation of the effects of chemical and physical influences due to pollutants or soil management.
This book introduces a number of well proved methods for the analysis of carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus and sulfur cycles. It focuses further on the determination of the number and biomass of microorganisms, algae and animals in the soil. Particular emphasis is placed on the comprehensible and complete description of the experimental procedures.

I Methods in Soil Microbiology.- 1 Introduction.- 2 Soil Sampling and Sample Preparation.- 3 Bacterial Biomass.- 4 Indirect Estimation of Microbial Biomass.- 5 Community Structure of Soil Microorganisms.- 6 Soil Respiration.- 7 Dynamics of Soil Organic Matter.- 8 Non-Symbiontic Nitrogen Fixation.- 9 Nitrogen Mineralization.- 10 Nitrification and Denitrification.- 11 Enzymes Involved in Nitrogen Metabolism.- 12 Enzymes Involved in Carbon Metabolism.- 13 Enzymes Involved in Phosphorus Metabolism.- 14 Enzymes Involved in Sulfur Metabolism.- 15 Enzymes Involved in Intracellular Metabolism.- 16 Adenosine Phosphates.- 17 Indolic and Phenolic Compounds.- 18 Ectomycorrhizae.- 19 Soil Algae.- 20 Ecophysiological Parameters.- II Methods in Soil Zoology.- 21 Introduction.- 22 Microfauna.- 23 Mesofauna.- 24 Endogeic Macrofauna.- 25 Epigeic Macrofauna.- 26 Functional Activity of Soil Animals.- 27 Microbial-Faunal Interactions in Soils.- III Methods in Soil Physics and Chemistry.- 28 Methods in Soil Physics.- 29 Methods in Soil Chemistry.- Appendix: Basic Laboratory Equipment.