Defining soil quality

This book provides a selection of microbiological methods that are already applied in regional or national soil quality monitoring programmes. It is presented in two parts: (1) gives an overview of approaches to monitoring, evaluating and managing soil quality; and (2) provides the detailed methods to use this book as a practical handbook in the laboratory. The methods are described in chapters on soil microbial biomass and numbers, soil microbial activity, soil microbial diversity and community composition, plant-microbe interactions and soil quality. Finally, a census is given of the main methods used in over 30 European laboratories. This book will be of significant use to postgraduate students and researchers in soil science and microbiology, and to policy makers and land managers. [Book Synopsis