Microfloral and faunal interactions in natural and agro-ecosystems

MYRON J. MITCHELL\* The biota of soils constitute an integral part of both natural and agronomic ecosystems. The soil microflora and fauna in conjunction with the belowground portion of the Metaphyta or higher plants constitute the living milieu, components of which are in intimate association with each other as well as the abiotic constituents of the soil. Since these associations or interactions are important in regulat­ ing both the flux and availability of energy and nutrients, the central theme of the present book focuses on these interactions. The effects of microfloral and faunal inter­ actions with regard to overall ecosystem dynamics and specific critical processes will be examined. HISTORICAL ASPECTS The coverage of this volume is an extension of a vast body of literature which dates back to the 18th century. A brief compendium of major books and reviews published from 1960 to 1983 is given chronologically in Tables 1 and 2, respectively. Russell (1961) has reviewed work in the 1800's during which some of the basic tenets on the relationships between plant nutrition and soil properties became estab­ lished. In this period agricultural science was founded and the study of soil bacteriology began. The evolution of soil biology up to the early 1970's has been described by Satch211 in the volume edited by Dickinson and Pugh (1974). \*Department of Environmental and Forest Biology, SUNY, College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Syracuse, NY 13210 2 ~ . MYRON J. MITCHELL* The biota of soils constitute an integral part of both natural and agronomic ecosystems. The soil microflora and fauna in conjunction with the belowground portion of the Metaphyta or higher plants constitute the living milieu, components of which are in intimate association with each other as well as the abiotic constituents of the soil. Since these associations or interactions are important in regulatƯ ing both the flux and availability of energy and nutrients, the central theme of the present book focuses on these interactions. The effects of microfloral and faunal interƯ actions with regard to overall ecosystem dynamics and specific critical processes will be examined. HISTORICAL ASPECTS The coverage of this volume is an extension of a vast body of literature which dates back to the 18th century. A brief compendium of major books and reviews published from 1960 to 1983 is given chronologically in Tables 1 and 2, respectively. Russell (1961) has reviewed work in the 1800's during which some of the basic tenets on the relationships between plant nutrition and soil properties became estabƯ lished. In this period agricultural science was founded and the study of soil bacteriology began. The evolution of soil biology up to the early 1970's has been described by Satch211 in the volume edited by Dickinson and Pugh (1974). *Department of Environmental and Forest Biology, SUNY, College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Syracuse, NY 13210 2 ~ Front Matter....Pages I-V Introduction....Pages 1-13 Nutrient Cycling and Decomposition in Natural Terrestrial Ecosystems....Pages 14-73 Decomposition and Nutrient Cycling in Agro-Ecosystems....Pages 74-136 Biodegradation of Organic Residues in Soil....Pages 137-202 Root and Soil Microbial Interactions which Influence the Availability of Photoassimilate Carbon to the Rhizosphere....Pages 203-244 The Role of Microorganisms in the Soil Nitrogen Cycle....Pages 245-284 The Role of Microflora in Terrestrial Sulfur Cycling....Pages 285-316 The Role of Microfloral and Faunal Interactions in Affecting Soil Processes....Pages 317-348 Effects of Management on Soil Decomposers and Decomposition Processes in Grassland....Pages 349-398 Recent Advances in Quantitative Soil Biology....Pages 399-442 The Role of Modeling in Research on Microfloral and Faunal Interactions in Natural and Agroecosystems....Pages 443-494 Back Matter....Pages 495-505