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Soil biology, physics and chemistry: occurrence of physicochemical parameters and surface properties on biological processes and population behavior Population biology and molecular ecology : methodological development and contribution to study microbial and faunal populations; diversity and population dynamics ; genetic transfers, influence of ...
The biological component of soil is an extremely important carbon sink since about 57% of the biotic content is carbon. Even in deserts, cyanobacteria, lichens and mosses form biological soil crusts which capture and sequester a significant amount of carbon by photosynthesis. Poor farming and grazing methods have degraded soils and released ...
Contrary to particle density, soil bulk density is highly variable for a given soil, with a strong causal relationship with soil biological activity and management strategies. [49] However, it has been shown that, depending on species and the size of their aggregates (faeces), earthworms may either increase or decrease soil bulk density. [ 50 ]
A soil scientist examining horizons within a soil profile. Soil science is the study of soil as a natural resource on the surface of the Earth including soil formation, classification and mapping; physical, chemical, biological, and fertility properties of soils; and these properties in relation to the use and management of soils.
Soil microbiology is the study of microorganisms in soil, their functions, and how they affect soil properties. [1] It is believed that between two and four billion years ago, the first ancient bacteria and microorganisms came about on Earth's oceans.
Soil is made up of a multitude of physical, chemical, and biological entities, with many interactions occurring among them. It is a heterogenous mixture of minerals and organic matter with variations in moisture, temperature and nutrients.
For example, biological soil crusts are more dominated by green algae on more acidic and less salty soils, whereas cyanobacteria are more favored on alkaline and haline soils. Within a climate zone , the abundance of lichens and mosses in biological soil crusts generally increases with increasing clay and silt content and decreasing sand.
Soil pores—maximized in a well-structured soil—allow oxygen and moisture to infiltrate to depths and plant roots to penetrate to obtain moisture and nutrients. [14] Biological activity helps in the maintenance of relatively open soil structure, as well as facilitating decomposition and the transportation and transformation of soil nutrients.