Soil Science and Management

  1. Soil Biology and Organic Matter
    1. Soil Organisms
      1. Classification by Size
        1. Macrofauna
          1. Earthworms
            1. Arthropods
              1. Mollusks
              2. Mesofauna
                1. Mites
                  1. Springtails
                    1. Enchytraeids
                    2. Microfauna
                      1. Nematodes
                        1. Protozoa
                          1. Rotifers
                          2. Microorganisms
                            1. Bacteria
                              1. Archaea
                                1. Fungi
                                  1. Algae
                                    1. Viruses
                                2. Soil Food Web
                                  1. Trophic Levels
                                    1. Primary Producers
                                      1. Primary Consumers
                                        1. Secondary Consumers
                                          1. Decomposers
                                          2. Energy Flow
                                            1. Nutrient Cycling
                                            2. Functions of Soil Organisms
                                              1. Organic Matter Decomposition
                                                1. Fragmentation
                                                  1. Chemical Breakdown
                                                    1. Mineralization
                                                    2. Nutrient Cycling
                                                      1. Nitrogen Transformations
                                                        1. Phosphorus Cycling
                                                          1. Sulfur Cycling
                                                          2. Soil Structure Formation
                                                            1. Aggregate Formation
                                                              1. Pore Creation
                                                              2. Plant Interactions
                                                                1. Symbiotic Relationships
                                                                  1. Pathogenic Relationships
                                                                    1. Beneficial Associations
                                                                    2. Pollutant Degradation
                                                                    3. Soil Organic Matter
                                                                      1. Sources of Organic Matter
                                                                        1. Plant Residues
                                                                          1. Root Exudates
                                                                            1. Microbial Biomass
                                                                              1. Animal Residues
                                                                              2. Composition of Organic Matter
                                                                                1. Carbohydrates
                                                                                  1. Proteins
                                                                                    1. Lipids
                                                                                      1. Lignin
                                                                                        1. Humic Substances
                                                                                        2. Decomposition Processes
                                                                                          1. Factors Affecting Decomposition
                                                                                            1. Temperature
                                                                                              1. Moisture
                                                                                                1. Oxygen Availability
                                                                                                  1. pH
                                                                                                    1. Substrate Quality
                                                                                                  2. Humus Formation
                                                                                                    1. Humification Pathways
                                                                                                      1. Humic Acid Formation
                                                                                                        1. Fulvic Acid Formation
                                                                                                        2. Functions of Organic Matter
                                                                                                          1. Nutrient Supply
                                                                                                            1. Water Retention
                                                                                                              1. Soil Structure
                                                                                                                1. Cation Exchange
                                                                                                                  1. pH Buffering
                                                                                                                  2. Management of Organic Matter
                                                                                                                    1. Crop Residue Management
                                                                                                                      1. Cover Crops
                                                                                                                        1. Organic Amendments
                                                                                                                          1. Tillage Effects

                                                                                                                      Previous

                                                                                                                      5. Soil Chemistry and Mineralogy

                                                                                                                      Go to top

                                                                                                                      Next

                                                                                                                      7. Plant Nutrition and Soil Fertility