Interactions in Soil: Promoting Plant Growth

<p>Preface.- 1. Introduction: Soils and Their Promotion of Plant Growth; J. Dighton.- 1.1. Introduction.- 1.2. Suppressive soils.- 1.3. Soil biodiversity.- 1.4. The rhizosphere as a unique niche.- 1.4.1. Antifungal properties of the rhizosphere.- 1.4.2. Herbivory protection in the rhizosphere.- 1.4.3. Mycorrhizae as a component of the rhizosphere.- 1.5. Viruses.- 1.6. Earthworms: ecosystem engineers and soil disturbance.- 1.7. Pollution, urbanization and invasive species.- 1.8. New tools in the tool box: Molecular determination of diversity and transcriptomics for function.- 1.9. Conclusion.- References.- 2. Soils supporting Biodiversity; E. Havlicek, E. Mitchell.- 2.1. Introduction.- 2.2. Soils as complex systems.- 2.3. Soils as a product of species diversity.- 2.3.1. Functional roles of soil dwellers.- 2.3.2. Plants considered as soil dwellers.- 2.3.3. Soil properties and soil organisms.- 2.4. Aggregates as functional units.- 2.4.1. Structure, a key property of soils.- 2.4.1.1. Good structure versus bad structure.- 2.4.2. Formation of aggregates.- 2.4.2.1. Physical mechanisms in subsoil.- 2.4.2.2. Biological mechanisms in topsoil.- 2.5. Biodiversity as a product of soils.- 2.5.1. Heterogeneity of habitats and functions.- 2.5.1.1. Approach to body size.- 2.5.1.2. Approach according to the function of organisms.- 2.5.2. Why is soil biodiversity so high?.- 2.5.2.1. Spatial heterogeneity.- 2.5.2.2. Food resources.- 2.6. Conclusion: beyond soil science.- References.- 3. Beneficial Interactions in the Rhizosphere; W. H. G. Hol et al.- 3.1. Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria.- 3.1.1. Mechanisms: nutrients, protection, hormones.- 3.1.1.1. Nutrients.- 3.1.1.2. Tolerance to other abiotic stress.- 3.1.1.3. Plant protection.- 3.1.1.4. Plant hormones.- 3.1.2. Role of PGPR species identity, diversity, and function.- 3.1.3. Latest developments.- 3.2. Mycorrhizal fungi.- 3.2.1. Mechanisms: nutrients, protection, hormones.- 3.2.1.1. Nutrients.- 3.2.1.2. Plant protection against herbivores and pathogens.- 3.2.1.3. Tolerance to abiotic stress.- 3.2.2. Role of mycorrhizal species identity and diversity.- 3.2.3. Latest developments.- 3.3. Other plant growth promoting fungi.- 3.3.1. Mechanisms: nutrients, protection, hormones.- 3.3.1.1. Nutrients.- 3.3.1.2. Plant protection against herbivores and pathogens.- 3.3.1.3. Tolerance to abiotic stress.- 3.3.1.4. Plant hormones.- 3.3.2. Latest developments.- 3.4. Interactions between mycorrhizal fungi, other fungi and rhizobacteria.- 3.5. Concluding thoughts and summary.- References.- 4. Trophic Interactions in Soil that Support Primary Production; J. Krumins.- 4.1. Introduction.- 4.2. Cyclic nature of food webs in soils.- 4.3. The paradox of herbivory.- 4.3.1. Herbivore efficiency.- 4.4. Multi-trophic biodiversity of soils supporting plant communities.- 4.4.1. What we know about soil biodiversity.- 4.4.2. How soil diversity can support primary production.- 4.5. Discussion and a view to future research.- References.- 5. Soils Suppressing Biodiversity; G. Pérès.- 5.1. Introduction.- 5.2. Biodiversity belowground as well as aboveground.- 5.2.1. Soil biodiversity and soil properties.- 5.3. Biodiversity of contaminated soils.- 5.4. Soil biodiversity and agriculture.- 5.4.1. Soil tillage.- 5.4.1.1. Earthworms.- 5.4.1.2. Collembola.- 5.4.1.3. Nematodes.- 5.4.1.4. Microoganisms.- 5.4.2. Organic farming and conventional farming.- 5.4.2.1. Impact of organic farming on soil biodiversity.- 5.4.2.2. Organic vineyards.- 5.4.2.3. Organic farming in crop systems.- 5.4.2.4. Organic grassland farming.- 5.4.3. From forest ecosystem to agroforestry systems.- 5.4.3.1. Forest ecosystem.- 5.4.3.2. How can soil biodiversity and functions be impacted in forest ecosystem?.- 5.4.3.3. Agroforestry systems.- 5.5. Conclusions.- References.- 6. Root Pathogens; A. Termorshuizen.- 6.1. Introduction.- 6.2. Examples of root pathogens.- 6.3. Function of root pathogens.- 6.4. Ecology of root pathogens.- 6.4.1. Managed vegetations.- 6.4.2. Unmanaged vegetations.- 6.5. Conclusions.- References.- 7. Non-Trophic Interactions: Allelopathy; P. Pavlović et al.- 7.1. Introduction.- 7.2. Effects of allelopathic chemicals on plants and microbes.- 7.2.1. The mode of action.- 7.2.2. Role of allelopathy in promoting plant growth and ecosystem regeneration.- 7.2.3. Role of allelopathy in restricting plant growth and ecosystem regeneration.- 7.3. Examples of allelopathy in managed and natural ecosystems.- 7.3.1. Managed ecosystems.- 7.3.1.1. Phytotoxicity and soil sickness.- 7.3.1.2. Allelopathic crops.- 7.3.1.3. Agroforestry systems.- 7.3.1.4. Forest ecosystems.- 7.3.2. Natural ecosystems.- 7.3.2.1. Population and community structure changes by invasive species.- 7.4. Conclusion.- 7.5. Acknowledgements.- References.- 8. Viruses in Soil; B. Reavy et al.- 8.1. Introduction.- 8.2. Abundance and diversity of viruses in soils.- 8.3. Effects of viruses pathogenic to soil-inhabiting organisms.- 8.4. Plant-pathogenic viruses in soil.- 8.5. Gene transfer.- 8.6. Future prospects.- References.- 9. Soils Suppressing and Promoting Non-native Plant Invasions; K. Elgersma.- 9.1. Effects of soils on invasion rates.- 9.1.1. Soil fertility and the productivity-invasibility relationship.- 9.1.2. Soil biota and biotic resistance to invasion.- 9.1.3. Interactive effects of soil fertility and soil biota on invisibility.- 9.2. Effects of invasions on soils and plant-soil feedbacks.- 9.2.1. Feedbacks between plant invasion and soil fertility.- 9.2.2. Feedbacks between plant invasion and soil biota.- 9.2.3. Feedbacks driven by interactions between soil biota and fertility.- 9.3. Conclusions.- References.- 10. Urban Soils and the Challenge of Restoring Natural Ecosystems; P.A. Hazelton, A. Clements.- 10.1. Introduction.- 10.2. Case study: Sydney, Australia.- 10.3. Conclusions.- References.- 11. Towards a Holistic Approach to Soils and Plant Growth; D. C. Coleman, S. Fu.- 11.1. Introduction.- 11.2. Temporal and spatial dimensions of soil ecology.- 11.3. An integrative framework.- References.- Index. </p>