Soil Biology and Ecology
4 | Unit 2.3
Introduction
Learning Objectives
CONCEPTS
• Soil quality/soil health
• Mineralization/immobilization
• Autotrophic/heterotrophic food webs
• Functional groups of soil biota
• Rhizosphere ecology
• Management effects on soil ecosystems
SKILLS
• How to assess soils for biological activity
through measuring the rate of decomposition of
cellulose
• How to assess soil biological activity through
measuring soil respiration
• How to assess soil biological activity through
earthworm census
• How to assess the soil ecosystem structure
through a soil arthropod census
• How to estimate the amount of mineral N
(nitrate and ammonium) that is coming from
organic matter inputs