Microbiology of Tropical Soils and Plant Productivity
It is an established fact that we must continually increase and improve agricultural production if we are to meet even the minimum requirements of a growing popu lation for food, shelter, and fuel. In recent years, the introduction of new plant varieties
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Developments in Plant and Soil Sciences Volume 5
Also in this series 1.
J. Monteith and C. Webb, eds., Soil Water and Nitrogen in Mediterranean type Environments. 1981. ISBN 90-247-2406-6
2.
J.C. Brogan, ed., Nitrogen Losses and Surface Run-off from Landspreading of Manures. 1981. ISBN 90-247-2471-6
3.
J.D. Bewley,ed., Nitrogen and Carbon Metabolism. 1981. ISBN 90-247-24724
4.
R. Brouwer, 1. Ga!lpan'kova, J. Kolek and B.C. Loughman, Structure and Function of Plant Roots. 1981. ISBN 90-247-2405-8
In preparation
J.R. Freney and J .R. Simpson, eds., Gaseous Losses of Nitrogen from Plant-Soil Systems.
Series ISBN 90-247-2405-8
Microbiology of Tropical Soils and Plant Productivity edited by Y. R. DOMMERGUES and H. G. DIEM
1982 MARTINUS NIJHOFF/DR W. JUNK PUBLISHERS THE HAGUE/BOSTON/LONDON
Distributors: for the United States and Canada Kluwer Boston, Inc. 190 Old Derby Street Hingham, MA 02043 USA for all other countries Kluwer Academic Publishers Group Distribution Center P.O. Box 322 3300 AH Dordrecht The Netherlands
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Main entry under title:
Microbiology of tropical soils and plant productivity. (Developments in plant and soil sciences
v. 5)
Includes index. 1. Soil microbiology--Tropics. 2. Microorganisms, Nitrogen-fixing--Tropics. 3. Crops and soils--Tropics. 4. SOils--Tropics. 5. Optimal soil fertility--Tropics. r. Dommergues" Y. R. (Yvon R.) II. Diem, H. G. III. Series.
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AACR2
ISBN -13 :978-94-009-7531-6 DOl: 10.1007/978-94-009-7529-3
e-ISBN -13 :978-94-009-7529- 3
Copyright © 1982 by Martinus Nijhoff/Dr W. Junk Publishers, The Hague. Softcover reprint of the hardcover 1st edition 1982 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written pemlission of the publishers, Martinus Nijhoff/Dr W. Junk Publishers, P.O. Box 566, 250] CN The Hague, The Netherlands.
Foreword
It is an established fact that we must continually increase and improve agricultural
production if we are to meet even the minimum requirements of a growing population for food, shelter, and fuel. In recent years, the introduction of new plant varieties and the extensive use of fertilizers have effectively increased crop yields, but intensifying agricultural methods has often led to depleting soil fertility. Two examples of the harmful consequences of intensive farming practices are the loss of up to 2.5 cm of topsoil every 15 years in the United States through erosion and the alarming rise in environmental pollution through widespread use of pesticides. Countless other processes affecting the activity of soil micro flora and the interactions between microorganisms and plants may pose an equal danger to soil equilibrium, but their potential hazards are often overlooked because of an insufficient understanding of soil microbiology on the part of scientists. In the fir
