Suggested Reading List for Soil Microbiology & Soil Science/Chemistry?

[maikeru]

If any forumites would be willing, I need some serious help to update and improve my terra preta knowledge. I know that many of you come from a wide variety of backgrounds and interests, and I hope your perspectives and knowledge will come to my aid. I've been playing with it up to this point as an enthusiastic hobbyist and gardener, but I want to advance it much further than that. I'm considering working with one of the biology professors at my university who specializes in soil microbe-plant interactions, and of course, we know that terra preta does this very well. :hihi: My educational background is mostly in microbiology (and I should have my degree in 3-4 semesters, now that I've picked it up again).

 

If you can recommend any textbooks or articles (pdfs, references, links, etc.) for the following areas which you consider key or top-notch reading, I'd really appreciate it:

 

1. Soil microbiology and soil animals/invertebrates (this is my weak area--I know a heck of a lot more about human pathogens than I do about nitrogen-fixing bacteria, mycorrhyzal fungi, etc.). Got anything on the rhizosphere? Please, mention it. I'd like to know what's in the soil

 

2. Soil types, classification, and chemistry or physical characteristics.

 

While I think I understand most of the basics--the whys, hows, and whats--of terra preta, I think my grasp of the details and maybe important interactions and fundamentals might be poor. I need technical stuff that dives into the details. I should be able to handle it...or if I can't right now, with more learning and thinking, someday. One thing that I learned when I was doing research is that the only thing you know for sure is how much you don't know. And I have to admit I don't know a lot.

 

I'm going to go back and dig a lot through the forum for links, pdfs, etc., such as in this thread:

 

http://hypography.com/forums/terra-preta/10536-terra-preta-data-bases-web-sites.html

 

I'd like to get a hold of Lehman's Amazonian Dark Earths, but it seems it's hard to find. Amazon's out of it at the moment, and it costs anywhere from $300-500 US dollars from sellers on there. :doh: If you have a copy you'd be willing to sell for less than that or know where I can get one, please let me know.

[Douglas]

G'day,

My only suggestion is "Soilandhealth" web site go to ag libary and look for Krasilnikov's Soil microorganisms and higher plants, if of value don't forget to thank Steve.

Regards,

Douglas.

[erich]

Hi All,

 

If anyone missed this on MYC / VAM , posted on the TP/Bioenergy site, this presentation is one of the best I've seen to get across how MYC symbioticly permeates all in roots & soils, and elucidates often hidden benefits. Very nice pictures;

 

 

http://www.ars.usda.gov/SP2UserFiles/person/4947/Presentations/ScagelMycorrhizaeOhioCents06.pdf

 

 

Cheers,

Erich

[Douglas]

Thank you Erich,

Regards,

Douglas.

[maikeru]

Thanks Erich and Douglas. :phones:

[erich]

I think I posted this in the Wee-Beasty thread;

 

Here's Lehmann's new work;

 

Mycorrhizal responses to biochar in soil – concepts

and mechanisms

Daniel D. Warnock & Johannes Lehmann &

Thomas W. Kuyper & Matthias C. Rillig

 

http://www.css.cornell.edu/faculty/lehmann/publ/PlantSoil%20300,%209-20,%202007,%20Warnock.pdf

[barney]

Thank for the links, interesting reading