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Toward a Holistic Approach to Soils and Plant Growth

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Interactions in Soil: Promoting Plant Growth

Part of the book series: Biodiversity, Community and Ecosystems ((BECO,volume 1))

Abstract

We propose that a holistic view be taken to the study and implementation of ecological research into soils, soil organisms and plant growth. This builds upon the spatial and temporal aspects of soil physical and biological characteristics at the micro- and macroaggregate scales. This has major implications for the interactions of the soil biota and also for the possibilities of soil organic matter (SOM) dynamics, including gradual accumulation of SOM across decades and centuries. One of the key integrating factors in the role of soil biota in plant nutrition is the centrality of detrital and soil food webs in fostering nutrient cycling and ecosystem stability. We conclude with a five-dimension approach to studying key factors in soil biological interactions that affect plant nutrition and also long-term carbon balance in natural and agricultural ecosystems.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia, Room 714, Biological Sciences Bldg., Athens, GA, 30602, USA

    David C. Coleman

  2. Key Laboratory of Vegetation Restoration and Management of Degraded Ecosystems, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510650, China

    Weixin Zhang & Shenglei Fu

Authors
  1. David C. Coleman
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  2. Weixin Zhang
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  3. Shenglei Fu
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to David C. Coleman .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. The State University of New Jersey, Pinelands Field Station, Rutgers, New Lisbon, New Jersey, USA

    John Dighton

  2. Dept. of Biology and Molecular Biology, Montclair State University, Montclair, New Jersey, USA

    Jennifer Adams Krumins

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Coleman, D.C., Zhang, W., Fu, S. (2014). Toward a Holistic Approach to Soils and Plant Growth. In: Dighton, J., Krumins, J. (eds) Interactions in Soil: Promoting Plant Growth. Biodiversity, Community and Ecosystems, vol 1. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-8890-8_11

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