THE ECOLOGY OF SOIL DECOMPOSITION
By Sina M. Adl Wallingford, UK and Cambridge, MA, USA CAB International $100.00 (hc) xiii + 335p; ill.; index. ISBN: 0-81599-661-2. (alk. Paper). 2003.
This volume, which is a welcome addition to the Soil Science literature, has a rather misleading title. Its subject matter is not ‘Soil Decomposition’ but rather ‘Organic Matter Decomposition in Soil’. Its focus is on the trophic interactions among the diverse organisms that live in the soil. The author particularly emphasizes the ecology of species that inhabit soils and their effects on spatial heterogeneity and succession patterns over longer time scales. He also concludes correctly that interactions between species within functional groups and their effects on nutrient fluxes are poorly quantified currently.
The book discusses in turn, the activities of saprotrophic organisms; the soil as a habitat for living organisms; sampling and enumeration of populations of soil organisms; the concept of soil food webs, spatial and temporal patterns of soil-inhabiting organisms and finally, integrating the soil food web. There is no emphasis on soil microbiological issues at some expense to discussing soil invertebrate activities; it can only be assumed that the author is a microbiologist. For instance in the first Chapter, “The Saprotrophs”, 66 pages are devoted to microorganisms compared to only 14 pages which address soil-inhabiting invertebrates. Similarly in Chapter 3 which discusses “Sampling and Enumeration”, 11 pages are devoted to sampling and statistical and theoretical aspects, 16 pages to microorganisms and 2.5 pages to invertebrates.
In spite of these criticisms the book has a number of useful and innovative approaches, not found in most books on soil microbiology. It clearly emphasizes the strong interactions that occur between diverse groups of soil inhabiting organisms. It seems mainly aimed at soil ecological researchers in its style and context. There are not many university courses that would justify its purchase as a text. However, there is no doubt that it will be a valuable reference addition to the soil science and soil ecological literature.
CLIVE A. EDWARDS, Soil Ecology Laboratory
Entomology Department, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio