The relationships between soils, microbes and humans are of crucial relevance in the tropics, where plant stress and microbial activity are exacerbated. This volume of Soil Biology presents the living component of tropical soils, showing how it is shaped by environmental conditions and emphasizing its dramatic impact on human survival and well-being.

Following an introduction to the specificities of tropical soils and of their microbial communities, the biological aspects of soil management are examined, dealing with land use change, conservation and slash-and-burn agriculture, the restoration of hot deserts, agroforestry and paddy rice cultivation. As they are of particular relevance for tropical agriculture, symbioses of plants and microbes are thoroughly covered, as are the biodegradation of pesticides and health risks associated with wastewater irrigation. Lastly, traditional soil knowledge is discussed as a key to our sustainable presence in this world.

Inhalt
Soils of the Tropics.- Organic Matter and Micro-Organisms in Tropical Soils.- Impacts of Forest Conversion to Agriculture on Microbial Communities and Microbial Function.- The Structural and Functional Biodiversity of Soil: An Interdisciplinary Vision for Conservation Agriculture in Brazil.- The Potential of Soil Beneficial Micro-Organisms for Slash-and-Burn Agriculture in the Humid Forest Zone of Sub-Saharan Africa.- Microbial Populations of Arid Lands and their Potential for Restoration of Deserts.- Exploring the Ecological Significance of Microbial Diversity and Networking in the Rice Ecosystem.- Rhizobial Symbioses in Tropical Legumes and Non-Legumes.- Mycorrhizal Associations in Agroforestry Systems.- Agricultural Development in Tropical Acidic Soils: Potential and Limits of Phosphate-Solubilizing Bacteria.- Role of Microbial Biofertilizers in the Development of a Sustainable Agriculture in the Tropics.- Microbial Degradation of Pesticides in Tropical Soils.- Soil and Crop Contamination Through Wastewater Irrigation and Options for Risk Reduction in Developing Countries.- Towards a New Purpose for Traditional and Other Forms of Soil Knowledge.