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Soil Biology
Additional Resources
The resources below are for Land Managers, Resource Professionals, and
Educators. Mouse click on a topic to see a list of resources.
Non-technical resources and web sites
General soil biology
Sustainable Soil Management
Produced by ATTRA (Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas). Call
1-800-346-9140. Or go to:
http://www.attra.org/attra-pub/soilmgmt.html
Michigan Field Crop Ecology: Managing biological processes for productivity
and environmental quality
Written
for Michigan farmers. Edited by M.A. Cavigelli, S.R. Deming, L.K. Probyn and
R.R. Harwood. January 1998. Chapters:
Field crop ecosystems, Soil ecology, Carbon, Nitrogen, Cover crops, Pest ecology
and management, The insect community, Nematodes, Directions for farm change:
Bringing it all together. Michigan
State University, Bulletin
Office, 10-B
Ag Hall, East
Lansing, MI 48824-1039
Minnesota
Soil Management Series
Series on Soil Management, Compaction, Manure Management,
Organic Matter Management, and Soil Biology. Targeted at farmers, and
consultants and educators that work with farmers.
University
of Minnesota Extension Service, 405 Coffey Hall, 1420 Eckles Avenue, St. Paul,
MN 55108-6069. Phone: (800)
876-8636.
View
on-line or order from:
http://www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/cropsystems/DC7398.html
Soil
Management
Best Management Practices series written for Ontario farmers. Provides an easy-to-understand explanation of soil characteristics
such as structure, organic matter, cation exchange capacity, etc. Includes a
small section on soil biology. Addresses soil management
problems and solutions.
Ontario
Federation of Agriculture, Attn: Manager, BMP,
40
Eglinton Ave. E., 5th Flr.
Toronto,
Ontario, M4P 3B1,
Phone:
416-485-3333,
Fax:
416-485-9027
Denizens of the
Soil: Small But Critical
Vividly illustrates the diversity and interactions among soil organisms.
Emphasizes arthropods. By Andy Moldenke, Oregon State University, Natural Resources News, Special Edition, August 1993.
Soil Biological
Communities
Web
site from the USDI-BLM. Illustrated information about the soil food web and soil
organisms in rangelands. For resource professionals and students.
http://www.blm.gov/nstc/soil/index.html
A Field Guide
to Desert Holes
An illustrated field guide for quick and easy identification of ground
holes, depressions, mounds, elevated holes, and burrowed/modified shelters.
A description of the hole and the natural history of the insect, spider,
reptile or mammal that uses or builds the hole is given. Pinau Merlin, 1999. Arizona-Sonora
Desert Museum Press, Tuscon, AZ.
Order from the Arizona-Sonora
Desert Museum, 2021
N. Kinney Road, Tuscon,
AZ 85743, Phone:
520-883-3028, http://www.desertmuseum.org
Center for
Microbial Ecology and the “Microbe Zoo”
Web site with
pictures
of soil organisms. http://www.cme.msu.edu/
(Click on Educational Outreach, and then go to the Microbe Zoo.)
Soil Biology Movies
Web site with video clips of soil organisms.
http://www.agron.iastate.edu/~loynachan/mov/
Dirt Made My
Lunch
Video and song by the Banana Slug String Band. Appropriate for grades
K and 1. Available from: Banana Slug String Band, PO
Box 2262, Santa Cruz, CA 95063. Or visit their web site at
http://www.bananaslugstringband.com/
The Microbial World
Web site with pictures available for educational uses. From the University of Edinburgh
http://helios.bto.ed.ac.uk/bto/microbes/
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Mycorrhizal Fungi
Mycorrhizal
symbiosis
Online text
and slide show by
David Sylvia, Penn State University. http://cropsoil.psu.edu/sylvia/mycorrhiza.htm
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Nematodes
Nematode
pictures
Web
site from
Sven Boström, Swedish Museum of Natural History.
http://www.nrm.se/inenglish/researchandcollections/zoology/invertebratezoology/factsoninvertebrates/roundworms.4.4e32c81078a8d924980006565.html
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Arthropods
The
Ground Crew
Soil biology section of an “Entomology for Educators” course from John Meyer at North Carolina State University.
http://www.cals.ncsu.edu/course/ent525/soil/index.html
Terrestrial
Arthropods of the Mt. Hood National Forest
Online
identification
key, descriptions, and pictures of arthropods of Pacific Northwest forests.
http://www.ent3.orst.edu/moldenka/
Invertebrate
Biology
List of classroom activities, hands-on lab exercises, open-ended inquiries, and
research articles on the biology of soil and water invertebrates. From Charles
D. Drewes, Professor at Iowa State University. http://www.eeob.iastate.edu/faculty/DrewesC/htdocs/#DID
YOU KNOW
Insects
on WWW
List of links to all insect topics.
http://www.isis.vt.edu/
YES
Merchandising Mall
Insect merchandise
from the Young
Entomologists Society.
http://members.aol.com/YESsales/minimall.html,
or
visit their Minibeast Zooseum and Education Center, 6907 West Grand River Ave.,
Lansing MI 48906-9131, 517-886-0630.
Checklist
of the Collembola
Information about collembola (springtails), including taxonomy, images, and
links. http://www.geocities.com/~fransjanssens/
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Earthworms
Culture
and Agricultural Importance of Earthworms
1977. Extension publication from Michigan State University Extension.
Earthworms
and Crop Management
Extension publication
by
Eileen J Kladivko, Purdue
University.
Order on-line at:
http://www.ces.purdue.edu/extmedia/agronomy.htm
Earthworm
Biology and Production
Extension publication. Reprinted December 1977. Item no. CAL2828. Order
from: Washington State University Cooperative Extension, Phone:
800-723-1763, Fax: 509-335-3006.
Earthworms
Solid Waste Management Fact Sheet
By Charles W. Marr, Extension Horticulturist, Vegetable Crops and Nancy Anderson,
Extension Assistant, Consumer Horticulture. 1999.
Extension publication available on line at:
http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/library/solw2/EP9.PDF
Worms
Eat My Garbage
A
book with everything you need to know about home vermicomposting. By
Mary Applehof.
Frequently
Asked Questions about Earthworms
Web site from Agriculture and Agri-Food
Canada. Addresses economic as well as biological questions. Includes links.
http://www.ibiblio.org/pub/academic/agriculture/sustainable_agriculture/faqs/earthworm-faq.html
UC Davis earthworm articles
“Earthworm
Renewers of Agroecosystems”
“Earthworm ecology and sustaining agriculture”
“Earthworm Update”
“Earthworm Profiles”
UC Davis Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program
site: http://www.sarep.ucdavis.edu/worms/
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Biological Soil Crusts
Introduction
to Microbiotic Crusts
Microbiotic Crusts. 1997.
Booklet including photographs and references. Produced by the Natural
Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Soil Quality Institute and Grazing Lands
Technology Institute.
Biological Soil Crusts
Web site with
an in-depth review, references, and
pictures of biological soil crusts. By Neal Herbert. Sponsored by the
Bureau of Land Management, US Geological Survey, and the National Park Service.
http://www.soilcrust.org/
Cyanobacteria
Pictures of
crust from the University of Edinburgh,
http://helios.bto.ed.ac.uk/bto/microbes/cyano.htm
Microbiotic Soil Crusts in Sagebrush Habitats of Southern Idaho
Kaltenecker, J. and M. Wicklow-Howard. 1994. Microbiotic soil crusts in
sagebrush habitats ofsouthern Idaho. Report for the U.S. Department of
Agriculture Forest Service and U.S. Department of Interior Bureau of Land
Management, on file with the Interior Columbia Basin Ecosystem Management
Project, Walla Walla, WA.
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Composting
Links Page for Composting
From the USDA
Sustainable Agricultural Systems Laboratory, a categorized list
of links, including commercial links.
http://www.ars.usda.gov/main/site_main.htm?modecode=12-65-04-00
Vermicomposting
Extension
publication. Guide H-164. By George
W. Dickerson, Extension
Horticulture Specialist. College of Agriculture and Home Economics, New
Mexico State University. On line at:
http://www.cahe.nmsu.edu:16080/pubs/_h/h-164.pdf
Backyard
Composting
Extension
publication. Guide H-110. By George
W. Dickerson, Extension
Horticulture Specialist. College of Agriculture and Home Economics, New
Mexico State University. On-line at:
http://www.cahe.nmsu.edu:16080/pubs/_h/h-164.pdf
Composting: Nature's
Way To Recycle
Extension publication from Mississippi State University Extension
Service. On-line
at:http://msucares.com/pubs/publications/p1782.pdf
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Pests
BIOS
for Almonds, A Practical Guide to Biologically Integrated Orchard Systems
Management
Overview of the Biologically Integrated Orchard Systems (BIOS) for almond
growers. Includes cover crops, composting, pest scouting, step-by-step
guides, and short sections on biological activity and earthworms. Free from: Community
Alliance with Family Farmers, P.O.
Box 363, Davis,
CA 95617,
530-756-8515; e-mail: caff@igc.apc.org
USDA Regional Pest Management Centers Information System
http://www.ipmcenters.org/
Biological
Control of Insect and Mite Pests
Extension publication
G95-1251-A. By Robert
J. Wright, Extension Entomology Specialist, University
of Nebraska Extension, On-line at:
http://www.ianr.unl.edu/pubs/insects/g1251.htm
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Soil Quality
Soil
Quality Test Kit Guide
Produced
by USDA-ARS and NRCS. Includes instructions and interpretations for 9 field
tests including soil respiration and earthworms. Written for natural resource
professionals and agricultural educators. This web site at:
Soil Quality Assessment
Soil
Quality Information Sheets
Series of fact sheets prepared by the USDA-NRCS.
Suitable for distribution to conservationists, ranchers, and farmers. Series titles include Organic
Matter, Aggregate Stability, and Soil Biodiversity. Rangeland and pastureland titles
are also available. This web site at:
Publications
Microbial
characteristics of soil quality
Article relating soil quality, microbial processes, and
management. By A.C. Kennedy and R.I Papendick.
Journal of Soil and Water Conservation, Vol. 50(3):243-248. May-June
1995.
Soil quality issue of the American Journal of Alternative
Agriculture
“Invertebrates
as determinants and indicators of soil quality,” by N.E Stork and P. Eggleton.
p. 38-47.
“Soil
biological criteria as indicators of soil quality: Soil microorganisms,” by S.
Visser and D. Parkinson. p. 33-37.
American Journal of Alternative Agriculture, 1992, Vol. 7(1,2) was
dedicated to the topic of soil quality.
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Technical resources and college courses
Proceedings,
Pacific Northwest Forest and Rangeland Soil Organism Symposium; Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-461
Edited
by R.T. Meurisse, W.G. Ypsilantis, C. Seybold. 1999. From a symposium held March
1998 in Corvallis, OR. Includes papers on soil organism functions,
management effects on organisms, and organisms role in restoration. Available
form the Pacific
Northwest Research Station, 333
S. W. First Ave., PO
Box 3890, Portland,
OR 97206-3890
Alternative Soil Testing Labs
A list compiled by ATTRA. Includes labs that do microbial tests.
http://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/soil-lab.html
Root Biomass and Microbial Processes
By Jean D. Reeder, Carol D. Franks, and Daniel G. Milchunas. Chapter
7 in: R.F. Follett, J.M. Kimble, and R. Las (eds.) Carbon Sequestration Potential of U.S. Grazing Lands. Ann Arbor Press. Chelsea, MI, in press. Primary author: Jean D Reeder, USDA-ARS, 1701 Centre Ave., Fort Collins CO 80526, U.S.A
The role of soil microfauna in plant-disease
suppression, by E. A. Curl.
Summary of this journal article is in Sustainable Agriculture, 6(4):9-10. Fall 1994 issue. For
back issues and subscriptions: UC
SAREP, Univ. of California,One
Shields Ave., Davis, CA 95616-8716,
Phone:
530-752-7556,
http://www.sarep.ucdavis.edu/newsltr/newsletters.htm. Original article: CRC Critical Reviews in Plant
Sciences 7(3):175-176.
The insects and arachnids of Canada.
Part 1.
Collecting, preparing and preserving insects, mites and spiders.
Reference for trapping techniques. Martin, J. E. H. 1977.
The insects and arachnids of
Canada. Part 1. Collecting, preparing and preserving insects, mites and spiders.
Biosystematics Research Institute, Ontario, Ottawa.
Monitoring populations of soil microorganisms during a
conversion from a conventional to an organic system of vegetable growing
By A. Sivapalan, W.C. Morgan and P.R. Franz, 1997. Summary of this journal article is in
Sustainable
Agriculture, 9(1):7. Winter
1997 issue. For
back issues and subscriptions: UC SAREP, Univ. of California,One
Shields Ave., Davis, CA 95616-8716,
Phone:
530-752-7556,
http://www.sarep.ucdavis.edu/newsltr/newsletters.htm. Original
article: Biological Agriculture and Horticulture 10(1):9-27.
Soil
Ecology
Textbook with emphasis on interrelations between plants, animals and
microbes. Ken Killham. 1994. Cambridge
University Press: Great
Britain
Fundamentals
of Soil Ecology
David C. Coleman and D.A. Crossley, Jr. 1996. Academic
Press, Inc., 525 B Street, Suite
1900, San Diego, CA 92101-4495
Soil
Microbial Ecology
Online
college course from the University of Florida Soil and Water Science Department.
http://soils.ifas.ufl.edu/distance/courses.html
Glossary
of Soil Microbiological Terms
Online
list compiled
by David Sylvia, Penn State University, http://cropsoil.psu.edu/sylvia/glossary.htm
Soil Ecology
Society
Professional society that holds bi-annual conferences.
http://www.wcsu.edu/ses/ses.html
Mycorrhizae—class
notes
Web page that is part of the course materials for FOR442: Forestry Regeneration,
taught by Robin Rose at Oregon State University.
http://www.cof.orst.edu/cof/teach/for442/cnotesf.htm
Soil
Biodiversity and Ecosystem Functioning
Web site at Colorado State University.
http://www.nrel.colostate.edu/projects/soil/
Soil
Ecology and Restoration Group (SERG)
Web
site from
the Center for Conservation Biology at University of California—Riverside.
Emphasis on arid and semi-arid research.
http://www.serg.sdsu.edu/SERG/index.html
“Biological degradation of soil.” By G.K. Sims.
Article in Advances in Soil Science 11:289-330. 1990.
http://www.sarep.ucdavis.edu/NEWSLTR/v2n4/sa-4.htm
Introduction
to Soil Microbiology
Mark Coyne. 1999. Delmar, Dept.
9DPHS256, 3
Columbia Circle, Albany,
NY 12212-5015, Fax:
518-464-0301, www.agriscience.delmar.com
Biology of Microorganisms. Eighth Edition.
Madigan,
M.T., Martinko, J.M. and Parker, J. 1997. Brock:
Prentice Hall
Soil
Microbiology and Biochemistry
Edited
by E.A. Paul, F.E. Clark. 2nd
ed., c1996. San
Diego: Academic Press
Principles and Applications
of Soil Microbiology
Edited
by David M. Sylvia … <et al>. c1998. Dubuque,
IA: Prentice Hall.
Soil
Quality Topics: A Selection of
Resources for Education and Extension, compiled by D. Chaney and A. Mayse, 1999
Articles,
information sheets, and list of websites. Topics include soil biology, soil quality overview, soil quality assessment, and cropping systems
management. From UC
SAREP, University
of California, One
Shields Ave., Davis,
CA 95616-8716, PH:
530-752-7556,
http://www.sarep.ucdavis.edu/pubs/pubs.htm
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Curriculum materials for primary and secondary school teachers
The
Living Soil . . . Exploring Soil Science and Sustainable Agriculture with Your
Guide the Earthworm & Video
Teaching
plans for easy-to-use lab and field exercises, includes a videotape showing a
"worms-eye view” of agriculture's impact on the living soil. Developed at
Iowa State University, under grants from the Leopold Center for Sustainable
Agriculture and the Resource Enhancement and Protection Program (REAP).
By
Ken Wise and Doug Wirth. Ed: GG Scofield. IA State Univ. 1993. Available from
The Ohio State University Curriculum Materials Service.
Earthworm
Empire: The Living Soil
Complete lesson plans (published by Kendall/Hunt Publishing
Co. ISBN: 0787226327) designed for cross-disciplinary teaching, Earthworm Empire presents a global link in bridging agriculture to natural
resources, earth science, soils, history, language, art, and mathematics. All
needed references included for hands-on, problem solving, cooperative learning
experiences adapted for upper elementary through high school. Written by a
former Soil Conservation Service (Natural Resource Conservation Service)
employee. By E. Weber. 1996. Available from Kendall/Hunt Publishing Co. http://www.kendallhunt.com/
Agriculture
Science Link to the Living Soil
Supplement to “Earthworm Empire: The Living Soil”. Hands-on problem solving
experiences to enrich existing curriculum in cross-disciplinary learning.
(Contains some activities found in Earthworm Empire: The Living Soil). Developed at Iowa State University under a grant from
the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture.
A
Three Chamber Plexiglass Observation Kit
Allows viewing of worm tunneling, root and plant growth linked to
activities in the "Earthworm Empire: The Living Soil" book. Each chamber has
a drain plug to allow for soil/water filtering demonstrations and one
chamber is designed to demonstrate the basics of how ground water becomes
contaminated (using food coloring). Formerly available from the AEMS
Curriculum Center at Iowa State University.
Teachers
Guide To Animals Of The Soil And Leaf Litter
Teachers
guide, student worksheets and hypercard program introducing the animals and
their biology. For primary school and junior high students.
By Adrianne Kinnear, School
Of Natural Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Bradford St, Mount Lawley, Western
Australia 6050; Phone
08 9370 6499; FAX
08 9370 6077.
Cycling Back to Nature: Soils Alive from Tiny Rocks to Compost
Guide for teachers of 4th through 12th graders. Includes
information and activities about decomposition, organic matter and
microorganisms, as well as about non-living components of soil.
From the National
4-H Council, 7100
Connecticut Ave., Chevy
Chase, MD 20815-4999; http://www.4hbookstore.org/
Adopt-a-Watershed
Teaching
materials for grades K-12. Looks at the relationship of soil biology to
other components of the watershed. http://www.adopt-a-watershed.org/
Healthy
Soils
Classroom activity to collect soil organisms. Part of the USDA Ag in the
Classroom curriculum. From the Utah Ag in the Classroom website:
http://www.ext.usu.edu/aitc/ (The national Ag in the Classroom site is at:
www.agclassroom.org)
GLOBE
Teacher’s Guide
Topics on environmental issues including soils, land cover/biology and
hydrology. For advanced students. From the website of the GLOBE Program (Global Learning and Observations to
Benefit the Environment) http://www.globe.gov
Project
Learning Tree
An
integrated environmental education course for teachers of public school children
at all levels.
Contact: Project
Learning Tree, American
Forest Foundation, 1111
19th St., N.W., Washington,
D.C. 20036; http://www.plt.org/
Bug
Briefs
Seasonal
insect lesson plans,
http://www.umass.edu/ent/BugNetMAP/p_lesson.html
Insight Media
videos
For high school and college classrooms. Videos related to
soil biology include: Fungi, The
Biology of Fungi, Arthropods, Insect
Identification, Biological
Control: Predator Behavior, Integrated
Compost Systems, The
Science of Biological Decomposition: Effective Composting Methods, Soil:
A Natural Habitat, and New
Methods in Soil Ecology. In addition, videos that address the chemical and
physical properties of soil, and other agricultural topics are offered.
Insight
Media, 2162
Broadway, New
York, NY 10024-0621; Phone: 212-721-6316 or 800-233-9910;
www.insight-media.com/
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Soil Quality
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