With millions of different bacterial species living in soil, the microbial community is extremely complex, varying at very small scales. Microbe-driven functions are essential for most processes in soil. Thus, a better understanding of this microbial diversity will be invaluable for the management of the various soil functions. Nucleic Acids and Proteins in Soil combines traditional approaches in soil microbiology and biochemistry with the latest techniques in molecular microbial ecology. Included are methods to analyse the presence and importance of nucleic acids and proteins both inside and outside microbial cells, the horizontal gene transfer which drives bacterial diversity, as well as soil proteomes. Further chapters describe techniques such as PCR, fingerprinting, the challenging use of gene arrays for structural and functional analysis, stable isotope probing to identify in situ metabolic functions, and the use of marker and reporter genes in soil microbial ecology.

The need to understand the biological processes that are important for essential aquatic and terrestrial ecosystem function has prompted much research into the field of ecological enzymology. This book presents the two broad areas of application in a compilation of reviews by 21 international experts in their respective fields. The first explores enzymatic activities to assess the processes or mechanisms that operate in a given system, such as the rhizosphere, plant leaves and shoots, soil surfaces, and biofilms. The second considers enzymes or microbial cells as sensors to detect microbial activity and stresses due to pollution, management, or climatic change in both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems.

The fourth edition of Soil Microbiology, Ecology and Biochemistry updates this widely used reference as the study and understanding of soil biota, their function, and the dynamics of soil organic matter has been revolutionized by molecular and instrumental techniques, and information technology. Knowledge of soil microbiology, ecology and biochemistry is central to our understanding of organisms and their processes and interactions with their environment. In a time of great global change and increased emphasis on biodiversity and food security, soil microbiology and ecology has become an increasingly important topic. Revised by a group of world-renowned authors in many institutions and disciplines, this work relates the breakthroughs in knowledge in this important field to its history as well as future applications. The new edition provides readable, practical, impactful information for its many applied and fundamental disciplines. Professionals turn to this text as a reference for fundamental knowledge in their field or to inform management practices. - New section on "Methods in Studying Soil Organic Matter Formation and Nutrient Dynamics" to balance the two successful chapters on microbial and physiological methodology - Includes expanded information on soil interactions with organisms involved in human and plant disease - Improved readability and integration for an ever-widening audience in his field - Integrated concepts related to soil biota, diversity, and function allow readers in multiple disciplines to understand the complex soil biota and their function

The Sample Preparation Techniques for Environmental, Plant, and Animal Samples handbook is a collection of best practices, recipes and theoretical information aimed at anyone who works with any type of molecular biology, proteomics, or metabolomics research involving diffi cult and tough-to-process samples, and thus is exposed to the seemingly unbreakable bottleneck of sample preparation. Th is book is most useful to researchers preparing nucleic acids and proteins from environmental (e.g., soil, marine, and wastewater, feces) and tough microbiological (e.g., spores, yeasts, gram positive bacteria) samples, as well as solid tissue samples from plants and animals. This book is the first comprehensive piece of literature dealing with applications of bead beating technology and other types of mechanical homogenization sample preparation.

This book highlights the increasing importance of humic substances in the different scientific fields related to terrestrial ecology, soil quality conservation, and environmental chemistry. It shows that modern humic substances research is not only directed to unravel their yet ill-defined chemical structure but is successfully exploring the interconnected chemical, biological, and physical processes that maintain the ecological equilibrium of soil and ensure a sustainable agricultural production. The book will primarily be of interest to soil scientists and to ecological and environmental scientists. People in the fields of forest science, agronomy, analytical and environmental chemistry, water science, environmental engineering, and coal science will also find this publication worthy of their attention.

Proteins: Sustainable Source, Processing and Applications addresses sustainable proteins, with an emphasis on proteins of animal origin, plant-based and insect proteins, microalgal single cell proteins, extraction, production, the stability and bioengineering of proteins, food applications (e.g. encapsulation, films and coatings), consumer behavior and sustainable consumption. Written in a scientific manner to meet the needs of chemists, food scientists, technologists, new product developers and academics, this book addresses the health effects and properties of proteins, highlights sustainable sources, processes and consumption models, and analyzes the potentiality of already commercialized processes and products. This book is an integral resource that supports the current applications of proteins in the food industry, along with those that are currently under development. - Supports the current applications of proteins in the food industry, along with those that are under development - Connects the properties and health effects of proteins with sustainable sources, recovery procedures, stability and encapsulation - Explores industrial applications that are affected by aforementioned aspects