Soil Biology and Fertility

During the course students are introduced with theoretical and practical knowledge on main soil biological indicators determining soil fertility. Students are introduced with soil biological assessment methods and with possibilities to estimate soil biology and soil fertility functional interactions in different ecosystems. The abilities are developed on the logical identification of soil biological productivity and potential, on the prediction of soil fertility changes, on the developing of analytical and specified soil biological indicators and plant productivity values.

To provide theoretical and practical knowledge about soil biological parameters and to indicate the values and functional correlations with potential soil fertility.

1st cycle higher education in agronomy, ecology or related fields.

1. The concept of soil biology and importance of soil biology for soil fertility. 2. Significance of microorganism diversity for soil functionality. 3. Main soil functions operating soil microbiological communities. 4. The trends of soil biological indicator changes on the impact of climate change and agriculture intensification. 5. Biological supplements on the stimulation of soil biological properties and maintaining soil fertility. 6. Soil biological activity and organic matter accumulation and mineralization trends. 7. Indicative importance of soil chemical, physical and biological properties. 8. Biological stabilization of ecosystems. 9. Soil microorganism diversity importance on soil function. 10. Systematization of soil biological quality data and management of soil adaptive productivity. 11. Collection of parameters on soil ecosystems productivity, quantitative and qualitative assessment, formulation of presumptions and recommendations.

1. Indicators of soil biological assessment and monitoring are described and factors contributing to changes in agroecosystem productivity and sustainability are explained. 2. The role of soil biological indicators for soil physical and chemical functionality is defined and the conditions determining the changes in soil biological indicators are explained. 3. The link between changing soil fertility and soil biological properties through the application of biological supplements and sustainable agrotechnologies is indicated. 4. The correlation of soil biological properties and soil fertility for expected agricultural activity and field experiments are specified. 5. Data on soil biological properties and soil fertility were systematized and analyzed. 6. The analytical and survey sets of soil biological parameters are defined and the strategy of soil biological quality management is prepared.