AbstractFertilizer choices can alter soil microbial communities. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of urea, chicken manure, and Azolla fertilizers on soil microbial communities in alluvial and peat soils in West Kalimantan, Indonesia. Five nitrogen (N) fertilizer treatments were applied to spinach (Amaranthus tricolor) grown on both soil types: control (0 kg N ha−1), urea (23 kg N ha−1), Azolla applied at the same urea‐N rate (Azolla‐U, 23 kg N ha−1), chicken manure (108 kg N ha−1), and Azolla applied at the same manure‐N rate (Azolla‐M, 108 kg N ha−1). Microbial community structure was determined from freeze‐dried soil samples (0–20 cm deep) by the ester‐linked fatty acid methyl ester (EL‐FAME) method and analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Treatment effects were dependent upon soil type. In peat soil, fertilizer treatment influenced the abundance of Gram‐positive bacteria, whereas in alluvial soil, fertilizer affected the population of Gram‐negative bacteria. In alluvial soil, Azolla‐M increased EL‐FAMEs for total microbial biomass, Gram‐negative bacteria, and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. On the other hand, in the peat soil, Azolla‐M had a significant effect on altering the microbial community structure toward greater fungal biomass, while urea increased the number of Gram‐positive bacteria and actinomycetes. Azolla‐M altered the Gram‐positive:Gram‐negative ratio and reduced the Stress 2 ratio in the peat soil, but the manure and the lower application of Azolla (Azolla‐U) did not. Azolla‐M may diminish stress encountered by the microbial community from unfavorable environmental conditions.

This study explores the impact of diverse organic fertilizers, including a non-traditional cyanobacteria-based alternative, on soil microbial communities in varying soil types and depths. The research aims to elucidate the effects of these fertilizers on soil microorganisms in certified organic cucumber (Cucumis sativus) field and peach (Prunus persica) orchard settings. Fertilizers were applied either on the soil surface or banded 5 cm below the soil surface, and microbial ester-linked fatty acids (EL-FAMEs) were analyzed in collected soils. Notably, cyanobacteria and Neptune hydrolyzed fish emulsion fertilizers induced significant alterations in the microbial communities of cucumber plots, enhancing microbial biomass and favoring the proliferation of Gram-negative bacteria, Gram-positive bacteria, and actinomycetes compared to other treatments. In the peach orchard, fertilizer choice differentially impacted microbial communities, especially in the first year and at greater soil depths. Notably, the supplementation of poultry manure with cyanobacteria fertilizer resulted in augmented microbial biomass and relative fungal and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal abundances compared to poultry manure alone. These shifts have promising implications for organic vegetable and fruit cultivation. The study further underscores the potential of cyanobacteria-based fertilizers to reduce reliance on traditional options and minimize manure application, promoting self-sufficiency and benefiting soil microorganisms, plant growth, and the ecosystem. Thus, the research emphasizes the importance of exploring and adopting cyanobacteria-based fertilizers to bolster sustainable agricultural practices.

The Araucaria forest is a sub-type of Atlantic Forest and it is critically endangered because of deforestation. Despite significant researchers’ attention, little is known about the microbial and functional soil diversity of this ecosystem. Our aim was to assess structural diversity (phospholipid fatty acid; PLFA), functional diversity (Biolog ecoplates) and physicochemical soil properties to identify which indicators are the most sensitive to alterations in the Araucaria ecosystems. Soils of three different areas (disturbed, reforested, and native Araucaria forest soils), in two parks of Southeast Brazil, were collected in contrasting seasons (dry and rainy). Principal components analysis (PCA) showed that fatty acid profiles, Biolog and physicochemical properties in Araucaria forest soils were more dissimilar between the different park geographic locations than by forest disturbance levels. However, discriminant analysis identified several variables with greater power to discriminate among forest disturbance levels (native, disturbed, and reforested) within each season. Reforested soils were lower in pH, Al+3, and base cation content compared to disturbed and native soils. Soils disturbed by recreational and understory deforestation were sandier in texture and elevated in P compared to native and deforested soils. Native soil microbial communities utilized certain Biolog substrates to a greater extent, depending on season, compared to communities of disturbed and reforested soils. The best discriminating variable among native, disturbed, and reforested soils for both seasons was γ-hydroxybutyric acid consumption, which was positively related to native, and negatively correlated to disturbed and reforested soils. Thus, γ-hydroxybutyric acid consumption may be a useful indicator to monitor the recovery of reforested and disturbed Araucaria soils in reference to its native state.

Phosphorus (P) is a highly immobile soil nutrient, thus enhancing its availability through mechanisms such as unique, phosphate solubilizing microorganisms (PSMs) may help improve soil-plant P relationships. The objective of this study was to evaluate P solubilization and activity of Anabaena sp. and Mammoth P using two different organic P sources (bone meal and rock phosphate) under laboratory conditions. Treatments were arranged in a full factorial design with three replications, three organic P sources [bone meal (BM), rock phosphate (RP) and control (No P added)], three PSM treatments [control (No PSM), Cyanobacteria (Cyano), Mammoth P (MP)] and six sampling dates over 56 days. There were no significant differences observed in pH across treatments over the 56-day incubation (p = 0.05). The Cyano treatment had greater water-soluble P and Olsen-extractable P concentrations under the No P control and RP treatments compared with the No PSM control and MP treatments. In terms of Olsen P concentration, the MP treatment of the BM source was greater than the No PSM control and equal to the Cyano treatment. Results suggest that the Cyano treatment solubilized more P than MP, and thus may be an effective strategy for improving future soil P availability to plants, especially in light of future dwindling rock phosphate reserves.

Drought stress is a major factor limiting wheat production in rain-fed areas around the world. Wheat tolerance to drought stress may be enhanced through genotypic selection, but recently, there has been interest in manipulating wheat-microbial interactions to promote drought tolerance. The prime objective of the study was to examine the effects of inoculation with 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC)-deaminase containing (ACC+) bacteria on different winter wheat genotypes (grown in 1 m tall x 10 cm diameter tubes) under water-stressed and well-watered conditions as determined by root length, above- and below-ground biomass, and leaf relative water content The results of the present study revealed that under water stress, inoculation with ACC+ bacteria increased leaf relative water content (RWC) for genotypes RonL and OK06318 by 22%, compared with non-inoculated controls. Under water stress, length of roots with a diameter class of 0.75-1 mm increased by 129% in response to ACC+ bacteria in the deepest tube section (67-99 cm depth increment). Under well-watered conditions, inoculation increased above-ground biomass for RonL and TAM112 by 37% and 32%, respectively, as compared to non-inoculated controls. Inoculation also increased RonL root biomass by 150% in the deepest tube section, and increased the length of roots with a diameter class of 0.50-0.75 mm in the deepest tube section for TAM112 by 40%. The results further showed that, irrespective of irrigation regime, the genotype RonL appears to be a good plant model to study wheat interactions with ACC+ bacteria. Collectively, the results of the present study revealed that the growth response of winter wheat to inoculation with ACC+ bacteria was genotype dependent The variation among wheat genotypes in their response to ACC+ bacteria might lead to innovative selection strategies for improved water stress tolerance.

Rising use and costs of agri-chemical inputs to support agricultural production have placed an economic burden on farmers while contributing to environmental and human health issues. Ecologically based nutrient and weed management the use of ecological processes to replace external chemical inputs may represent a strategy to support crop growth while achieving positive environmental and economic outcomes. In dryland agroecosys-tems around the world, farmers are increasingly transitioning toward no-till and intensified cropping systems, in which unvegetated fallow periods are replaced with crops. This study seeks to determine if cropping system intensification represents an ecologically based strategy for managing nutrients and weeds relative to traditional crop-fallow systems, and to understand the implications for crop production and profitability. We quantified total and potentially mineralizable nitrogen (N), arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) colonization of wheat roots and implications for plant phosphorus (P) uptake, 6 years of crop yields, fertilizer and herbicide use, and net operating income across dryland, no-till cropping systems in the semi-arid High Plains, USA. Three levels of cropping system intensity were represented ranging from wheat-fallow (tmvegetated fallow every other year) to continuous cropping (no fallow years). After accounting for variability due to environment and site characteristics, total and potentially mineralizable N were 12% and 30% greater in continuous rotations relative to wheat fallow, respectively. Mid-intensity (fallow every 2 or 3 years) and continuous rotations had roughly 2 and 3 times more AMF colonization than wheat-fallow, respectively, and AMF colonization was positively correlated with wheat plant P concentration. Farmers practicing continuous cropping applied 22 and 34 kg ha(-1) less N fertilizer per crop compared to wheat-fallow and mid-intensity, respectively, despite similar and 60% greater annualized crop production than mid-intensity and wheat-fallow rotations, respectively. Additionally, farmers who practiced continuous cropping used less than half the total herbicide used by wheat-fallow farmers. Net operating incomes of continuous and mid-intensity rotations were an estimated 47 USD ha-(1) yr(-1) (80%) and 42 USD ha(-1) yr(-1) (70%) more than wheat-fallow, respectively. These results suggest that cropping system intensification, and especially continuous cropping, represents an opportunity to achieve more grain production while managing weeds and nutrients with fewer agri-chemical inputs, leading to greater profitability and improved environmental outcomes in no-till agroecosystems.

Earthworms are recognised widely for playing important roles in soil functioning, but few studies have attempted to assess the effects of separate functional groups under natural field conditions. We investigated the effects of selective removal of large anecic earthworms (primarily Lumbricus terrestris) over 18 months on earthworm assemblages, earthworm trophic ecology, and plant nutrient uptake in a temperate grassland. We used unenclosed field plots to simulate selective predation of large anecic individuals by alien flatworms and isotopically enriched plant material (C-13 and N-15) to trace nutrients. Though surface addition of plant material to plots increased the abundance and biomass of total and anecic earthworms, compared to control plots, earthworm composition was different and more variable where anecics had been removed. Most notably, in treatments receiving litter, abundance and biomass of the litter-feeding epi-anecic Lumbricus festivus and epigeic Satchellius mammalis were significantly greater where anecics had been removed. Addition of labelled plant material enriched individuals from all species in C-13 and N-15, especially in litter-feeding epigeics. Similar abundances but altered isotopic compositions suggest that the removal of anecics influenced the feeding activities of other earthworm species. In particular, the soil-feeding endogeic Aporrectodea caliginosa was less enriched where anecics had been removed, suggesting that this species benefits from anecic surface foraging activity. Individual L. terrestris tended to be less enriched isotopically in the removal treatment, probably reflecting re-colonisation from outside litter addition plots. There was no effect of anecic removal on N-15 uptake into above-ground biomass of each of three plant functional groups, though there was a trend of greater enrichment in removal plots. Taken together, these findings provide novel evidence, from a real field setting, that low-level reduction of anecic earthworm populations (experimental removal of 4 large individuals per 1 m2 plot over 18 months) can affect other earthworm species in terms of their abundance and trophic relations.

Bacteria that produce 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) deaminase can promote plant growth under abiotic stress by lowering stress ethylene levels through deamination of ACC, the immediate precursor of ethylene. Unfortunately, little is known regarding the natural abundance and diversity of ACC deaminase-positive (ACC+) bacteria in soils or how ACC+ bacteria are influenced by plant genotype. Two field studies were conducted to assess the abundance, composition, and ACC deaminase activity of ACC+ bacteria in plots planted to different winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) genotypes under different irrigation regimes. In the first study, the relative abundance of ACC+ bacteria in wheat rhizospheres increased over time as soil water availability decreased. Relative abundance was also affected by genotype, with the greatest percentage of ACC+ bacteria in the rhizosphere of 'RonL' grown with limited or no irrigation (up to 54% at mid-grain filling). Species composition also varied by wheat genotype regardless of irrigation treatment. In the second study, the RonL rhizosphere had the greatest ACC deaminase activity and greatest predicted abundance of ACC+ bacteria, on the basis of Phylogenetic Investigation of Communities by Reconstruction of Unobserved States (PICRUSt) analysis of 16S rDNA sequences, compared with other genotypes. In conclusion, the relative abundance, composition, and activity of culturable and predicted communities of ACC+ bacteria differed according to winter wheat genotype; therefore, the potential for ACC+ bacteria to promote drought resistance in winter wheat may be genotype-dependent.

Biochar can increase microbial activity, alter microbial community structure, and increase soil fertility in arid and semi-arid soils, but at relatively high rates that may be impractical for large-scale field studies. This contrasts with organic amendments such as manure, which can be abundant and inexpensive if locally available, and thus can be applied to fields at greater rates than biochar. In a field study comparing biochar and manure, a fast pyrolysis hardwood biochar (22.4Mgha−1), dairy manure (42Mgha−1 dry wt), a combination of biochar and manure at the aforementioned rates, or no amendment (control) was applied to an Aridisol (n=3) in fall 2008. Plots were annually cropped to corn (Zea maize L.). Surface soils (0–30cm) were sampled directly under corn plants in late June 2009 and early August 2012, and assayed for microbial community fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) profiles and six extracellular enzyme activities involved in soil C, N, and P cycling. Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungal colonization was assayed in corn roots in 2012. Biochar had no effect on microbial biomass, community structure, extracellular enzyme activities, or AM fungi root colonization of corn. In the short-term, manure amendment increased microbial biomass, altered microbial community structure, and significantly reduced the relative concentration of the AM fungal biomass in soil. Manure also reduced the percent root colonization of corn by AM fungi in the longer-term. Thus, biochar and manure had contrasting short-term effects on soil microbial communities, perhaps because of the relatively low application rate of biochar.

Stabilizing extracellular enzymes may maintain enzymatic activity while protecting enzymes from proteolysis and denaturation. A study determined whether a fast pyrolysis hardwood biochar (CQuest™) would reduce evaporative losses, subsequently stabilizing soil extracellular enzymes and prohibiting potential enzymatic activity loss following a denaturing stress (microwaving). Soil was incubated in the presence of biochar (0%, 1%, 2%, 5%, or 10% by wt.) for 36 days and then exposed to microwave energies (0, 400, 800, 1600, or 3200 J g−1 soil). Soil enzymes (β-glucosidase, β-d-cellobiosidase, N-acetyl-β-glucosaminidase, phosphatase, leucine aminopeptidase, β-xylosidase) were analyzed by fluorescence-based assays. Biochar amendment reduced leucine aminopeptidase and β-xylosidase potential activity after the incubation period and prior to stress exposure. The 10% biochar rate reduced soil water loss at the lowest stress level (400 J microwave energy g−1 soil). Enzyme stabilization was demonstrated for β-xylosidase; intermediate biochar application rates prevented a complete loss of this enzyme’s potential activity after soil was exposed to 400 (1% biochar treatment) or 1600 (5% biochar treatment) J microwave energy g−1 soil. Remaining enzyme potential activities were not affected by biochar, and activities decreased with increasing stress levels. We concluded that biochar has the potential to reduce evaporative soil water losses and stabilize certain extracellular enzymes where activity is maintained after a denaturing stress; this effect was biochar rate and enzyme dependent. While biochar may reduce the potential activity of certain soil extracellular enzymes, this phenomenon was not universal as the majority of enzymes assayed in this study were unaffected by exposure to biochar.

Ecosystem services are the goods and services provided by ecosystems that benefit human society. These goods and services are defined by the amount, type, and rate of use of natural resources, or capital, that ecosystems can deliver to society to make survival possible. A major challenge is the evaluation of natural capital's worth, in terms of providing ecosystem services, so that the sustainable use of natural capital is considered in economic decision-making processes. Soils are the source and foundation of ecosystem services that span the array of supporting, regulating, provisioning, and cultural services. Supporting services are those that are necessary for other ecosystem services, such as soil fertility and its importance for food and fiber production. Regulating services control the environment in which we live. For example, soil controls the flow of water through the landscape, which can result in water purification and storage, or runoff and erosion. Provisioning services are the products made from soil, such as food and fiber, building materials, and pharmaceutical compounds. Cultural services are the nonmaterial benefits we receive from soil, such as society's connection to a particular landscape. This book explains the ecosystem services provided by soil, the methods for valuing ecosystem services of soil along with the pitfalls and objections to each method, and demonstrates how ecosystem service evaluations can be used in policy evaluation and decision-making. Case studies are used to illustrate soil ecosystem services, what happens when ecosystem services are degraded, and how society benefits from the services provided by soil ecosystems.

Biochar may affect the mineralization rate of labile organic C sources such as manures via microbial community shifts, and subsequently affect nutrient release. In order to ascertain the positive or negative priming effect of biochar on manure, dairy manure (2% by wt.) and a hardwood-based, fast pyrolysis biochar were applied (0%, 1%, 2%, and 10% by wt.) to a calcareous soil. Destructive sampling occurred at 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 and 12 months to monitor for changes in soil chemistry, water content, microbial respiration, bacterial populations, and microbial community structure. Overall results showed that increasing biochar application rate improved the soil water content, which may be beneficial in limited irrigation or rainfall areas. Biochar application increased soil organic C content and plant-available Fe and Mn, while a synergistic biochar-manure effect increased plant-available Zn. Compared to the other rates, the 10% biochar application lowered concentrations of NO3-N; effects appeared masked at lower biochar rates due to manure application. Over time, soil NO3-N increased likely due to manure N mineralization, yet soil NO3-N in the 10% biochar rate remained lower as compared to other treatments. In the presence of manure, only the 10% biochar application caused subtle microbial community structure shifts by increasing the relative amounts of two fatty acids associated with Gram-negative bacteria and decreasing Gram-positive bacterial fatty acids, each by ∼1%. Our previous findings with biochar alone suggested an overall negative priming effect with increasing biochar application rates, yet when co-applied with manure the negative priming effect was eliminated.

Earthworms have historically been absent from dryland agricultural fields in eastern Colorado, but their invasion or purposeful introduction may affect water retention and plant nutrient availability in soil. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of Aporrectodea caliginosa on hydraulic properties and solute dispersivity in soil from eastern Colorado (Adena [Ustic Paleargid]–Colby [Aridic Ustorthents] complex) that was amended with biosolids. Columns of repacked soil (50 cm in depth) were incubated with or without A. caliginosa for a period of 16 wk, after which columns were divided into 15‐cm depth increments to determine soil–water retention curves and solute breakthrough curves (BTCs) under unsaturated and saturated conditions. Aporrectodea caliginosa and their burrows and casts altered soil water retention curves in the top 30 cm of the soil, where A. caliginosa were most active. Earthworms also affected BTCs within the top 30 cm of soil resulting in an approximately 35‐fold increase in solute dispersivity under saturated flow conditions and a 4‐ to 10‐fold increase with unsaturated flow conditions. Overall, A. caliginosa increased soil residual water content by 33 to 41% and altered soil physical properties so that water flow became more tortuous, solute dispersion increased under saturated and unsaturated conditions, and soil drained over a larger range of tensions. In conclusion, A. caliginosa has the potential to reduce upward losses of water, increase water retention, and increase dispersion of agricultural chemicals applied to the soil surface.

Soil biological, chemical, and physical properties can be important for monitoring soil quality under one of the most spectacular vegetation formation on Atlantic Forest Biome, the Araucaria Forest. Our aim was to identify a set of soil variables capable of discriminating between disturbed, reforested, and native Araucaria forest soils such that these variables could be used to monitor forest recovery and maintenance. Soil samples were collected at dry and rainy season under the three forest types in two state parks at São Paulo State, Brazil. Soil biological, chemical, and physical properties were evaluated to verify their potential to differentiate the forest types, and discriminant analysis was performed to identify the variables that most contribute to the differentiation. Most of physical and chemical variables were sensitive to forest disturbance level, but few biological variables were significantly different when comparing native, reforested, and disturbed forests. Despite more than 20 years following reforestation, the reforested soils were chemically and biologically distinct from native and disturbed forest soils, mainly because of the greater acidity and Al3+ content of reforested soil. Disturbed soils, in contrast, were coarser in texture and contained greater concentrations of extractable P. Although biological properties are generally highly sensitive to disturbance and amelioration efforts, the most important soil variables to discriminate forest types in both seasons included Al3+, Mg2+, P, and sand, and only one microbial attribute: the NO2 − oxidizers. Therefore, these five variables were the best candidates, of the variables we employed, for monitoring Araucaria forest disturbance and recovery.

The effects of biochar application to calcareous soils are not well documented. In a laboratory incubation study, a hardwood-based, fast pyrolysis biochar was applied (0, 1, 2, and 10% by weight) to a calcareous soil. Changes in soil chemistry, water content, microbial respiration, and microbial community structure were monitored over a 12-mo period. Increasing the biochar application rate increased the water-holding capacity of the soil-biochar blend, a trait that could be beneficial under water-limited situations. Biochar application also caused an increase in plant-available Fe and Mn, soil C content, soil respiration rates, and bacterial populations and a decrease in soil NO-N concentration. Biochar rates of 2 and 10% altered the relative proportions of bacterial and fungal fatty acids and shifted the microbial community toward greater relative amounts of bacteria and fewer fungi. The ratio of fatty acid 19:0 cy to its precursor, 18:1ω7c, was higher in the 10% biochar rate soil than in all other soils, potentially indicating an environmental stress response. The 10% application rate of this particular biochar was extreme, causing the greatest change in microbial community structure, a physiological response to stress in Gram-negative bacteria, and a drastic reduction in soil NO-N (85-97% reduction compared with the control), all of which were sustained over time.

CSA NewsVolume 59, Issue 5 p. 30-31 News & Perspective Soil's Role in Restoring Ecosystem Services Mary Stromberger, Mary Stromberger Colorado State UniversitySearch for more papers by this authorDiana Wall, Diana Wall Colorado State UniversitySearch for more papers by this authorSatish Gupta, Satish Gupta University of MinnesotaSearch for more papers by this author Mary Stromberger, Mary Stromberger Colorado State UniversitySearch for more papers by this authorDiana Wall, Diana Wall Colorado State UniversitySearch for more papers by this authorSatish Gupta, Satish Gupta University of MinnesotaSearch for more papers by this author First published: 29 April 2014 https://doi.org/10.2134/csa2014-59-5-10Read the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditWechat No abstract is available for this article. Volume59, Issue5May 2014Pages 30-31 RelatedInformation

Extracellular enzymes produced by heterotrophic microbial communities are major drivers of carbon and nutrient cycling in terrestrial, freshwater, and marine environments. Although carbon and nutrient cycles are coupled on global scales, studies of extracellular enzymes associated with terrestrial, freshwater, and marine microbial communities are not often compared across ecosystems. In part, this disconnect arises because the environmental parameters that control enzyme activities in terrestrial and freshwater systems, such as temperature, pH, and moisture content, have little explanatory power for patterns of enzyme activities in marine systems. Instead, factors such as the functional diversity of microbial communities may explain varying patterns of enzyme activities observed in the ocean to date. In any case, many studies across systems focus on similar issues that highlight the commonalities of microbial community organization. Examples include the effective lifetime of enzymes released into the environment; the extent to which microbial communities coordinate enzyme expression to decompose complex organic substrates; and the influence of microbial community composition on enzyme activities and kinetics. Here we review the often-disparate research foci in terrestrial, freshwater, and marine environments. We consider the extent to which environmental factors may regulate extracellular enzyme activities within each ecosystem, and highlight commonalities and current methodological challenges to identify research questions that may aid in integrating cross-system perspectives in the future.

Soil HorizonsVolume 54, Issue 3 sh12-10-0028 p. 1-14 Opinion and Policy Assessment and Evaluation of Soil Ecosystem Services Nicholas B. Comerford, Corresponding Author Nicholas B. Comerford Director and Professor nbc@ufl.edu Univ. of Florida, 155 Research Rd., Quincy, FL, 32351Corresponding author (nbc@ufl.edu).Search for more papers by this authorAlan J. Franzluebbers, Alan J. Franzluebbers Ecologist USDA-ARS, 3218 Williams Hall, Campus Box 7619, Raleigh, NC, 27695Search for more papers by this authorMary E. Stromberger, Mary E. Stromberger Associate Professor of Soil Microbiology Dep. of Soil and Crop Sciences, Colorado State Univ., Fort Collins, CO, 80523-1170Search for more papers by this authorLawrence Morris, Lawrence Morris Professor of Forest Soils Univ. of Georgia-Athens, 180 Green St., Athens, GA, 30602Search for more papers by this authorDaniel Markewitz, Daniel Markewitz Professor of Soil Site Productivity Univ. of Georgia-Athens, 180 Green St., Athens, GA, 30602Search for more papers by this authorRebecca Moore, Rebecca Moore Assistant Professor of Natural Resources Economics Univ. of Georgia-Athens, 180 Green St., Athens, GA, 30602Search for more papers by this author Nicholas B. Comerford, Corresponding Author Nicholas B. Comerford Director and Professor nbc@ufl.edu Univ. of Florida, 155 Research Rd., Quincy, FL, 32351Corresponding author (nbc@ufl.edu).Search for more papers by this authorAlan J. Franzluebbers, Alan J. Franzluebbers Ecologist USDA-ARS, 3218 Williams Hall, Campus Box 7619, Raleigh, NC, 27695Search for more papers by this authorMary E. Stromberger, Mary E. Stromberger Associate Professor of Soil Microbiology Dep. of Soil and Crop Sciences, Colorado State Univ., Fort Collins, CO, 80523-1170Search for more papers by this authorLawrence Morris, Lawrence Morris Professor of Forest Soils Univ. of Georgia-Athens, 180 Green St., Athens, GA, 30602Search for more papers by this authorDaniel Markewitz, Daniel Markewitz Professor of Soil Site Productivity Univ. of Georgia-Athens, 180 Green St., Athens, GA, 30602Search for more papers by this authorRebecca Moore, Rebecca Moore Assistant Professor of Natural Resources Economics Univ. of Georgia-Athens, 180 Green St., Athens, GA, 30602Search for more papers by this author First published: 08 May 2013 https://doi.org/10.2136/sh12-10-0028Citations: 38 A peer-reviewed contribution published in Soil Horizons (2013). All rights reserved. No part of this periodical may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. Read the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat Abstract Soil ecosystem services are diverse, valuable, and underappreciated. They are classified as provisioning, regulating, supporting, and cultural services. This paper is the product of a Soil Science Society of America task force convened to define and value ecosystem services derived from soil for the benefit of scientists, elected officials, and practitioners with the hope that a better understanding of soil ecosystem services will result in informed decisions in the use of soils. Soil provides medicines, building materials, and nutrients. Soil controls nutrient and water cycles. Soil is capable of degrading wastes and detoxifying compounds. Soil is a habitat for diverse microorganisms and fauna, which in turn supports valuable ecosystem services. Soil also supports recreational activities and is part of our cultural heritage evident in legend, religion, song, and art. The value of soil's ecosystem services exceeds that of other parts of an ecosystem, yet the scope and value of soil-derived ecosystem services remains poorly understood. Three of the greatest challenges that remain are to develop (i) a better understanding and documentation of soil biodiversity, (ii) more comprehensive economic valuation of soil services, and (iii) an understanding of how to manage soil to maximize its benefits to humankind. Citing Literature Volume54, Issue3May 2013Pages 1-14 RelatedInformation