What it is
Edited by Norman Uphoff and Janice Thies, this academic text provides a comprehensive treatment of soil biology in agricultural systems. It covers mycorrhizal fungi, rhizosphere bacteria, soil food web dynamics, biological nitrogen fixation, and the mechanisms through which soil organisms drive nutrient cycling, disease suppression, and carbon sequestration.
Why we picked this
For readers who want the peer-reviewed science behind regenerative claims, this is the definitive academic reference. It goes deeper than popular books on soil biology, providing the research foundations that practitioners reference. The second edition incorporates recent advances in soil metagenomics and microbiome research.
Key takeaways
- Mycorrhizal networks can extend root surface area by 100-1,000x, fundamentally changing how plants access nutrients and water in regenerative systems.
- Biological nitrogen fixation by soil bacteria can replace 50-100% of synthetic nitrogen inputs in well-managed regenerative systems.
- The book documents how soil food web complexity correlates directly with ecosystem services: more diverse soil biology produces more resilient, productive land.