Course detail

LSN5805 - Soil Microbiology


Credit hours

In-class work
per week
Practice
per week
Credits
Duration
Total
4
2
8
15 weeks
120 hours

Instructor
Fernando Dini Andreote
Simone Raposo Cotta

Objective
Provide students with knowledge about Soil Microbiology. Incorporate in the student the ability to reason
about the most varied situations and contexts related to the subject, making them able to solve
problems and formulate research projects within this area of activity.

Content
1. General characteristics of the main groups of soil microorganisms.
2. Ecology of soil microorganisms.
3. Characteristics and metabolic processes of soil organisms.
4. Mycorrhizae.
5. Trophic chain in the soil.
6. Transformations of organic matter in the soil I (carbon and nitrogen cycle).
7. Biological nitrogen fixation in the soil.
8. Transformation of organic matter in the soil II (sulfur and phosphorus cycle).
9. Cultivation-independent methodologies for studying microbial communities in soil.
10. Application of biological products in agriculture.
11. Biological management practices in agriculture.
12. The use of bioinputs for biological soil management.
13. Biological analyzes of soils.
Practical Part: 1. Quantitative and qualitative analysis of soil microorganisms. 2. Respirometry of soil
microorganisms. 3. Mycorrhizae and Diazotrophs. 4. Quantification of enzymes in soils. 5. Extraction of
DNA from soil and amplification of ribosomal genes.

Bibliography
Van Elsas JD, Trevors JT, Rosado AS, Nannipieri P. Modern Soil Microbiology, 3rd Edition, 2019 Cardoso
EJBN, Andreote FD. Microbiologia do Solo 2a Ed.
(http://www.livrosabertos.sibi.usp.br/portaldelivrosUSP/catalog/book/109) Van Elsas JD, Jansson J,
Trevors 3T. Modern Soil Microbiology, 2nd Edition (2006). Melo, IS; Azevedo, JL. Microbiologia
Ambiental (2008). Paul, EA. Soil Microbiology, Ecology, and Biochemistry, 3rd. Edition (2007). Allen,
M.F. The ecology of mycorrhizae. Cambridge Studies in Ecology, 1991. 184 p. Cardoso, E.J.B.N.; Tsai,
S.M.; Neves, M.C.P. Microbiologia do Solo. Campinas: Sociedade Brasileira de Ciencia do Solo, 1992.
360p. Hatfield, IL.; Stewart, B.A. Soil Biology: Effects on Soil quality. Boca Raton: CRC Press, 1994. 169
p. Hungria, M.; Arai:Jjo, R.S. (ed.) Manual de metodos empregados em estudos de Microbiologia do
Solo. Brasilia: EMBRAPA, 1994. 542 p. Pfleger, F.L.; Linderman, R.G. Mycorrhizae and plant health. The
American Phytopatological Society. 2nd ed. 1996. 344 p.