Interactions and Self-Organization in the Soil-Microbe Complex

Title
Interactions and Self-Organization in the Soil-Microbe Complex
Publication Date
2004
Author(s)
Young, Iain
Crawford, J W
Type of document
Journal Article
Language
en
Entity Type
Publication
Publisher
American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
Place of publication
United States of America
DOI
10.1126/science.1097394
UNE publication id
une:5659
Abstract
Soil is the most complicated biomaterial on the planet. As with any material, the physical habitat is of prime importance in determining and regulating biological activity. However, until recently the opaque nature of soil has meant that any interrogation of its interior architecture has been relatively rudimentary, restricted to simple qualitative expressions of the physical heterogeneity that fail to relate to any specific function. However, new techniques and insights into the biophysical and biochemical processes of this inner space are leading to the developments of theoretical frameworks and experimental approaches that will allow us to sustainably manage Earth’s most important resource. We introduce the concept that the soil-microbe system is self-organized and suggest new priorities for research based on an integrative approach that combines biochemistry and biophysics.
Link
Citation
Science, 304(5677), p. 1634-1637
ISSN
1095-9203
0036-8075
Start page
1634
End page
1637

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