Soil Microbiology, Ecology, and Biochemistry, Fifth Edition addresses the increasingly important field of soil biota and their interactions in research and education. Soil biota are extremely important, and especially relevant to today's societal questions related to global change, ecosystem sustainability, and food security in our ever-changing environment. Revised by a group of world-renowned authors in many institutions and disciplines, this book relates breakthroughs in knowledge in this important field, along with its history and future applications. This new edition provides readable, practical, impactful information for many applied and fundamental disciplines. There is no other available volume on the topics covered that also integrates the concepts in a way that makes them useful to a broad group of readers.Provides step-by-step guidance on key procedures/processesIncludes information on the modeling of soil microbial processes, as well as the greater application of models in facing societal challengesStresses the importance of nitrogen and its relevance to plant growth, enzyme production, soil organic matter formation, food security, and environmental sustainability, including pollution