PSC6310

After the completion of this course students will  know the major types of organisms found in soils and be familiar with their classification based on physiological and taxonomic criteria.

They will understand the basis for physiological and molecular methods used to examine the microbial diversity of soil environments.

They will be familiar with the role of pH, water availability and redox status for the control microbial activity in the soil environment.

They will be able to  describe plant-microbe interactions especially rhizosphere, mycorrhizae and nitrogen fixation and understand the role of microbes in the transformations of soil carbon, nitrogen, sulfur and phosphorus.

The students will be able to find, understand and interpret primary source materials on a variety of topics related to microbial communities and soil processes.