Written by leading experts in the field, this comprehensive, balanced introduction to soil microbiology captures the rapid advances in both the fundamental knowledge and potential applications of soil microbiology — e.g., habitats and organisms, microbially mediated transformation, and applied environmental topics. Carefully edited to ensure a uniform style and consistent usage of terminology, it helps students make the transition from traditional introductory, single-authored texts to typical multi-authored scientific treatises which, to keep current, they will consult as professionals.