Course Overview

• Overview

An Introduction to Soil Science (Duration: 30 minutes)

• Introduction to the soil system (10 minutes)
• Physical and chemical properties of soil (10 minutes)
• Biological properties of soil: A brief introduction to soil biodiversity (10 minutes)

The Living Soil: Understanding Microorganisms (Duration: 45 minutes)

• An overview of soil microorganisms: Bacteria, Fungi, Protozoa, Algae, and others (15 minutes)
• How soil microbes contribute to soil health (15 minutes)
• Life in a teaspoon of soil: Visualizing microbial diversity and abundance (15 minutes)

Symbiosis in the Soil: Plants, Trees and Microbes (Duration: 45 minutes)

• Microbes and plant roots: The Rhizosphere (15 minutes)
• Plant-Microbe Symbiotic relationships: Mycorrhizal fungi and Nitrogen-fixing bacteria (15 minutes)
• Plant health and defense: The role of microbes (15 minutes)

Soil Microbes and Nutrient Cycling (Duration: 45 minutes)

• The Soil Food Web: How microbes contribute to nutrient cycling (15 minutes)
• Decomposition and the role of microbes (15 minutes)
• Microbes and the Carbon Cycle: Understanding soil's role in climate change (15 minutes)

Enhancing Soil Health Through Microbial Management (Duration: 45 minutes)

• Techniques for enhancing soil microbial health (15 minutes)
• Role of organic matter and compost in fostering microbial life (15 minutes)
• Case studies: Successful soil microbial management practices around the world (15 minutes)

Future Perspectives in Soil Microbiology (Duration: 30 minutes)

• New advances in soil microbiology research (10 minutes)
• Potential applications: From sustainable agriculture to climate change mitigation (10 minutes)
• Final thoughts: How you can make a difference (10 minutes)