'This book has been long-awaited...Written by top field researchers, it is almost all-encompassing and of very high quality. It will be the standard handbook for students and practitioners for many years.'-Lijbert Brussaard, professor of soil biology and biological soil quality, Wageningen University, The Netherlands 'This practical manual, written by an accomplished and international team of experts, will help us to unlock further the secrets of the rich tropical soil biota and the generation of tropical soil fertility. It will thereby help us in the conservation and sustainable management of one of the Earth's most valuable assets.' -Goetz Schroth, Conservation International'A valuable practical teaching resource suitable for universities and research institutions undertaking laboratory and field level studies in tropical soil biology, agriculture and environment. This book will ease a critical shortage of practical handbooks in soil biodiversity in Africa and other tropical areas; a must for teaching and research institution libraries.'-Sheunesu Mpepereki, professor of soil science, University of Zimbabwe '[A] great resource for teaching' -Experimental Agriculture 'Practical handbook' Biotechnology, Agronomy Society and Environment'An extremely valuable companion volume which will have wide appeal outside the tropics as well as within them.'-David L. Hawksworth, Biodiversity and Conservation