Aimed at taking the mystery out of soil science, Soils: Principles, Properties and Management is a text for undergraduate/graduate students who study soil as a natural resource. Written in a reader-friendly style, with a host of examples, figures and tables, the book leads the reader from the basics of soil science through to complex situations, covering such topics as:
- the origin, development and classification of soil
- physical, chemical and biological properties of soil
- water and nutrient management
- management of problem soils, wetland soils and forest soils
- soil degradation
Further, the ecological and agrological functions of soil are emphasized in the context of food security, biodiversity and climate change. The interactions between the environment and soil management are highlighted. Soil is viewed as an ecosystem itself and as a part of larger terrestrial ecosystems.
Author(s): Khan Towhid Osman (auth.)
Edition: 1
Publisher: Springer Netherlands
Year: 2013
Language: English
Pages: 274
Tags: Soil Science & Conservation; Agriculture; Earth Sciences, general; Forestry
Front Matter....Pages i-xxii
Concepts of Soil....Pages 1-7
Soil as a Part of the Lithosphere....Pages 9-16
Factors and Processes of Soil Formation....Pages 17-30
Soil Classification....Pages 31-48
Physical Properties of Soil....Pages 49-65
Soil Water, Irrigation, and Drainage....Pages 67-88
Soil Organic Matter....Pages 89-96
Chemical Properties of Soil....Pages 97-111
Biological Properties of Soils....Pages 113-128
Plant Nutrients and Soil Fertility Management....Pages 129-159
Problem Soils and Their Management....Pages 161-174
Soil Resources and Soil Degradation....Pages 175-213
Wetland Soils....Pages 215-227
Forest Soils....Pages 229-251
Climate Change and Soil....Pages 253-261
Back Matter....Pages 263-271
