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Soil Biology and Agriculture in the Tropics
by Patrice DionThe relationships between soils, microbes and humans are of crucial relevance in the tropics, where plant stress and microbial activity are exacerbated. This volume of Soil Biology presents the living component of tropical soils, showing how it is shaped by environmental conditions and emphasizing its dramatic impact on human survival and well-being. Following an introduction to the specificities of tropical soils and of their microbial communities, the biological aspects of soil management are examined, dealing with land use change, conservation and slash-and-burn agriculture, the restoration of hot deserts, agroforestry and paddy rice cultivation. As they are of particular relevance for tropical agriculture, symbioses of plants and microbes are thoroughly covered, as are the biodegradation of pesticides and health risks associated with wastewater irrigation. Lastly, traditional soil knowledge is discussed as a key to our sustainable presence in this world.
Soil Carbon: Science, Management and Policy for Multiple Benefits
by Dave Abson Christiano Ballabio Francesca Bampa Andre Bationo Niels Batjes Martial Bernoux Tapas Bhattacharyya Daniel Buschiazzo Carlos Eduardo Cerri Rich Conant Heitor L.C. Coutinho Chris Duffy Christian Feller Roger Funk Patrick Gicheru Marty Goldhaber Hans Joosten Pierre-Alain Maron Luca Montanarella Generose Nziguheba Genxing Pan Unai Pascual David Powlson Pete Smith Meine Van Noordwijk Bas Van Wesemael David Werner Yongcun ZhaoThis book brings together the essential evidence and policy opportunities regarding the global importance of soil carbon for sustaining Earth's life support system for humanity. Covering the science and policy background for this important natural resource, it describes land management options that improve soil carbon status and therefore increase the benefits that humans derive from the environment. Written by renowned global experts, it is the principal output from a SCOPE rapid assessment process project.
Soil Carbon
by Christiano Ballabio Daniel Buschiazzo Elke Noellemeyer Steven A Banwart Bas Van Wesemael Genxing Pan Francesca Bampa Meine Van Noordwijk Rich Conant Heitor L.C. Coutinho Patrick Gicheru Andre Bationo Roger Funk David Werner Martial Bernoux Unai Pascual Tapas Bhattacharyya Marty Goldhaber Hans Joosten Dave Abson Niels Batjes Carlos Eduardo Cerri Generose Nziguheba David Powlson Christian Feller Pete Smith Pierre-Alain Maron Luca Montanarella Yongcun Zhao Chris Duffy Eleanor MilneThis book brings together the essential evidence and policy opportunities regarding the global importance of soil carbon for sustaining Earth's life support system for humanity. Covering the science and policy background for this important natural resource, it describes land management options that improve soil carbon status and therefore increase the benefits that humans derive from the environment. Written by renowned global experts, it is the principal output from a SCOPE rapid assessment process project. Read a chapter for free
Soil Carbon Dynamics
by Werner L. Kutsch Michael Bahn Andreas HeinemeyerCarbon stored in soils represents the largest terrestrial carbon pool and factors affecting this will be vital in the understanding of future atmospheric CO2 concentrations. This book provides an integrated view on measuring and modeling soil carbon dynamics. Based on a broad range of in-depth contributions by leading scientists it gives an overview of current research concepts, developments and outlooks and introduces cutting-edge methodologies, ranging from questions of appropriate measurement design to the potential application of stable isotopes and molecular tools. It includes a standardised soil CO2 efflux protocol, aimed at data consistency and inter-site comparability and thus underpins a regional and global understanding of soil carbon dynamics. This book provides an important reference work for students and scientists interested in many aspects of soil ecology and biogeochemical cycles, policy makers, carbon traders and others concerned with the global carbon cycle.
Soil Carbon in Sensitive European Ecosystems
by Mats Olsson Robert Jandl Mirco RodeghieroSoil Carbon in Sensitive European Ecosystems - From Science to Land Management is a comprehensive overview of the latest research in this field drawn together by a network of scientists from across Europe. Soil carbon assessments are crucial at present to our understanding of the dynamics of terrestrial ecosystems and our ability to assess implications for the global carbon exchange and its consequences on the future climate. This book focuses primarily on ecosystems and their soil carbon stocks. The book identifies three key sensitive ecosystems within Europe: Mediterranean Forest and Agricultural Systems; Mountains; and Peatland.Contributors include those currently working for the European research programme, COST Action 639 BurnOut (www.cost639.net; 2006-2010).COST Action 639 emerged from a demand from policy makers in Europe for more detailed information on soil carbon dynamics. The cooperation between experts for reporting and experts for soil dynamics is the focus of the book. This book seeks to provide an up-to-date account on the state-of-the-art research within this topical field.
Soil Chemistry
by Daniel G. Strawn Hinrich L. Bohn George A. O'ConnorSoil is key to sustaining life—affecting air and water quality, the growth of plants and crops, and the health of the entire planet. Soil Chemistry 4e provides comprehensive coverage of the chemical interactions among organic and inorganic solids, air, water, microorganisms, and the plant roots in soil. The fourth edition of Soil Chemistry has been revised and updated throughout and provides a basic description of important research and fundamental knowledge in the field. The text covers chemical processes that occur in soils, including: distribution and species of nutrients and contaminants in soils; aqueous chemistry of soil solutions and mineral dissolution; oxidation and reduction reactions in soils; soil mineral formation processes and properties; the formation and reactivity of soil organic matter; surface chemistry and cation, anion, and organic compound adsorption reactions; modelling soil chemical reactions; and reactions in acid and salt affected soils. Although extensively revised with updated figures and tables, the fourth edition maintains the focus on introductory soil chemistry that has distinguished earlier editions. New chapters on properties of elements relevant to soil chemistry, and a chapter with special focus on soil surface characteristics have been added. Special Topics boxes are also included in the Fourth Edition that includes examples, noteworthy topics, and case studies. End of chapter questions are included as a resource for teaching.
Soil Chemistry
by Daniel G. Strawn Hinrich L. Bohn George A. O'ConnorProvides comprehensive coverage of the chemical interactions among organic and inorganic solids, air, water, microorganisms, and the plant roots in soil This book focuses on the species and reaction processes of chemicals in soils, with applications to environmental and agricultural issues. Topics range from discussion of fundamental chemical processes to review of properties and reactions of chemicals in the environment. This new edition contains more examples, more illustrations, more details of calculations, and reorganized material within the chapters, including nearly 100 new equations and 51 new figures. Each section also ends with an important concepts overview as well as new questions for readers to answer. Starting with an introduction to the subject, Soil Chemistry, 5th Edition offers in-depth coverage of properties of elements and molecules; characteristics of chemicals in soils; soil water chemistry; redox reactions in soils; mineralogy and weathering processes in soils; and chemistry of soil clays. The book also provides chapters that examine production and chemistry of soil organic matter; surface properties of soil colloids; adsorption processes in soils; measuring and predicting sorption processes in soils; soil acidity; and salt-affected soils. Provides a basic description of important research and fundamental knowledge in the field of soil chemistry Contains more than 200 references provided in figure and table captions and at the end of the chapters Extensively revised with updated figures and tables Soil Chemistry, 5th Edition is an excellent text for senior-level soil chemistry students.
Soil Clays: Linking Geology, Biology, Agriculture, and the Environment
by G. Jock Churchman Bruce VeldeAs the human population grows from seven billion toward an inevitable nine or 10 billion, the demands on the limited supply of soils will grow and intensify. Soils are essential for the sustenance of almost all plants and animals, including humans, but soils are virtually infinitely variable. Clays are the most reactive and interactive inorganic compounds in soils. Clays in soils often differ from pure clay minerals of geological origin. They provide a template for most of the reactive organic matter in soils. They directly affect plant nutrients, soil temperature and pH, aggregate sizes and strength, porosity and water-holding capacities. This book aims to help improve predictions of important properties of soils through a modern understanding of their highly reactive clay minerals as they are formed and occur in soils worldwide. It examines how clays occur in soils and the role of soil clays in disparate applications including plant nutrition, soil structure, and water-holding capacity, soil quality, soil shrinkage and swelling, carbon sequestration, pollution control and remediation, medicine, forensic investigation, and deciphering human and environmental histories. Features: Provides information on the conditions that lead to the formation of clay minerals in soils Distinguishes soil clays and types of clay minerals Describes clay mineral structures and their origins Describes occurrences and associations of clays in soil Details roles of clays in applications of soils Heavily illustrated with photos, diagrams, and electron micrographs Includes user-friendly description of a new method of identification To know soil clays is to enable their use toward achieving improvements in the management of soils for enhancing their performance in one or more of their three main functions of enabling plant growth, regulating water flow to plants, and buffering environmental changes. This book provides an easily-read and extensively-illustrated description of the nature, formation, identification, occurrence and associations, measurement, reactivities, and applications of clays in soils.
Soil Conservation and Management
by Humberto Blanco Rattan LalThis updated and expanded second edition textbook, describes all main aspects of soil management, to address the serious problems of soil erosion and the attendant environmental pollution. The global high demands for food, fiber, feed, and fuel put a constant strain on the environment, which can only be mitigated by soil conservation. This edition incorporates new concepts and provides an up-to-date review of soil management principles and practices. The authors also added new chapters on cover crops, crop residues, soil water management, nutrient management, perennials in crop rotations and organic amendments. All practices have a clear perspective on addressing soil erosion, physical and chemical problems, carbon dynamics and sequestration as well as non-point source pollution. The restorative nature of many practices, also consider water conservation as a main pillar of sustaining a healthy soil. This textbook is valuable for students and professionals in soil science, agronomy, agricultural engineering, hydrology, and management of natural resources.
Soil Cover of the Dried Aral Seabed in Kazakhstan
by Gulnura Issanova Jilili Abuduwaili Kuralay TynybayevaThis book summarizes the outcomes of research results based on field works and recent studies related to soil cover of the dried Aral seabed in Kazakhstan. The purpose of the work was to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the current state of the soil cover in the dried bed of the Aral Sea in order to study the processes that are occurring in the local soils as a result of anthropogenic impacts inducing soil degradation and desertification (e.g., soil salinization and deflation). Additionally, the book analyzes morphological characteristics and chemical-physical properties of soils in the dried bottom of the Northern Aral Sea in order to know how material properties can be transported during soil deflation in dust/sand/salt storms in the region, as well as to identify changes in long-term dynamics of aridization and climatic parameters such as temperature, precipitation and evapotranspiration in the Aral Sea region.The novelty of this research is reflected in the latest information on the vertical and spatial distributions of soils and their chemical properties in the region containing the dried bed of the Aral Sea in Kazakhstan. Consequently, an updated soil map (soil salinization and salinization degree, land degradation) of the seabed was obtained according to the collected field data and satellite-derived images such as those recorded by Landsat-8. The book is mainly addressed to scientists and researchers who study soil cover in the dried Aral Seabed and its region, as well as soil degradation and desertification in the dried lake playas and aridization in other arid regions. The book will also be useful for students and planners who feel responsible for the sustainable development and sustainable use of natural resources in Central Asian countries.
Soil Degradable Bioplastics for a Sustainable Modern Agriculture
by Mario MalinconicoThis book shows how the use of biodegradable plastics in agriculture can have a profound positive impact on plasticulture. Starting with an organic chemistry approach to biodegradable and compostable plastics, both natural and synthetic, it then analyzes the technological and agronomic aspects of existing bioplastics for protected cultivation (mulching, direct cover, low tunnels). It describes the new sprayable biodegradable mulching method, which is based on the use of waterborne polysaccharides and cellulosic fibers. A further chapter describes the research and technology of biodegradable plastics for different agricultural practices. It also includes chapters on life cycle assessment (LCA) of biodegradable plastics for agriculture, and existing and developing standards in the field. It is a valuable resource for agronomists, chemical and materials engineers, polymer technologists and scientists, as well as for a more general readership interested in the application of green chemistry principles to the vast world of crop production. Mario Malinconico
Soil Degradation and Restoration in Africa (Advances in Soil Science)
by Rattan Lal B. A. StewartSoil degradation is a widespread problem in Africa resulting in low agricultural productivity while demand for food continues to increase. Degradation is caused by accelerated erosion, acidification, contamination, depletion of soil organic matter and plant nutrients, and salinization. Food and nutritional security of the growing population of Africa can only be achieved if degraded soils are restored, and soils of agroecosystems are managed prudently and sustainably. This book describes the soils of Africa, processes of soil degradation, extent and severity of soil degradation, and the impacts of degradation processes on food and nutritional security.
Soil Degradation, Conservation and Remediation
by Khan Towhid OsmanIn view of the grave consequences of soil degradation on ecosystem functions, food security, biodiversity and human health, this book covers the extent, causes, processes and impacts of global soil degradation, and processes for improvement of degraded soils. Soil conservation measures, including soil amendments, decompaction, mulching, cover cropping, crop rotation, green manuring, contour farming, strip cropping, alley cropping, surface roughening, windbreaks, terracing, sloping agricultural land technology (SALT), dune stabilization, etc. , are discussed. Particular emphasis is given to soil pollution and the methods of physical, chemical and biological remediation of polluted soils. This book will lead the reader from the basics to a comprehensive understanding of soil degradation, conservation and remediation.
Soil Dynamics: Select Proceedings of 7th ICRAGEE 2020 (Lecture Notes in Civil Engineering #119)
by T. G. Sitharam S. V. Dinesh Ravi JakkaThis volume presents select papers presented at the 7th International Conference on Recent Advances in Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering and Soil Dynamics. The papers discuss advances in the fields of soil dynamics and geotechnical earthquake engineering. A strong emphasis is placed on connecting academic research and field practice, with many examples, case studies, best practices, and discussions on performance based design. This volume will be of interest to researchers and practicing engineers alike.
Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Geotechnical Engineering: IGC 2016 Volume 3 (Lecture Notes in Civil Engineering #15)
by Boominathan Adimoolam Subhadeep BanerjeeThis book gathers selected proceedings of the annual conference of the Indian Geotechnical Society, and covers various aspects of soil dynamics and earthquake geotechnical engineering. The book includes a wide range of studies on seismic response of dams, foundation-soil systems, natural and man-made slopes, reinforced-earth walls, base isolation systems and so on, especially focusing on the soil dynamics and case studies from the Indian subcontinent. The book also includes chapters addressing related issues such as landslide risk assessments, liquefaction mitigation, dynamic analysis of mechanized tunneling, and advanced seismic soil-structure-interaction analysis. Given its breadth of coverage, the book offers a useful guide for researchers and practicing civil engineers alike.
Soil Dynamics, Earthquake and Computational Geotechnical Engineering: Proceedings of the Indian Geotechnical Conference 2021 Volume 5 (Lecture Notes in Civil Engineering #300)
by Kasinathan Muthukkumaran R. Ayothiraman Sreevalsa KolathayarThis book comprises the select peer-reviewed proceedings of the Indian Geotechnical Conference (IGC) 2021. The contents focus on Geotechnics for Infrastructure Development and Innovative Applications. The book covers topics related to parameters of soil, liquefaction evaluation of subsoil strata, analysis of earth and development of shear wave velocity profile, seismic hazard analysis, vibration isolation methods, application of machine learning in geotechnical engineering, among others. This volume will be of interest to those in academia and industry.
Soil Ecology and Management
by Joann Whalen Luis SampedroSoil ecology is the study of interactions between the physio-chemical components of the soil and organisms living within the soil. Humans are highly dependent upon the soil ecosystem, which provides food, fiber, fuel and ecological services, such as the recycling of atmospheric gases. It is therefore important to understand the function and nature of the soil ecosystem in order to predict and mitigate the long term consequences of present day actions. Soil Ecology and Management describes the organisms inhabiting the soil, their functions and interactions and the dimensions of human impact on the activity of soil organisms and soil ecological function. Chapters discuss basic soil characteristics and biogeochemical cycling, key soil flora and fauna, community-level dynamics (soil food webs) and the ecological and pedological functions of soil organisms. Unlike other soil biology and ecology textbooks, the authors also convey a better understanding of how human activities impact upon soil ecology in a section on ecosystem management and its effects on soil biota and provide a unique perspective on the utility of soil organisms.
Soil Emission of Nitrous Oxide and its Mitigation
by Rattan Lal David UssiriNitrous oxide gas is a long-lived relatively active greenhouse gas (GHG) with an atmospheric lifetime of approximately 120 years, and heat trapping effects about 310 times more powerful than carbon dioxide per molecule basis. It contributes about 6% of observed global warming. Nitrous oxide is not only a potent GHG, but it also plays a significant role in the depletion of stratospheric ozone. This book describes the anthropogenic sources of N2O with major emphasis on agricultural activities. It summarizes an overview of global cycling of N and the role of nitrous oxide on global warming and ozone depletion, and then focus on major source, soil borne nitrous oxide emissions. The spatial-temporal variation of soil nitrous oxide fluxes and underlying biogeochemical processes are described, as well as approaches to quantify fluxes of N2O from soils. Mitigation strategies to reduce the emissions, especially from agricultural soils, and fertilizer nitrogen sources are described in detail in the latter part of the book.
Soil Engineering
by Athanasios P. Dedousis Thomas BartzanasThe agricultural world has changed significantly during the last years. The excessive use of heavy machinery, waste disposal, the use of agrochemicals and new soil cultivation means led to severe problems, which agricultural engineers have to cope with in order to prevent soil from permanent irreversible damage. This Soil Biology volume will update readers on several cutting-edge aspects of sustainable soil engineering including topics such as: soil compaction, soil density increases, soil disturbance and soil fragmentation; soil tillage machineries and optimization of tillage tools; soil traffic and traction, effects of heavy agricultural machines, the use of robotics in agriculture and controlled traffic farming; mechanical weed control, the characterization of soil variability and the recycling of compost and biosolids in agricultural soils.
Soil Enzymology
by Ajit Varma Girish ShuklaSoil enzymes are one of the vital key mediators involved in nutrient recycling and the decomposition of organic matter and thereby in maintaining soil quality and fertility. This Soil Biology volume covers the various facets of soil enzymes, such as their functions, biochemical and microbiological properties and the factors affecting their activities. Enzymes in the rhizosphere, in forest soils, and in volcanic ash-derived soils are described. Soil enzymes covered include phosphohydrolases, lignocellulose-degrading enzymes, phenol oxidases, fungal oxidoreductases, keratinases, pectinases, xylanases, lipases and pectinases. Several chapters treat the soil enzymatic activities in the bioremediation of soils contaminated with pesticides and pollutants such as oil, chlorinated compounds, synthetic dyes and aromatic hydrocarbons. The role of soil enzymes as bioindicators is a further important topic addressed.
Soil Enzymology in the Recycling of Organic Wastes and Environmental Restoration
by Salvador González-Carcedo Carmen Trasar-Cepeda Teresa Hernández Carlos Rad Carlos GarcíaSoil enzymes play a fundamental role in many soil processes such as the mineralization of organic matter, the synthesis of humic substances, the degradation of xenobiotics or the mechanisms involved in the biocontrol of plant pathogens. Their direct link with soil microorganisms gives them a key role as biomonitors of the evolution of soil quality or in the monitoring of the application of organic amendments to degraded soils. As a consequence of the importance of soil enzymes on soil processes, there is an increasing interest in their study, as well as in the application of molecular techniques as diagnostic tools.
Soil Erosion and Carbon Dynamics (Advances In Soil Science Ser. #Vol. 15)
by Eric J. RooseThe most complete, nonpartisan source of information on this hot agronomic topic available today, this book brings together a diverse group of papers and data to resolve the debate between sedimentologists and soil scientists and agronomists over whether the effects of soil erosion on carbon and atmospheric CO2 is beneficial or destructive. Divided into four sections, it offers data on how soil erosion affects soil, water, and air quality. Topics include mineralization rate, inundation, sediment deposition, and global warming potential, as well as carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide emissions, and the implications of soil erosion on the global carbon cycle and carbon budget.
Soil Erosion and Sediment Flux in Northern Jordan
by Sabine KraushaarThis book combines new quantitative erosion measurement methods with a geochemical fingerprint and a model-based approach to measure erosion and sediment flux in the Wadi Al-Arab, a Mediterranean to semi-arid catchment in northwest Jordan. The outcomes reveal the local importance of soil erosion and sediment yield in connection with sedimentation and pollution of surface water bodies, propose managed aquifer recharge strategies that focus on in-channel constructions, and can be used to support local soil management strategies. In Jordan, one of the most water scarcity-affected countries in the world, erosion and sedimentation negatively impact integrative water resource management projects, such as water reservoirs and groundwater recharge basins. This book combines a multiple-response approach with new qualitative methods, such as olive mound measurements and OSL dating of Roman cistern sediments, to obtain long-term average erosion rates in the Mediterranean to semi-arid Wadi Al-Arab catchment in northwest Jordan. The implementation and enhancement of a geochemical sediment fingerprint of the reservoir sediments helped to provide new insights on sediment connectivity. Lastly, the outcomes were compiled and tested in the SedNet model, which provides a more holistic view of the results at the catchment scale and can effectively complement local management strategies.
Soil Erosion, Conservation, and Rehabilitation
by Agassi,Discusses the latest information regarding the processes and mechanisms responsible for runoff and erosion by water in arable lands--detailing state-of-the-art water and soil conservation methods. Elucidates the rehabilitation of agricultural lands depleted by human activity.
Soil Erosion Control in Drylands
by Mohammad Jafari Mohammad Tahmoures Mohammad Ehteram Majid Ghorbani Fatemeh PanahiThis book focuses on drylands such as arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas where they form the main part of ecosystems, e.g., in Iran, but also around the world. Mismanagement and improper exploitation of these areas lead to more degradation day by day. Besides an introduction to the role and importance of vegetation cover in conserving soil against wind and water erosion, this book gives a scope of appropriate techniques and methods for vegetation establishment and maintenance, indicators for suitable plants selection for soil conservation, and soil erosion prevention and combat. It provides methods of soil erosion prevention and combating through the application of plants, using bioengineering systems for soil erosion control and the role of agroforestry in soil erosion prevention. This book can be helpful to those with an interest in countries with similar climates to Iran. In particular, this includes Dubai, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, and Pakistan.