Principles and Practice of Soil Science The

Soil remains one of the most important, yet most abused, natural resources on the planet. Responsible management of soil and associated water resources plays a critical role in the survival and prosperity of many nations around the world.

Robert White holds degrees from the University of Queensland and the University of Oxford. He has extensive international experience in Australia, Southern Africa, England, New Zealand, China and the USA, focusing on soil, water and nutrient management in broad-acre cropping, grazing systems and vineyards for wine production. He is Emeritus Professor of Soil Science at the University of Melbourne and author of Soils for Fine Wines.

Preface

vii

Units of Measurement and Abbreviations used in this Book

ix

Part I The Soil Habitat

Introduction to the Soil

3

(8)

Soil in the making

3

(1)

Concepts of soil

3

(5)

Components of the soil

8

(1)

Summary

9

(2)

The Mineral Component of the Soil

11

(23)

The size range

11

(3)

The importance of soil texture

14

(2)

Mineralogy of the sand and silt fractions

16

(6)

Mineralogy of the clay fraction

22

(7)

Surface area and surface charge

29

(2)

Summary

31

(3)

Soil Organisms and Organic Matter

34

(25)

Origin of soil organic matter

34

(3)

Soil organisms

37

(9)

Changes in plant remains due to the activities of soil organisms

46

(3)

Properties of soil organic matter

49

(3)

Factors affecting the rate of organic matter decomposition

52

(4)

Summary

56

(3)

Peds and Pores

59

(22)

Soil structure

59

(1)

Levels of structural organization

60

(4)

Soil micromorphology

64

(3)

The creation and stabilization of soil structure

67

(5)

Soil porosity

72

(4)

Summary

76

(5)

Part 2 Processes in the Soil Environment

Soil Formation

81

(22)

The soil-forming factors

81

(2)

Parent material

83

(7)

Climate

90

(3)

Organisms

93

(2)

Relief

95

(3)

Time

98

(1)

Summary

99

(4)

Hydrology, Soil Water and Temperature

103

(30)

The hydrologic cycle

103

(4)

Properties of soil water

107

(5)

Infiltration, runoff and redistribution of soil water

112

(7)

Soil water retention relationship

119

(3)

Evaporation

122

(5)

Soil temperature

127

(2)

Summary

129

(4)

Reactions at Surfaces

133

(25)

Charges on soil particles

133

(8)

Cation exchange

141

(6)

Anion adsorption and exchange

147

(2)

Particle interaction and swelling

149

(3)

Clay-organic matter interactions

152

(2)

Summary

154

(4)

Soil Aeration

158

(18)

Soil respiration

158

(2)

Mechanisms of gas exchange

160

(4)

Effects of poor soil aeration on root and microbial activity

164

(5)

Oxidation-reduction reactions in soil

169

(3)

Summary

172

(4)

Processes in Profile Development

176

(24)

The soil profile

176

(3)

Pedogenic processes

179

(6)

Freely drained soils of humid temperate regions

185

(3)

Soils of the tropics and subtropics

188

(4)

Hydromorphic soils

192

(3)

Salt-affected soils

195

(2)

Summary

197

(3)

Nutrient Cycling

200

(33)

Nutrients for plant growth

200

(2)

The pathway of nitrogen

202

(9)

Phosphorus and sulphur

211

(8)

Potassium, calcium and magnesium

219

(2)

Trace elements

221

(5)

Summary

226

(7)

Part 3 Soil Management

Maintenance of Soil Productivity

233

(31)

Traditional methods

233

(5)

Productivity and soil fertility

238

(4)

Soil acidity and liming

242

(3)

The importance of soil structure

245

(6)

Soil erosion

251

(8)

Summary

259

(5)

Fertilizers and Pesticides

264

(27)

Some definitions

264

(1)

Nitrogen fertilizers

264

(7)

Phosphate fertilizers

271

(6)

Other fertilizers including micronutrient fertilizers

277

(2)

Plant protection chemicals in soil

279

(8)

Summary

287

(4)

Problem Soils

291

(23)

A broad perspective

291

(1)

Water management for salinity control

291

(10)

Management and reclamation of salt-affected soils

301

(4)

Soil drainage

305

(4)

Summary

309

(5)

Soil Information Systems

314

(19)

Communication about soil

314

(1)

Traditional classification

315

(2)

Soil survey methods

317

(7)

Soil information systems

324

(5)

Summary

329

(4)

Soil Quality and Sustainable Land Management

333

(15)

What is soil quality?

333

(2)

Concepts of sustainability

335

(4)

Sustainable land management

339

(5)

Summary

344

(4)

Answers to questions and problems

348

(6)

Index

354

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Principles and Practice of Soil Science The Soil as a Natural Resource

Summary

Author Biography

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials