Structure and Organic Matter Storage in Agricultural Soils

Soils comprise the largest pool of terrestrial carbon & therefore are an important component of carbon storage in the biosphere-atmosphere system. Structure & Organic Matter Storage in Agricultural Soils explores the mechanisms & processes involved in the storage & sequestration of carbon in soils. Focusing on agricultural soils - from tropical to semi-arid types - this new book provides an in-depth look at structure, aggregation, & organic matter retention in world soils. The first two sections of the book introduce readers to the basic issues & scientific concepts, including soil structure, underlying mechanisms & processes, & the importance of agroecosystems as carbon regulators. The third section provides detailed discussions of soil aggregation & organic matter storage under various climates, soil types, & soil management practices. The fourth section addresses current strategies for enhancing organic matter storage in soil, modelling techniques, & measurement methods. Throughout the book, the importance of the soil structure-organic matter storage relationship is emphasized. Anyone involved in soil science, agriculture, agronomy, plant science, or greenhouse gas & global change studies should understand this relationship. Structure & Organic Matter Storage in Agricultural Soils provides an ideal source of information not only on the soil structure-storage relationship itself, but also on key research efforts & direct applications related to the storage of organic matter in agricultural soils.