Book Description

Emphasis in agricultural production has shifted from merequantity to quality products. Practical experience and scientificinvestigations have shown that, of the various culture measures,balanced fertilization above all exerts a considerable influence onthe quality of agricultural products. Simply adding more of what thecrop has already absorbed to capacity is unproductive, expensive,wasteful and damaging to the environment. Therefore, balanced cropnutrition increases crop quality, safeguards natural resources andbrings benefit to the farmer. Otherwise rapid population growth andsevere urbanization will exhaust our natural resources. ... Read more

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Much needed
Written by a Scotsman from the Isle of Harris. It goes into how it's been possible for local people over the world to lose their land to corporations and the ultra-rich. It links disposessed Scots to Native Americans and Pacific Islanders. It suggests how Western civilization has been able to view the planet as a non-living thing to be used up- and gives hope that we may once more view our home as alive, with us a part of its life, not its destroyer. Anecdotes, funny stories, myths, music, and poetry- this guy must be quite a character. ... Read more

Book Description

Where traditional studies on soil erosion focused on small, carefully-managed plots, researchers are now using detailed models of the management, hydrology and water quality for catchments and even river basins. They are also pursuing social and economic analyses on diverse scales, from household and farm to national policy. This volume is a comprehensive survey of the latest research. ... Read more

Book Description

Extensively revised, accessible, and up-to-date-the new edition of Tate's classic soil microbiology text Now in its second edition, Soil Microbiology offers students a broad knowledge of the behavior and function of microbes in soil-all the essentials they will need in order to address the long-term stewardship of the earth's soil resources. Designed for use as the core text for microbiology courses in the soil science curriculum, it explores the tremendous diversity of life found in soil ecosystems. With its amplified focus on the reclamation of contaminated and damaged soils, greenhouse gas production, and the sustainability of soil ecosystems, this book is an ideal resource for upper-level undergraduates and graduate students, as well as a useful reference for professionals in soil and environmental science. Soil Microbiology, Second Edition features:
* A focus on new advances as well as environmental science aspects of soil microbiology
* Completely new chapters on the biological diversity of soil ecosystems, soil remediation, and soil systems management
* A strong emphasis on research in real-world settings as well as theoretical concerns ... Read more

Book Description

While most gardeners aren't blessed with ideal soil to start with, it is possible to improve almost any site. This guide provides clear and practical information on making compost, taking soil samples, all-organic methods of feeding plants, dealing with poor drainage, choosing and using mulches effectively, and more. ... Read more

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Not so Boring on a Boring Subject
This book is in the Taylor's Weekend Gardening Guides series of books. Like most books in this series, it is easy to read and understand. While it touches upon some of the science behind why good soil is important, it doesn't bore the average gardener with laborious explanations. It quickly gets to what most gardeners want to know, that is what to do to improve your soil's quality and have healthier plants.

Before you start a new garden it is important to understand the characteristics of your soil and what actions you need to take before you start planting. This book will provide the weekend gardener with all the guidance they need to build healthy soil in their garden. I highly recommend you read this book before you start planting your new garden. ... Read more

Book Description

For more than 30 years, soil testing has been widely used as a basis for determining lime and fertilizer needs. Today, a number of procedures are used for determining everything from soil pH and lime requirement, to the level of extractable nutrient elements. And as the number of cropped fields being tested increases, more and more farmers and growers will come to rely on soil test results. But if soil testing is to be an effective means of evaluating the fertility status of soils, standardization of methodology is essential. No single test is appropriate for all soils.Soil Analysis Handbook of Reference Methods is a standard laboratory technique manual for the most commonly used soil analysis procedures. First published in 1974, this Handbook has changed over the years to reflect evolving needs. New test methods and modifications have been added, as well as new sections on nitrate, heavy metals, and quality assurance plans for agricultural testing laboratories. Compiled by the Soil and Plant Analysis Council, this latest edition of Soil Analysis Handbook of Reference Methods also addresses the major methods for managing plant nutrition currently in use in the United States and other parts of the world. For soil scientists, farmers, growers, or anyone with an interest in the environment, this reference will prove an invaluable guide to standard methods for soil testing well into the future.Features ... Read more

Book Description

Soil Mechanics assembles all the essential elements of an undergraduate course, leading from the properties of soils and basic theory through to practical applications such as retaining structures and foundations.NBNB ... Read more

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We have intended to present an introduction to the physical interpretation of phenomena which govern hydrological events related to soil or the upper most mantle of the earth's crust. The text is based upon our teaching and research experience. The book can serve either as the first reading for future specialists in soil physics or soil hydrology. Or, it can be a source of basic information on soil hydrology for specialists in other branches, e.g. in agronomy, ecology, environmental and water management. ... Read more

Book Description

This book presents a rigorous mathematical development of soil water and contaminant flow in variably saturated and saturated soils. Analytical and numerical methods are balanced: computer programs, among them MathCad and Fortran, are presented, and more than 150 practice and discussion questions are included. Students are thus exposed not only to theory but also to an array of solutions techniques. Those using the book as a reference will appreciate the careful development of basic flow equations, the inclusion of solutions and methodology currently available only in journals and proceedings volumes, and the examples and calculations directly applicable to their own work. ... Read more

Book Description

This book first synthesises in a complete, accessible way all the basic knowledge provided by the different disciplines of Soil Science. It then proposes integrative concepts and models that organise this knowledge, taking into account the multiple interactions that exist at a number of different scales among the living and inanimate components. This consideration of basic knowledge in a novel integrative approach is necessary to make significant progress in such critical issues as the improvement of the sustainability of soil and land use, the maintenance or restoration of soil quality, the understanding of the function and value of soil biodiversity, the role of soils in carbon sequestration, and the effects of global changes upon their function. ... Read more

Book Description

Heavy metal phytotoxicity has been known for more than a century. Therefore, it is astonishing that interest in the effects of heavy metals on organisms has been aroused only recently. Research in the past years, however, has confirmed the immense damage by metal pollution to plants, the soil and ultimately to humans.This completely updated and enlarged second edition gives a state-of-the art review on both field and laboratory work. It deals with the various functional and ecological aspects of heavy metal stress on plants and outlines the scope for future research and the possibilities for remediation. ... Read more

Book Description

This book gives a broad coverage of modern restoration and the management needed after restoration. It deals with relevant topics such as restoration ecology; restoration planning; ecological and ecotoxicological risk assessment; management and adaptive management; restoration in the broader context of sustainable development; as well as case studies and examples related to the Asian region. Major emphasis is placed on the Asian region, but the techniques described in the book can also be applied to other regions. It concludes with an important overview of the steps that must be taken in the management of any project.

The Restoration and Management of Derelict Land serves as an important reference for undergraduate and postgraduate students, professors, decision-makers and engineers in environmental science and management. ... Read more

Book Description

The theme of this book is a far reaching one and should attract great interest, both in industrialized as well as in less developed countries.Although the question of climate change and its effects on soil productivity is overshadowed by so many current events, it is almost certain that this subject will remain on the international agenda for the years to come; not only as science and research are concerned but also in relation to development policies, agricultural policies and others, especially since poor, rich, developed and developing countries are equally threatened by these problems. ... Read more