Soils and the Environment: An Introduction - Softcover

Wild, Alan

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0521438594 ISBN 13: 9780521438599

Publisher: Cambridge University Press, 2008

Synopsis

Soil is one of humankind's most important resources, providing for the growth of arable crops, grassland and trees, which give us food, fibre, and timber. As part of the natural environment, soil supports the plant growth needed for the cycling of gases, provides a habitat for a wide range of organisms, buffers the flow of water and solutes between the atmosphere and ground and surface waters, and acts as both a source and sink for gases in the atmosphere. This introductory text aims to help students understand the behaviour of soils in both the man-made and the natural environment. The book is structured in two parts: Part A is an introduction to general soil properties and processes, whilst Part B considers soil in relation to the environment, covering topics such as the role of soil in supporting plant growth, in maintaining a clean environment, and in the flux of atmospheric gases. Issues such as acidification, contamination, conservation and erosion are also considered.

About this title

Review

'... clearly written and extremely well set ...' Experimental Agriculture

'... highly recommended ...' Environment International

'... a text which is readily understood, scientifically sound and valuable within an environmental context.' W. A. Adams, Journal of Agricultural Science

Book Description

This introductory text provides an introduction to general soil properties and processes and considers soil in relation to both the man-made and the natural environment.

Edition details

• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Publication date: 2008
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0521438594
• ISBN 13: 9780521438599
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 308