The Nature and Properties of Soils

A Fun, Readable, and Thorough Introduction to Soil Science, June 11, 2002

Reviewer: Amber Kerr, Berkeley, CA, USA

My Science of Soils class at Stanford University (Autumn '01) used The Nature and Properties of Soils as our main textbook. It is clearly written, easy to read, and has lots of helpful figures (including graphs, diagrams, drawings, and black-and-white and color photos). The chapters are well organized, so that you can find exactly what you need to know. The authors include hundreds of websites for those who want more information, and make the book more readable by starting off each chapter with a quote and a big picture statement.

The Nature and Properties of Soils has a good mix of theoretical and practical information. Wherever possible, the authors do sample calculations and describe applications for agriculture, ecology, and engineering. They thoroughly cover every major topic in soil science, as well as delving into some more specialized ones (for example, symptoms of micronutrient deficiencies in plants).

In conclusion, I've found this textbook to be both very information-rich and very readable, and highly recommend it. (The other day I caught my boyfriend, who's a materials engineer, reading it for fun... that's about the highest accolade any textbook can get!)

Dr. Raymond Weil, Professor, University of Maryland College Park

B.S. in Crop Science from Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 1970.
M.S. in Soil Science from Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 1973.
Ph.D. in Soil Ecology from Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, 1977.

Elected Fellow in 2003 of both the Soil Science Society of America and the American Society of Agronomy.

Weil has been active in soil science research since 1972 and has made many contributions in the areas of nutrient cycling and management, environmental impact of soil management, and assessment of soil quality. His current research is focused on the assessment and improvement of soil quality and organic matter. He has conducted research in several countries outside the United States, including Ethiopia, Chad, Brazil, Honduras, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, Malawi and Tanzania. In addition to his teaching at the University of Maryland, he has conducted many training workshops for such agencies as the USDA, The World Bank, The Rodale Research Institute, and the International Food Policy Center.

Dr. Weil has authored or coauthored more than 100 scientific publications in soil science and related areas.

Dr. Nyle Brady

Dr. Brady has, since 1947, worked in education, research and research administration, focusing on both international and U.S. issues. He is past president of the SSSA and served six years as Editor-in-Chief of the SSSA Proceedings and is Emeritus Professor at Cornell University. He has served in leadership positions with Cornell University, the International Rice Research Institute, USAID, the United Nations Development Programme and the World Bank. He is recognized around the world as author and co-author of eleven editions of the world's most widely used soil science textbook, The Nature and Properties of Soils.