Soils and the Environment

Soils and the Environment

by Alan Wild (Author)

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.

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More Information

Format: Paperback
Pages: 308
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Published: 21 Aug 2008

ISBN 10: 0521438594
ISBN 13: 9780521438599
Book Overview: This introductory text aims to help students understand the behaviour of soils in both the man-made and the natural environment.

Media Reviews
'... 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
A good addition to an undergraduate-level library collection. H.N. Cunningham, Choice
Written in an accessible style...Useful for those who wish to gain an insight into how soil shapes our world. Abstracts of Public Administration Development and Environment