Nature and Properties of Soils, The

Nature and Properties of Soils, The

14th Edition
Nyle Brady, Raymond Weil
Oct 2007, Paperback, 992 pages

Description
For Introduction to Soils or Fundamentals of Soil Science courses. Also for courses in Soil Fertility, Forest Soils, Soil Management, Land Resources, Earth Science, and Soil Geography.
Developed for Introduction to Soils or Soil Science courses, The Nature and Properties of Soils, 14e can be used in courses such as Soil Fertility, Land Resources, Earth Science and Soil Geography. Now in its 14th edition, this text is designed to help make students study of soils a fascinating and intellectually satisfying experience. Written for both majors and non-majors, this text highlights the many interactions between the soil and other components of forest, range, agricultural, wetland and constructed ecosystems.

Contents
1 The Soils Around Us
1.1 Functions of Soils in Our Ecosystem
1.2 Medium for Plant Growth
1.3 Regulator of Water Supplies
1.4 Recycler of Raw Materials
1.5 Habitat for Soil Organisms
1.6 Engineering Medium
1.7 Pedosphere as Environmental Interface
1.8 Soil as a Natural Body
1.9 The Soil Profile and Its Layers (Horizons)
1.10 Topsoil and Subsoil
1.11 Soil: The Interface of Air, Minerals, Water, and Life
1.12 Mineral (Inorganic) Constituents of Soils
1.13 Soil Organic Matter
1.14 Soil Water: A Dynamic Solution
1.15 Soil Air: A Changing Mixture of Gases
1.16 Interaction of Four Components to Supply Plant Nutrients
1.17 Nutrient Uptake by Plant Roots
1.18 Soil Quality, Degradation, and Resilience
1.19 Conclusion
Study Questions
References
2 Formation of Soils from Parent Materials
2.1 Weathering of Rocks and Minerals
2.2 Factors Influencing Soil Formation
2.3 Parent Materials
2.4 Climate
2.5 Biota: Living Organisms
2.6 Topography
2.7 Time
2.8 Four Basic Processes of Soil Formation
2.9 The Soil Profile
2.1o Conclusion
Study Questions
References
3 Soil Classification
3.1 Concept of Individual Soils
3.2 Comprehensive Classification System: Soil Taxonomy
3.3 Categories and Nomenclature of Soil Taxonomy
3.4 Soil Orders
3.5 Entisols (Recent: Little If Any Profile Development)
3.6 Inceptisols (Few Diagnostic Features: Inception of B Horizon)
3.7 Andisols (Volcanic Ash Soils)
3.8 Gelisols (Permafrost and Frost Churning)
3.9 Histisols (Organic Soils without Permafrost)
3.10 Aridisols (Dry Soils)
3.11 Vertisols (Dark, Swelling and Cracking Clays)
3.12 Mollisols (Dark, Soft Soils of Grasslands)
3.13 Alfisols (Argillic or Natric Horizon, Medium to High Bases)
3.14 Ultisols (Argillic Horizon, Low Bases)
3.15 Spodosols (Acid, Sandy, Forest Soils, Low Bases)
3.16 Oxisols (Oxic Horizon, Highly Weathered)
3.17 Lower-Level Categories in Soil Taxonomy
3.18 Conclusion
Study Questions
References
4 Soil Architecture and Physical Properties
4.1 Soil Color
4.2 Soil Texture (Size Distribution of Soil Particles)
4.3 Soil Textural Classes
4.4 Structure of Mineral Soils
4.5 Formation and Stabilization of Soil Aggregates
4.6 Tillage and Structural Management of Soils
4.7 Soil Density
4.8 Pore Space of Mineral Soils
4.9 Soil Properties Relevant to Engineering Uses
4.10 Conclusion
Study Questions
References
5 Soil Water: Characteristics and Behavior
5.1 Structure and Related Properties of Water
5.2 Capillary Fundamentals and Soil Water
5.3 Soil Water Energy Concepts
5.4 Soil Water Content and Soil Water Potential
5.5 The Flow of Liquid Water in Soil
5.6 Infiltration and Percolation
5.7 Water Vapor Movement in Soils
5.8 Qualitative Description of Soil Wetness
5.9 Factors Affecting Amount of Plant-Available Soil Water
5.10 Mechanisms by Which Plants Are Supplied with Water
5.11 Conclusion
Study Questions
References
6 Soil and the Hydrologic Cycle
6.1 The Global Hydrologic Cycle
6.2 Fate of Precipitation and Irrigation Water
6.3 The Soil—Plant—Atmosphere Continuum
6.4 Control of Evapotranspiration (ET)
6.5 Liquid Losses of Water from the Soil
6.6 Percolation and Groundwaters
6.7 Enhancing Soil Drainage
6.8 Septic Tank Drain Fields
6.9 Irrigation Principles and Practices
6.10 Conclusion
Study Questions
References
7 Soil Aeration and Temperature
7.1 Soil Aeration–The Process
7.2 Means of Characterizing Soil Aeration
7.3 Oxidation-Reduction (Redox) Potential
7.4 Factors Affecting Soil Aeration and Eh
7.5 Ecological Effects of Soil Aeration
7.6 Aeration in Relation to Soil and Plant Management
7.7 Wetlands and Their Poorly Aerated Soils
7.8 Processes Affected by Soil Temperature
7.9 Absorption and Loss of Solar Energy
7.10 Thermal Properties of Soils
7.11 Soil Temperature Control
7.12 Conclusion
Study Questions
References
8 Soil Colloids: Seat of Soil Chemical and Physical Activity
8.1 General Properties and Types of Soil Colloids
8.2 Fundamentals of Layer Silicate Clay Structure
8.3 Mineralogical Organization of Silicate Clays
8.4 Structural Characteristics of Nonsilicate Colloids
8.5 Genesis and Geographic Distribution of Soil Colloids
8.6 Sources of Charges on Soil Colloids
8.7 Adsorption of Cations and Anions
8.8 Cation Exchange Reactions
8.9 Cation Exchange Capacity
8.10 Exchangeable Cations in Field Soil
8.11 Anion Exchange
8.12 Sorption of Pesticides and Groundwater Contamination
8.13 Binding of Biomolecules to Clay and Humus
8.14 Physical Implications of Swelling-Type Clays
8.15 Conclusion
Study Questions
References
9 Soil Acidity
9.1 The Process of Soil Acidification
9.2 Role of Aluminum in Soil Acidity
9.3 Pools of Soil Acidity
9.4 Buffering of pH in Soils
9.5 Determination of Soil pH
9.6 Human-Influenced Soil Acidification
9.7 Biological Effects of Soil pH
9.8 Raising Soil pH by Liming
9.9 Alternative Ways to Ameliorate the Ill Effects of Soil Acidity
9.10 Lowering Soil pH
9.12 Conclusion
Study Questions
References
10 Soils of Dry Regions: Alkalinity, Salinity, and Sodicity
10.1 Characteristics and Problems of Alkaline Soils
10.2 Causes of Alkalinity: High Soil pH
10.3 Development of Salt-Affected Soils
10.4 Measuring Salinity and Sodicity
10.5 Classes of Salt-Affected Soils
10.6 Physical Degradation of Soils by Sodic Chemical Conditionss
10.7 Growth of Plants on Salt-Affected Soils
10.8 Water-Quality Considerations for Irrigation
10.9 Reclamation of Saline Soils
10.10 Reclamation of Saline-Sodic and Sodic Soils
10.12 Management of Reclaimed Soils
10.11 Conclusion
Study Questions
References
11 Organisms and Ecology of the Soil
11.1 The Diversity of Organisms in the Soil
11.2 Organisms in Action
11.3 Organism Abundance, Biomass, and Metabolic Activity
11.4 Earthworms
11.5 Ants and Termites
11.6 Soil Microanimals
11.7 Plant Roots
11.8 Soil Algae
11.9 Soil Fungi
11.10 Soil Prokaryotes: Bacteria and Archaea
11.11 Conditions Affecting the Growth of Soil Microorganisms
11.12 Beneficial Effects of Soil Organisms on Plant Communities
11.13 Soil Organisms and Damage to Higher Plants
11.14 Ecological Relationships Among Soil Organisms
11.15 Conclusion
Study Questions
References
12 Soil Organic Matter
12.1 The Global Carbon Cycle
12.2 The Process of Decomposition in Soils
12.3 Factors Controlling Rates of Decomposition and Mineralization
12.4 Genesis and Nature of Soil Organic Matter and Humus
12.5 Influences of Organic Matter on Plant Growth and Soils
12.7 Influence of Organic Matter on Soil Properties and the Environment
12.6 Amounts and Quality of Soil Organic Matter
12.7 Carbon Balance in the Soil—Plant—Atmosphere System
12.8 Factors and Practices Influencing Soil Organic Matter Levels
12.9 The Greenhouse Effect: Soils and Climate Change
12.10 Composts and Composting
12.11 Conclusion
Study Questions
References
13 Nitrogen and Sulfur Economy of Soils
13.1 Influence of Nitrogen on Plant Growth and Development
13.2 Distribution of Nitrogen and the Nitrogen Cycle
13.3 Immobilization and Mineralization
13.4 Soluble Organic Nitrogen
13.5 Ammonium Fixation by Clay Minerals
13.6 Ammonia Volatilization
13.7 Nitrification
13.8 The Nitrate Leaching Problem
13.9 Gaseous Losses by Denitrification
13.10 Biological Nitrogen Fixation
13.11 Symbiotic Fixation with Legumes
13.12 Symbiotic Fixation with Nonlegumes
13.13 Nonsymbiotic Nitrogen Fixation
13.14 Nitrogen Deposition from the Atmosphere
13.15 Practical Management of Soil Nitrogen
13.16 Importance of Sulfur
13.17 Natural Sources of Sulfur
13.18 The Sulfur Cycle
13.19 Behavior of Sulfur Compounds in Soils
13.20 Sulfur Oxidation and Reduction
13.21 Sulfur Retention and Exchange
13.22 Sulfur and Soil Fertility Maintenance
13.23 Conclusion
Study Questions
References
14 Soil Phosphorus and Potassium
14.1 Role of Phosphorus in Plant Nutrition and Soil Fertility
14.2 Effects of Phosphorus on Environmental Quality
14.3 The Phosphorus Cycle
14.4 Organic Phosphorus in Soils
14.5 Inorganic Phosphorus in Soils
14.6 Solubility of Inorganic Phosphorus in Acid Soils
14.7 Inorganic Phosphorus Availability at High pH Values
14.8 Phosphorus-Fixation Capacity of Soils
14.9 Practical Control of Phosphorus in Soils
14.10 Potassium: Nature and Ecological Roles
14.11 Potassium in Plant and Animal Nutrition
14.12 The Potassium Cycle
14.13 The Potassium Problem in Soil Fertility
14.14 Forms and Availability of Potassium in Soils
14.15 Factors Affecting Potassium Fixation in Soils
14.16 Practical Aspects of Potassium Management
14.17 Conclusion
Study Questions
References
15 Micronutrients and Other Trace Elements
15.1 Calcium as Essential Nutrient
15.2 Magnesium as a Plant Nutrient
15.3 Deficiency Versus Toxicity
15.4 Micronutrient Roles in Plants
15.5 Source of Micronutrients
15.6 General Conditions Conducive to Trace Element Deficiency/Toxicity
15.7 Factors Influencing the Availability of the Trace Element Cations
15.8 Organic Compounds as Chelates
15.9 Factors Influencing the Availability of the Trace Element Anions
15.10 Need for Nutrient Balance
15.11 Soil Management and Trace Element Needs
15.12 Conclusion
Study Questions
References
16 Practical Nutrient Management
16.1 Goals of Nutrient Management
16.2 Environmental Quality
16.3 Nutrient Resources and Cycles
16.4 Recycling Nutrients through Animal Manures
16.5 Industrial and Municipal By-Products
16.6 Practical Utilization of Organic Nutrient Sources
16.7 Inorganic Commercial Fertilizers
16.8 Fertilizer Application Methods
16.9 Timing of Fertilizer Application
16.10 Diagnostic Tools and Methods
16.11 Soil Analysis
16.12 Site-Index Approach to Phosphorus Management
16.13 Broader Aspects of Fertilizer Practice
16.14 Conclusion
Study Questions
References
17 Soil Erosion and Its Control
17.1 Significance of Soil Erosion and Land Degradation
17.2 On-Site and Off-Site Effects of Accelerated Soil Erosion
17.3 Mechanics of Water Erosion
17.4 Models to Predict the Extent of Water-Induced Erosion
17.5 Factors Affecting Interrill and Rill Erosion
17.6 Conservation Tillage
17.7 Vegetative Barriers
17.8 Control of Gully Erosion and Mass Wasting
17.9 Control of Accelerated Erosion on Range and Forest Land
17.10 Erosion and Sediment Control on Construction Sites
17.11 Wind Erosion: Importance and Factors Affecting It
17.12 Predicting and Controlling Wind Erosion
17.13 Land Capability Classification as a Guide to Conservation
17.14 Progress in Soil Conservation
17.15 Conclusion
Study Questions
References
18 Soils and Chemical Pollution
18.1 Toxic Organic Chemicals
18.2 Kinds of Organic Contaminants
18.3 Behavior of Organic Chemicals in Soil
18.4 Effects of Pesticides on Soil Organisms
18.5 Remediation of Soils Contaminated with Organic Chemicals
18.6 Contamination with Toxic Inorganic Substances
18.7 Potential Hazards of Chemicals in Sewage Sludge
18.8 Reactions of Inorganic Contaminants in Soils
18.9 Prevention and Elimination of Inorganic Chemical Contamination
18.10 Landfills
18.11 Radionuclides in Soil
18.12 Radon Gas from Soils
18.13 Conclusion
Study Questions
References
19 Geographic Soils Information
19.1 Soil Spatial Variability in the Field
19.2 Techniques and Tools for Mapping Soils
19.3 Modern Technology for Soil Investigations
19.4 Remote Sensing Tools for Soils Investigations
19.5 Air Photos
19.6 Satellite Imagery
19.7 Soil Surveys
19.8 The County Soil Survey Report and Its Utilization
19.9 Geographic Information Systems
19.10 GIS, GPS, and Site-Specific Agriculture
19.11 Conclusion
Study Questions
References
20 Prospects for Global Soil Quality
20.1 The Concept of Soil Quality/Soil Health
20.2 Soil Resistance and Resilience
20.3 Soils and Global Ecosystem Services
20.4 Sustaining The Human Population
20.5 Intensified Agroecosystems–The Green Revolution
20.6 Effects of Intensified Agroecosystems on Soil Quality or Health
20.7 More People on Less Land
20.8 Soils in Sustainable Agriculture for Developed Counties
20.9 Soils in Sustainable Agriculture for Developing Countries
20.10 Urban Soils and Soil Quality
20.11 Future Prospects
20.12 Conclusion
Study Questions
References
Appendix A Soil Classification: World Resource Base; Autralian and Canadian Systems
Appendix B SI Units, Conversion Factors, Periodic Table of the Elements and Scentific Names of Plants Mentioned
Glossary
Index