Nature and Properties of Soils, The, 15th edition
- Ray R. Weil
- , Nyle C. Brady
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- The Soils Around Us
- What Ecosystem Services Do Soils Perform?
- How Do Soils Support Plant Growth?
- How Do Soils Regulate Water Supplies?
- How Do Soils Recycle Raw Materials?
- How Do Soils Modify the Atmosphere?
- What Lives in the Soil Habitat?
- Soil as an Engineering Medium
- The Pedosphere and the Critical Zone?
- Soils as Natural Bodies
- How Do Living Organisms (Including People) Affect Soil Formation?
- How Does Topography Affect Soil Formation? How Does Time Affect Soil
- Formation
- Four Basic Processes of Soil Formation
- The Soil Profile
- Urban Soils
- Conclusion
- Study Questions
- References
- The Soil Profile and Its Layers (Horizons)
- Topsoil and Subsoil
- Soil-Interface of Air, Minerals, Water, and Life
- What are the Mineral (Inorganic) Constituents of Soils?
- The Nature of Soil Organic Matter
- Soil Water-Dynamic and Complex
- Soil Air: A Changing Mixture of Gases
- How Do Soil Components Interact to Supply Nutrients to Plants?
- How Do Plant Roots Obtain Nutrients?
- Soil Health, Degradation, and Resilience
- Conclusions
- Study Questions
- References
- Information of Soils from Parent Materials
- Weathering of Rocks and Minerals
- What Environmental Factors Influence Soil Formation?
- Parent Materials
- How Does Climate Affect Soil Formation?
- Soil Classification
- Concept of Individual Soils
- Soil Taxonomy: A Comprehensive Classification System
- Categories and Nomenclature of Soil Taxonomy
- Soil Orders
- Entisols (Recent: Little If Any Profile Development)
- Inceptisols (Few Diagnostic Features: Inception of B Horizon)
- Andisols (Volcanic Ash Soils)
- Gelisols (Permafrost and Frost Churning)
- Histosols (Organic Soils Without Permafrost)
- Aridisols (Dry Soils)
- Vertisols (Dark, Swelling, and Cracking Clays)
- Mollisols (Dark, Soft Soils of Grasslands)
- Alfisols (Argillic or Natric Horizon, Moderately Leached)
- Ultisols (Argillic Horizon, Highly Leached)
- Spodosols (Acid, Sandy, Forest Soils, Highly Leached)
- Oxisols (Oxic Horizon, Highly Weathered)
- Lower-Level Categories in Soil Taxonomy Conclusion
- Study Questions
- References
- Soil Architecture and Physical Properties
- Soil Color
- Soil Texture (Size Distribution of Soil Particles)
- Soil Textural Classes
- Structure of Mineral Soils
- Formation and Stabilization of Soil Aggregates
- Tillage and Structural Management of Soils
- Soil Density
- Pore Space of Mineral Soils
- Soil Properties Relevant to Engineering Uses
- Conclusion
- Study Questions
- References
- Soil Water: Characteristics and Behavior
- Structure and Related Properties of Water
- Capillary Fundamentals and Soil Water
- Soil Water Energy Concepts
- Soil Water Content and Soil Water Potential
- The Flow of Liquid Water in Soil
- Infiltration and Percolation
- Water Vapor Movement in Soils
- Qualitative Description of Soil Wetness
- Factors Affecting Amount of Plant-Available Soil Water
- Mechanisms by Which Plants are Supplied with Water
- Conclusion
- Study Questions
- References
- Soil and the Hydrologic Cycle
- The Global Hydrologic Cycle
- Fate of Incoming Water
- The Soil - Plant - Atmosphere Continuum (SPAC)
- Control of ET
- Liquid Losses of Water from the Soil
- Percolation and Groundwater
- Enhancing Soil Drainage
- Septic Tank Drain Fields
- Irrigation Principles and Practices
- Conclusion
- Study Questions
- References
- Soil Aeration and Temperature
- Soil Aeration-The Process
- Means of Characterizing Soil Aeration
- Oxidation - Reduction (Redox) Potential
- Factors Affecting Soil Aeration and Eh
- Ecological Effects of Soil Aeration
- Soil Aeration in Urban Landscapes
- Wetlands and Their Poorly Aerated Soils
- Processes Affected by Soil Temperature
- Absorption and Loss of Solar Energy
- Thermal Properties of Soils
- Soil Temperature Control
- Conclusion
- Study Questions
- References
- The Colloidal Fraction: Seat of Soil Chemical and Physical Activity
- General Properties and Types of Soil Colloids
- Fundamentals of Layer Silicate Clay Structure
- Mineralogical Organization of Silicate Clays
- Structural Characteristics of Nonsilicate Colloids
- Genesis and Geographic Distribution of Soil Colloids
- Sources of Charges on Soil Colloids
- Adsorption of Cations and Anions
- Cation Exchange Reactions
- Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC)
- Exchangeable Cations in Field Soils
- Anion Exchange
- Sorption of Pesticides and Groundwater Contamination
- Binding of Biomolecules to Clay and Humus
- Soil Acidity
- What Processes Cause Soil Acidification?
- Role of Aluminum in Soil Acidity
- Pools of Soil Acidity
- Buffering of pH in Soils
- How Can We Measure Soil PH?
- Human-Influenced Soil Acidification
- Biological Effects of Soil pH
- Raising Soil pH by Liming
- Alternative Ways to Ameliorate the Ill Effects of Soil Acidity
- Lowering Soil pH
- Conclusion
- Study Questions
- References
- Soils of Dry Regions: Alkalinity, Salinity, and Sodicity
- Characteristics and Problems of Dry Region Soils
- Causes of High Soil pH (Alkalinity)
- Development of Salt-Affected Soils
- Measuring Salinity and Sodicity
- Classes of Salt-Affected Soils
- Physical Degradation of Soil by Sodic Chemical Conditions
- Biological Impacts of Salt-Affected Soils
- Water-Quality Considerations for Irrigation
- Reclamation of Saline Soils
- Reclamation of Saline - Sodic and Sodic Soils
- Management of Reclaimed Soils
- Conclusion
- Study Questions
- References
- Organisms and Ecology of the Soil
- The Diversity of Organisms in the Soil
- Organisms in Action
- Abundance, Biomass, and Metabolic Activity
- Earthworms
- Ants and Termites
- Soil Microanimals
- Plant Roots
- Soil Algae
- Soil Fungi
- Soil Prokaryotes: Bacteria and Archaea
- Conditions Affecting the Growth and Activity of Soil Microorganisms
- Beneficial Effects of Soil Organisms on Plant Communities
- Soil Organisms and Plant Damage
- Ecological Relationships among Soil Organisms
- Conclusion
- Study Questions
- References
- Soil Organic Matter
- The Global Carbon Cycle
- Organic Decomposition in Soils
- Factors Controlling Rates of Residue Decomposition and Mineralization
- Genesis and Nature of Soil Organic Matter and Humus
- Influences of Organic Matter on Plant Growth and Soil Function
- Amounts and Quality of Organic Matter in Soils
- Carbon Balance in the Soil - Plant - Atmosphere System
- Environmental Factors Influencing Soil Organic Carbon Levels
- Soil Organic Matter Management
- Soils and Climate Change
- Composts and Composting
- Conclusion
- Study Questions
- References
- Nitrogen and Sulfur Economy of Soils
- Influence of Nitrogen on Plant Growth and Development
- Distribution of Nitrogen and the Nitrogen Cycle
- Immobilization and Mineralization
- Dissolved Organic Nitrogen
- Ammonium Fixation by Clay Minerals
- Ammonia Volatilization
- Nitrification
- Gaseous Losses by Denitrification and Anammox
- Biological Nitrogen Fixation
- Symbiotic Fixation with Legumes
- Symbiotic Fixation with Nonlegumes
- Nonsymbiotic Nitrogen Fixation
- Nitrogen Deposition from the Atmosphere
- The Nitrate Leaching Problem
- Practical Management of Soil Nitrogen
- Importance of Sulfur
- Natural Sources of Sulfur
- The Sulfur Cycle
- Behavior of Sulfur Compounds in Soils
- Sulfur Oxidation and Reduction
- Sulfur Retention and Exchange
- Sulfur and Soil Fertility Maintenance
- Conclusion
- Study Questions
- References
- Soil Phosphorus and Potassium
- Phosphorus in Plant Nutrition and Soil Fertility
- Effects of Phosphorus on Environmental Quality
- The Phosphorus Cycle
- Organic Phosphorus in Soils
- Inorganic Phosphorus in Soils
- Solubility of Inorganic Soil Phosphorus
- Phosphorus-Fixation Capacity of Soils
- Plant Strategies for Adequate Phosphorus Acquisition from Soils
- Practical Phosphorus Management
- Potassium: Nature and Ecological Roles
- Potassium in Plant and Animal Nutrition
- The Potassium Cycle
- The Potassium Problem in Soil Fertility
- Forms and Availability of Potassium in Soils
- Factors Affecting Potassium Fixation in Soils
- Practical Aspects of Potassium Management
- Conclusion
- Study Questions
- References
- Calcium, Magnesium, Silicon, and Trace Elements
- Calcium as an Essential Nutrient
- Magnesium as a Plant Nutrient
- Silicon in Soil - Plant Ecology
- Deficiency Versus Toxicity
- Micronutrient Roles in Plants
- Sources of Micronutrients
- Factors Influencing the Availability of the Trace Element Cations
- Organic Compounds as Chelates
- Factors Influencing the Availability of the Trace Element Anions
- Soil Management and Trace Element Needs
- Conclusion
- Study Questions
- References
- Practical Nutrient Management
- Goals of Nutrient Management
- Nutrients as Pollutants
- Natural Ecosystem Nutrient Cycles
- Recycling Nutrients Through Animal Manures
- Industrial and Municipal By-Products
- Practical Utilization of Organic Nutrient Sources
- Inorganic Commercial Fertilizers
- Fertilizer Application Methods
- Timing of Fertilizer Application
- Diagnostic Tools and Methods
- Soil Analysis
- Site-Index Approach to Phosphorus Management
- Some Advances and Challenges in Fertilizer Management
- Conclusion
- Study Questions
- References
- Soil Erosion and Its Control
- Significance of Soil Erosion and Land Degradation
- On-Site and Off-Site impacts of Accelerated Soil Erosion
- Mechanics of Water Erosion
- Models to Predict the Extent of Water-Induced Erosion
- Factors Affecting Interrill and Rill Erosion
- Conservation Tillage
- Vegetative Barriers
- Control of Gully Erosion and Mass Wasting
- Control of Accelerated Erosion on Range- and Forestland
- Erosion and Sediment Control on Construction Sites
- Wind Erosion: Importance and Factors Affecting It
- Predicting and Controlling Wind Erosion
- Tillage Erosion
- Land Capability Classification as a Guide to Conservation
- Progress in Soil Conservation
- Conclusion
- Study Questions
- References
- Soils and Chemical Pollution
- Toxic Organic Chemicals
- Kinds of Organic Contaminants
- Behavior of Organic Chemicals in Soil
- Effects of Pesticides on Soil Organisms
- Remediation of Soils Contaminated with Organic Chemicals
- Soil Contamination with Toxic Inorganic Substances
- Potential Hazards of Chemicals in Sewage Sludge
- Prevention and Remediation of Inorganic Soil Contamination
- Landfills
- Radionuclides in Soil
- Radon Gas from Soils
- Conclusion
- Study Questions
- References
- Geographic Soils Information
- Soil Spatial Variability in the Field
- Techniques and Tools for Mapping Soils
- Modern Technology for Soil Investigations
- Remote Sensing in Soil Survey
- Making a Soil Survey
- Using Soil Surveys
- Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
- Digital Soil Maps: Properties or Polygons?
- GIS, GPS, and Precision Agriculture
- Conclusion
- Study Questions
- References
- Prospects for Soil health in the Anthropocene
- The Concepts of Soil Health and Soil Quality
- Soil Resistance and Resilience
- Soils and Global Ecosystem Services
- Using Plants to Improve Soil Health
- Feeding the Human Population
- Intensified Agriculture-the Green Revolution
- Impacts of Vastly Increased Ratios of People to Land
- Sustainable Agriculture in Developed Countries
- Biochar: Hype or Hope for Soil Quality?
- Organic Farming Systems
- Sustainable Agriculture Systems for Resource- Poor Farmers
- Conclusion
- Study Questions
- References
Appendices
- World Reference Base, Canadian, and Australian Soil Classification Systems
- SI Units, Conversion Factors, Periodic Table of the Elements, and Plant Names
Glossary of Soil Science Terms
Index
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