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Encyclopedia of Soils in the Environment

  • 2nd Edition - August 11, 2023
  • Latest edition
  • Editors: Michael J. Goss, Margaret A. Oliver
  • Language: English

Encyclopedia of Soils in the Environment, Second Edition, Five Volume Set updates and expands the previous version to ensure coverage of topics relevant to current world problems… Read more

Description

Encyclopedia of Soils in the Environment, Second Edition, Five Volume Set updates and expands the previous version to ensure coverage of topics relevant to current world problems such as population pressure, food security and global change.

Since publication of the previous edition there has been a huge change in our ability to carry out bioinformatics related to soil organisms and their functioning. Major developments in next generation DNA sequencing techniques have made it possible to identify both the diversity of microbial populations and their functioning. Furthermore, it allows the management of microbes within the soil. Imaging is changing our perceptions and improving our knowledge of soil aggregation. This also applies to remote and proximal sensing of laboratory and field soils, which is undergoing rapid change. Soil physics is a core area of soil science, but new techniques and technology have increased our understanding of processes.

This reference work covers the entire field of soil science, bridging the gap between basic science and applications, and is designed to serve students and expert researchers. It is organized around four core topics, the main components of soil science – biology, chemistry, physics and environment and management.

Soil science is becoming a crucial subject as world governments realize its importance in food production, water quality, flood control, greenhouse gas management, source of antibiotics and other drugs. As such this work is of interest not only to academics but to policy makers, government researchers and the geographical and environmental community who are not necessarily in research roles but need information on soil to support their core work.

Key features

  • Comprehensive: chapters are written by renowned scientists with diverse expertise, providing an all-round depiction of the field. Bridges core soil science and the environment, with a focus on challenges that extend from land use to climate change
  • Up to date: updates and expands the previous edition. Includes developing areas of research such as soil microbiology and new techniques of investigation
  • Interdisciplinary: serves a wide audience, academics and professionals in disciplines ranging from fundamental earth science to ecology, agriculture, environmental health and environmental management

Readership

Students and researchers in earth, environmental and biological science looking for fundamental information in soil science, geology, agriculture, conservation, environmental health and climate change.

Table of contents

Soil Biology – Organic matter, Macro- & meso-organisms, Microorganisms & biological processes, Microbial ecology & management, Biogeochemical cycles, Biology of soil amendments & contaminant degradation.

Soil Chemistry – major and minor elements, cation exchange, surface processes related to minerals and organic matter, spectroscopy, microscopy, fractionation, radioactive tracers, forms and composition of carbon, nanoparticles.

Soil Physics – Water retention, flow & transport processes, Hydrology & water balance, Soil–plant interactions, Soil mechanics & structure, Thermal properties & processes, & characterization & sensing techniques.

Soil and Environmental management – Greenhouse gases, monitoring, human health, ecosystem functions, forestry, agriculture, tillage, mulches, irrigation, waste disposal, soil quality, degradation, pollution, waste disposal.

Pedology – Soil classification, zonal and azonal soils, minerals and oxides, clays, micromorphology, factors of soil formation, climate.

Pedometrics – Spatial variation, digital soil mapping, statistics, uncertainty and geostatistics, pedotransfer functions, proximal and remote sensing, modelling, sample handling.

Product details

  • Edition: 2
  • Latest edition
  • Published: August 11, 2023
  • Language: English

About the editors

MG

Michael J. Goss

Michael Goss is a soil scientist and worked for over 20 years in the UK (Letcombe Laboratory, Rothamsted Research and the James Hutton Research Institute), collaborating with colleagues in France, Germany, Portugal and Australia. In 1990 he joined University of Guelph, Canada, as Research Chair in Land Stewardship and is Professor Emeritus in the School of Environmental Sciences. Michael is an Honorary Member and Fellow of the British Society of Soil Science. He was Editor-in-Chief of ‘Soil Use and Management’ and part of the editorial team for 10 years until 2019. He has written over 175 academic papers, edited two books and co-written a University-level textbook (2 editions) on water in plant production and a book on the management of arbuscular mycorrhizas.
Affiliations and expertise
University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada

MO

Margaret A. Oliver

Margaret Oliver was Reader in Spatial Analysis at the University of Reading until she retired, and then awarded a visiting professorship. She continued to teach university courses at Reading, and short geostatistics courses at other universities abroad. Margaret became Co-editor-in-Chief of Precision Agriculture in 2005 for six years, and was also an Associate Editor of Mathematical Geosciences. She was an Associate Editor for the European Journal of Soil Science before becoming Deputy Editor in 2011 for four years, and then Editor-in-Chief in 2015. Margaret is an Honorary Member of the British Society of Soil Science. She has written over 100 academic papers and has also made several contributions to books. She is co-author of three text books and has edited two books. Margaret`s research interests include the application of numerical and geostatistical methods to soil, other data and precision agriculture. She has an award named after her for young pedometricians.
Affiliations and expertise
University of Reading, Reading, UK

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