The Soil Nexus
Understanding Ecosystem Dynamics and Digital Innovations
- 1st Edition - November 1, 2026
- Latest edition
- Editors: Hamid Reza Pourghasemi, Sedigheh Maleki
- Language: English
The Soil Nexus: Understanding Ecosystem Dynamics and Digital Innovations explores the intricate relationships between soil health, ecosystem function, and cutting-edge techno… Read more
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Description
Description
The Soil Nexus: Understanding Ecosystem Dynamics and Digital Innovations explores the intricate relationships between soil health, ecosystem function, and cutting-edge technologies. This comprehensive book examines the critical role of soil in biogeochemical cycles, microbial dynamics, and sustainable agricultural practices, while also addressing contemporary challenges such as climate change and urbanization. Key methodologies, including digital soil mapping, artificial intelligence, and innovative restoration techniques, are examined in detail, providing readers with practical insights and case studies that illustrate the real-world applications of these advancements. This book serves as an invaluable resource for soil scientists and environmental researchers engaged in soil studies and management. Graduate students and professionals will find the comprehensive analysis of emerging technologies and methodologies particularly beneficial for enhancing their research and practical applications. By bridging theoretical knowledge with actionable insights, The Soil Nexus: Understanding Ecosystem Dynamics and Digital Innovations equips readers to navigate complex soil-related challenges while promoting collaborative efforts in soil stewardship.
Key features
Key features
- Explores the multifaceted role of soil in sustainable development, bridging scientific, technological, and economic perspectives to address urgent global challenges like food insecurity and climate change
- Includes innovative case studies that showcase the practical application of advanced technologies, such as AI-driven resource management and digital soil mapping, providing readers with real-world insights into soil health and management
- Integrates striking data visualizations and relatable analogies throughout the text, enhancing understanding of complex concepts and the urgency of soil health in mitigating climate change and sustaining biodiversity
- Features a structured format divided into four comprehensive parts, ensuring logical progression and easy navigation that enhances discoverability and accessibility for readers seeking targeted information on soil science
Readership
Readership
Researchers, students, and professionals in soil science, geomorphology, soil mapping and environmental sciences
Table of contents
Table of contents
Part I: Defining Soil and Its Role in Ecosystems: Introduction to Soil Science and Its Contemporary Relevance
1. Soil’s Contribution to Biogeochemical Cycles (Water, Carbon, Nitrogen)
2. Microbial Drivers of Nutrient Cycling (N, P, C) and Soil Formation
3. Soil-Plant Interactions: Water Retention and Root Development
4. Soil and Sustainability: Balancing Agriculture, Ecology, and Climate
5. Urban Soil Science (Soil in Urban Green Space Design)
6. Biofertilizers and Organic Amendments
7. Past, Present, and Future Soil Changes with Emphasizing Studies of Soils for Long-Time Soil Management
Part II: Digital Soil Mapping
8. Fundamentals and Definitions of Digital Soil Mapping (DSM) and Predictive Modeling of Soil Functions for Sustainability
9. Emerging Technologies for Soil Data Collection (Remote Sensing, IoT, UAV)
10. Applications of Digital Maps and Tools in Precision Agriculture, Soil Monitoring and Resource Management
11. Successful Global and Regional Projects of Digital Soil Mapping
12. Sensibility of the Data Quality in DSM
13. Application of High and Very-High Spatial and Temporal Resolution Satellite Multispectral and Stereo Imagery in DSM (e.g., Worldview, GeoEye, Dove, etc.)
14. 3D Mapping and Soil Depth Modeling
15. Applications of Artificial Intelligence Including Machine Learning and Deep Learning Algorithms in DSM with Integrating Microbial Data
16. Effect of Selected Methodology on Accuracy and Uncertainty of Soil Maps
Part III: Economic Valuation of Soil and Policy Frameworks for Soil Management and Sustainable Development
17. Economic Valuation of Soil: Framework, Theory and Methods
18. Soil as Natural Capital: Valuation Methods (Ecosystem Services, Ecological Economics)
19. Costs of Soil Degradation and Economic Loss Calculations with Implementation Challenges in Soil Conservation Laws
20. Integrating Soil Value into National and International Policies (e.g., FAO, UNCCD Initiatives)
21. The Role of NGOs and Civil Society in Soil Protection
22. Challenges in Soil Valuation, Soil Governance and Soil Management
23. Smart Platforms for Trading Land Based on Soil Health Indicators
24. Circular Economy and Sustainable Agricultural Waste Management
Part IV: Soil and Emerging Technologies
25. Innovations in Soil Monitoring and Management (AI, Big Data, Nanotechnology), Advantages and Limitations
26. Technologies for Soil Pollution Reduction and Restoration
27. Genomics and Metagenomics in Soil Health Assessment
28. Identification of Impacts of Geomorphological Processes and Soil Hazards (e.g., UAV Photogrammetry, TLS, ALS, etc.)
29. Introduction of Open-Source Software Tools in Soil Sciences
30. Google Earth Engine and Soil Sciences
Part V: Soil and Food Security
31. Linking Healthy Soils to Global Food Production and Nutrition
32. Impacts of Chemical Soil Degradation: Pesticides, Heavy Metals on Food Insecurity and Soil Health
33. Sustainable Strategies for Enhancing Soil Health and Soil Productivity
34. Saline Soils and the Challenges of Food Production
35. Soil and Food Justice
Part VI: The Future of Soil Science: Prospects and Challenges
36. Soil and Biodiversity: A Complex Underground Network
37. Climate Change Impacts on Soil Futures
1. Soil’s Contribution to Biogeochemical Cycles (Water, Carbon, Nitrogen)
2. Microbial Drivers of Nutrient Cycling (N, P, C) and Soil Formation
3. Soil-Plant Interactions: Water Retention and Root Development
4. Soil and Sustainability: Balancing Agriculture, Ecology, and Climate
5. Urban Soil Science (Soil in Urban Green Space Design)
6. Biofertilizers and Organic Amendments
7. Past, Present, and Future Soil Changes with Emphasizing Studies of Soils for Long-Time Soil Management
Part II: Digital Soil Mapping
8. Fundamentals and Definitions of Digital Soil Mapping (DSM) and Predictive Modeling of Soil Functions for Sustainability
9. Emerging Technologies for Soil Data Collection (Remote Sensing, IoT, UAV)
10. Applications of Digital Maps and Tools in Precision Agriculture, Soil Monitoring and Resource Management
11. Successful Global and Regional Projects of Digital Soil Mapping
12. Sensibility of the Data Quality in DSM
13. Application of High and Very-High Spatial and Temporal Resolution Satellite Multispectral and Stereo Imagery in DSM (e.g., Worldview, GeoEye, Dove, etc.)
14. 3D Mapping and Soil Depth Modeling
15. Applications of Artificial Intelligence Including Machine Learning and Deep Learning Algorithms in DSM with Integrating Microbial Data
16. Effect of Selected Methodology on Accuracy and Uncertainty of Soil Maps
Part III: Economic Valuation of Soil and Policy Frameworks for Soil Management and Sustainable Development
17. Economic Valuation of Soil: Framework, Theory and Methods
18. Soil as Natural Capital: Valuation Methods (Ecosystem Services, Ecological Economics)
19. Costs of Soil Degradation and Economic Loss Calculations with Implementation Challenges in Soil Conservation Laws
20. Integrating Soil Value into National and International Policies (e.g., FAO, UNCCD Initiatives)
21. The Role of NGOs and Civil Society in Soil Protection
22. Challenges in Soil Valuation, Soil Governance and Soil Management
23. Smart Platforms for Trading Land Based on Soil Health Indicators
24. Circular Economy and Sustainable Agricultural Waste Management
Part IV: Soil and Emerging Technologies
25. Innovations in Soil Monitoring and Management (AI, Big Data, Nanotechnology), Advantages and Limitations
26. Technologies for Soil Pollution Reduction and Restoration
27. Genomics and Metagenomics in Soil Health Assessment
28. Identification of Impacts of Geomorphological Processes and Soil Hazards (e.g., UAV Photogrammetry, TLS, ALS, etc.)
29. Introduction of Open-Source Software Tools in Soil Sciences
30. Google Earth Engine and Soil Sciences
Part V: Soil and Food Security
31. Linking Healthy Soils to Global Food Production and Nutrition
32. Impacts of Chemical Soil Degradation: Pesticides, Heavy Metals on Food Insecurity and Soil Health
33. Sustainable Strategies for Enhancing Soil Health and Soil Productivity
34. Saline Soils and the Challenges of Food Production
35. Soil and Food Justice
Part VI: The Future of Soil Science: Prospects and Challenges
36. Soil and Biodiversity: A Complex Underground Network
37. Climate Change Impacts on Soil Futures
Product details
Product details
- Edition: 1
- Latest edition
- Published: November 1, 2026
- Language: English
About the editors
About the editors
HP
Hamid Reza Pourghasemi
Hamid Reza Pourghasemi is a professor of watershed management engineering in the College of Agriculture, Shiraz University, in Iran. His main research interests are GIS-based spatial modelling using machine learning/data mining techniques in different fields such as landslides, floods, gully erosion, forest fires, land subsidence, species distribution modelling, and groundwater/hydrology. Professor Pourghasemi also works on multi-criteria decision-making methods in natural resources and environmental science. He has published over 230 peer-reviewed papers in high-quality journals and seven edited books for Springer and Elsevier and is an active reviewer for over 90 international journals. He was selected as one of the five young scientists under 40 by The World Academy of Science (TWAS 2019) and was a highly cited researcher in 2019 and 2020
Affiliations and expertise
Professor, Department of Natural Resources and Environment Engineering, College of Agriculture, Shiraz University, Shiraz, IranSM
Sedigheh Maleki
Sedigheh Maleki is an assistant professor of Soil Sciences at Shiraz University with over 12 years of experience in soil classification, mapping research, and pedological studies across arid, semi-arid, and subhumid environments. Her research focuses on understanding soil ecosystems, mapping soil resources, and promoting sustainable land-use practices through scientific inquiry. Since 2013, she has served as a guest lecturer for courses such as General Soil Science, Spatial Analysis, and GIS, emphasizing the integration of theoretical knowledge with practical fieldwork to prepare students for challenges in agriculture and environmental conservation. Over the past five years, she has published more than 10 papers in international journals, contributing significantly to the field. In April 2022, she began collaborating with governmental and international organizations on soil mapping and land rehabilitation initiatives, leading fieldwork teams in various environments to analyze soil profiles and spatial variability. Her work not only enhances academic understanding but also supports practical applications in land management and conservation.
Affiliations and expertise
Assistant Professor of Soil Sciences, Shiraz University, Iran