Soil

Soil Carbon Sequestration and the Greenhouse Effect, 2nd edition

The concept of the Greenhouse Effect is more than a century old, but today the observed and predicted climate changes attributed to anthropogenic increases in atmospheric CO2 more urgently beg the question, what can be done? The second edition of Soil Carbon Sequestrationand the Greenhouse Effect is essential reading for understanding the processes, properties, and practices affecting the soil carbon pool and its dynamics.

A timely update of the concepts, practices, and supporting data, all chapters are new contributions by both authors of the first edition and new invited authors. The expanded second edition includes 23 chapters, with a substantial new introduction and a concluding chapter. New themes addressed are urban soils, minesoils, biochemically recalcitrant compounds, carbonaceous materials, belowground carbon storage by woody plants, and peat soils. The geographic focus of the book is North America, with important chapters from Canada and Mexico. Thematically, the second edition encompasses data from modeling, lab analyses, plot studies, landscape assessment, and regional evaluation of soil carbon pools and fluxes.

The American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, and Soil Science Society of America are prominent international scientific societies headquartered in Madison, Wisconsin. The Societies specialize in peer-reviewed, high-quality science titles for a wide variety of audiences. More

Agriculture Practices and Policies for Carbon Sequestration in Soil (Hardcover)

by John M. Kimble (Editor), Rattan Lal (Editor), Ronald F. Follett (Editor) "Over the past 9 years National Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Agricultural Research Service (ARS), and Ohio State University jointly organized a series of international symposiums..."

The potential to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and global climate change is one factor driving agricultural policy development of programs that might pay farmers for practices with a high potential to sequester carbon. With chapters by economists, policy makers, farmers, land managers, energy company representatives, and soil scientists, Agricultural . More

The Potential of U.S. Forest Soils to Sequester Carbon and Mitigate the Greenhouse Effect (Hardcover)

by John M. Kimble (Editor), Rattan Lal (Editor), Richard Birdsey (Editor), Linda S. Heath (Editor) "This is the third book in a series about the potential of different ecosystems to sequester soil carbon..." (more)

Much attention has been given to above ground biomass and its potential as a carbon sink, but in a mature forest ecosystem 40 to 60 percent of the stored carbon is below ground. As increasing numbers of forests are managed in a wide diversity of climates and soils, the importance of forest soils as a potential carbon sink grows. The Potential of U.S. Forest Soils to Sequester Carbon and Mitigate the Greenhouse Effect provides researchers and policy makers with an understanding of soil processes and their relation to carbon dynamics, as well as. More

William Bryant Logan. Dirt: The Ecstatic Skin of the Earth, W. W. Norton, 2006, 9780393329476 -“A gleeful, poetic book. . . . Like the best natural histories, Dirt is a kind of prayer.”—Los Angeles Times Book Review “You are about to read a lot about dirt, which no one knows very much about.” So begins the cult classic that brings mystery and magic to “that stuff that won’t come off your collar.”

John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Saint Phocas, Darwin, and Virgil parade through this thought-provoking work, taking their place next to the dung beetle, the compost heap, dowsing, historical farming, and the microscopic biota that till the soil. With fresh eyes and heartfelt reverence, William Bryant Logan variously observes, “There is glamour to the study of rock”; “The most mysterious place on Earth is right beneath our feet”; and “Dirt is the gift of each to all. More

Mark Ashman and Geeta Puri. Essential Soil Science, Wiley, 2002, 9780632048854 - Review
"...It is rare that texts are found combining ease of understanding with a solid scientific foundation. The subtitle of this text 'a clear and concise introduction to soil science' does indeed sum up this book. Its clarity of production and focus on key aspects of science and human interaction make it a great guide for the beginner and a 'must-buy' for the library." British Ecological Society, Teaching Ecology Group Newsletter

"I can wholeheartedly recommend this book to students whose course includes a module of soil science, and indeed recommend it to students on soil science degrees as a general introduction or a last minute revision guide." John S. Conway, Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester

Peter Birkeland. Soils and Geomorphology, Oxford University Press USA, 1999 (3rd edition), 9780195078862 -This comprehensive work on all aspects of soils includes introductory chapters on soil morphology, physics, mineralogy and organisms in anticipation of the more advanced analysis of the subject that follows. Replete with hundreds of high-quality figures and a large glossary, its global perspective makes it an invaluable text for anyone studying soils, landforms and landscape change in middle to upper-level undergraduate and graduate courses. More

Nyle C. Brady and Ray R. Weil. The Nature and Properties of Soils,Prentice Hall (14th edition), 2007, 9780135133873 - Featuring new photographs, diagrams, and special “boxes” , The Nature and Property of Soils is an engaging book for readers. It has an ecological approach that explains the fundamentals of soil science effectively. Chapter topics include Soil Erosion and Its Control, Soil Acidity, Soils and Chemical Pollution, and Organisms and the Ecology of the Soil. For individuals interested in soil and the environment. More

Stanley W. Buol, Randal J. Southard, Robert C. Graham and Paul A. McDaniel. Soil Genesis and Classification, Wiley-Blackwell (5th edition), 2003, 9780813828732 - Soil Genesis and Classification reviews a spectrum of soil classification systems and presents the culmination of more than two decades of testing and revisions in the U.S. Soil Taxonomy, the most detailed and comprehensive system for soil classification. The classic textbook explains the function and use of soils, soil formation and categorization, and details how this dynamic natural entity evolves from natural factors and processes and interfaces with ecosystems and human endeavors. More

Robert W. Day. Soil Testing Manual: Procedures, Classification Data, and Sampling Practices, McGraw-Hill Professional, 2000, , 9780071363631 -Written by AIA award-winning civil engineer Robert Day, Soil Testing Manual gives engineers, geologists, contractors, on-site construction managers -- anyone who needs answers on the characteristics of soil -- a convenient, complete source of today's most authoritative solutions. This reader-friendly guide simplifies each step of every process, from selecting appropriate methods to analyzing your results. Filled with handy tables, charts, diagrams, and formulas that eliminate time-wasting and frustrating searches and calculations, this manual gives you better results in less time as you: Get expert approaches to testing altered and disturbed soils : Set up a mobile field lab with complete directions : Use rip-out sheets for on-site reference and checks : Get quick access to data on grading, instrumentation, technical methods, procedure guidelines, and preferred practices Draw authoritative conclusions on fill compaction More

John M. Kimble, Ronald F. Follett and B. A. Stewart (eds). Assessment Methods for Soil Carbon, CRC, 2000, £68.99, 9781566704618 -Since carbon sequestration in soils reduces the amount of carbon available to the atmosphere, the Kyoto Protocols have heightened interest in soil carbon pools and their effect on carbon fluxes. Assessment Methods for Soil Carbon addresses many of the questions related to the measurement, monitoring, and verification of organic and inorganic carbon in soils. The major topics covered are: carbon pools; soil samplingand preparation, analytical techniques for soil carbon; soil erosion and sedimentation; remote sensing, GIS and modeling; procedures for scaling carbon data from point and local measurements to regional and even national scales; and More.

Jeff Lowenfels. Teaming with Microbes: A Gardener’s Guide to the Soil Food Web, Timber Press, 2006, £17.99, 9780881927771 - Review
"All good gardeners know healthy plants start with healthy soil. But why? And how? In Teaming with Microbes Lowenfels and Lewis reveal the new research in the most practical and accessible way." Kym Pokorny, The Oregonian (The Oregonian )

?Sure, it's a gardening book, but it has all the drama and suspense of an extraterrestrial thriller...Read this book and you'll never look at soil the same way." Debra McKinney, Anchorage Daily News, September 14, 2006 More

"The authors have given gardeners an inside scoop on the scientific research supporting organic gardening." The Washington Gardener

"This book has all the best dirt on all the best dirt. It...explains the basics of good soil practices, and it's written especially for home gardeners." Marianne Binetti, Seattle Post Intelligencer March 3, 2007

Fred Magdoff and Harold van Es. Building Soils for Better Crops, Sustainable Agriculture Network (2nd edition), 2000, £33.91, 9781888626056 -Healthy soils are key to producing good harvests with minimal pest problems. How to create that balanced soil ecosystem, however, remains a challenge for even the most experienced growers.

Building Soils for Better Crops unlocks the secret of maintaining a diverse ecosystem below ground to foster healthy crops above. Ecological soil management, as detailed by the soil experts who wrote the book, can raise fertility and yields while reducing environmental impacts. The 240-page Building Soils contains detailed information about soil structure and the management practices that affect soils, as well as practical information like how to interpret soil test results. More

Raymond W. Miller and Duane T. Gardiner. Soils in Our Environment, Prenctice Hall (11th edition), , 9780132191043 -Based on the most current scientific developments in all areas, this time-honored, broad introduction to soil sciences covers the complete spectrum of traditional and state-of-the-art soil topics–e.g., taxonomy, soil formation, properties of soils, common soil problems and their solutions, evaluation of soils, pollution from use of soils, precision agriculture, GIS and GPS. The volume examines soil composition and importance, soil's physical, water and chemical properties, organisms and their residues, soil formation and morphology, soil taxonomy, plant nutrients, soil fertility management, tillage systems and alternatives, soil erosion, water resources and irrigation, wetlands and land drainage, pollution of soil, water, and air, environmental integrity, soil surveys and land-use planning, greenhouse soils and soulless culture. For Environmental scientists, consultants and engineers, soil scientists, plant scientists, crop consultants, irrigation consultants, farmers and land developers. More

Life in the Soil: A Guide for Naturalists and Gardeners, University of Chicago Press, 2007, 9780226568522

JameLeonardo da Vinci once mused that “we know more about the movement of celestial bodies than about the soil underfoot,” an observation that is as apt today as it was five hundred years ago. The biological world under our toes is often unexplored and unappreciated, yet it teems with life. In one square meter of earth, there lives trillions of bacteria, millions of nematodes, hundreds of thousands of mites, thousands of insects and worms, and hundreds of snails and slugs. But because of their location and size, many of these creatures are as unfamiliar and bizarre to us as anything found at the bottom of the ocean.

Lavishly illustrated with nearly three hundred color illustrations and masterfully-rendered black and white drawings throughout, Life in the Soil invites naturalists and gardeners alike to dig in and discover the diverse community of creatures living in the dirt below us.s B. Nardi More

Daniel D. Richter and Daniel Markewitz. Understanding Soil Change: Soil Sustainability over Millennia, Centuries and Decades, Cambridge University Press, 2007, £23.99, 9780521039437- Across the world, soils are managed with an intensity and at a geographic scale never before attempted, yet we know remarkably little about how and why managed soils change through time. Understanding Soil Change explores a legacy of soil change in southeastern North America, from the acidic soils of primary hardwood forests that covered the region until about 1800, through the marked transformations affected by long-cultivated cotton, to contemporary soils of rapidly growing and intensively managed pine forests. More

Cynthia Rosenzweig and Daniel Hillel. Climate Change and the Global Harvest: Potential Impacts of the Greenhouse Effect on Agriculture, Oxford University Press USA,1998, ( available secondhand), 9780195088892 - This book analyzes and elucidates the nature of predictable changes on the world's agricultural system caused by the so-called greenhouse effect. Its aim is to educate students at the undergraduate level about how the climatic factors affecting agriculture may be modified in the future, and what practical adaptations might be undertaken to prevent or overcome any possible adverse impacts on our ability to feed the world's population. More

The Earth Moved: On the Remarkable Achievements of Earthworms, Algonquin Books, 2005, 9781565124684

Amy Stew“Engrossing” (The Christian Science Monitor), “fascinating” (TimeOut New York), “delightfully nuanced” (Entertainment Weekly), “terrific” (New York Newsday), “inspiring” (Bust magazine). “You know a book is good when you actually welcome one of those howling days of wind and sleet that makes going out next to impossible” (The New York Times).

The Earth Moved has moved reviewers across the country. In witty, offbeat style, Amy Stewart takes us on a subterranean adventure and introduces us to our planet’s most important gatekeeper: the humble earthworm. It’s true that the earthworm is small, spineless, and blind, but its effect on the ecosystem is profound,moving Charles Darwin to devote his last years to studying its remarkable attributes and achievements.art. More

Adel El Titi (ed). Soil Tillage in Agroecosystems, CRC, 2002, 9780849312281 -Soil tillage is, and will remain, the guiding component of soil management and consequently has far-reaching implications for agroecosystems. Understanding structures and functions of soil ecosystems under different tillage/no tillage practices is an essential requirement for any future farming concepts. Soil Tillage in Agroecosystems emphasizes these aspects in all 12 chapters, highlighting both the short- and long-term effects of soil cultivation practices on the soil ecosystem above and below the soil surface.Using the knowledge of soil ecology under natural, undisturbed conditions, the text focuses on how cultivation affects soil and the soil environment. In particular it highlights how methods of soil tillage can influence soil structure, More

Alan Wild. Soils, Land and Food: Managing the Land during the Twenty-First Century, Cambridge University Press, 2003, £24.99, 9780521527590 - a major challenge of the twenty-first century is to ensure sufficient global food production to cope with the burgeoning world population. This book follows the development of techniques of land management and discusses reasons why some agricultural projects have succeeded while others have failed. Alan Wild shows how surveying and protecting soils before new land is brought into cultivation, raising soil fertility, increasing inputs, and improving economic conditions all help to increase food production. He emphasizes the need for both economic change and technological intervention in developing countries where, in many cases, food production will need to more than double in the next fifty years. More

David W. Wolfe. Tales from the Underground: A Natural History of Subterranean Life, Perseus Publishing, 2002, 9780738206790 -The first book to explore the fascinating-and essential-world beneath our feet.

There are over one billion organisms in a pinch of soil, and many of them perform functions essential to alllife on the planet. Yet we know much more about deep space than about the universe below. In Tales from the Underground, Cornell ecologist David W. Wolfe lifts the veil on this hidden world, revealing for the first time what makes subterranean life so unique and so precious. Home to miniscule water bears and microscopic bacteria, mole rats and burrowing owls, the underground reigns supreme as it produces important pharmaceuticals, recycles life's essential elements, and helps plants gather nutrients. An original, awe-inspiring journey through a strange realm, Tales from the Underground will forever alter our appreciation of the natural world around-and beneath-us. More