Synopses & Reviews
Essential to the understanding of sustainable agriculture, the effect of human activity on soil, and the management of soil and water resources including soil nutrition and other influences, this is a solid reference and learning tool. Non-technical, and easy-to-understand, Soil Science and Management, 4E teaches the essentials of soils from the perspective of farmers, horticulturists, environmentalists, and others who are concerned about how soils work and how they are used most effectively. An emphasis on management and the sustainable use of soils and water resources make it especially relevant to these audiences. Nutrient management, best practices and relevant legal issues and government programs related to soil management make this book a popular addition to the bookshelves of farmers, horticulturists and government agricultural personnel alike.
Synopsis
Soil Science and Management, fifth edition, emphasizes the human interaction with and effect on soils, rather than treating the soil as an independent element. Non-technical and easy-to-understand, Soil Science and Management, fifth edition teaches the essentials of soils from the perspective of farmers, horticulturalists, environmentalists and other who are concerned about how soils work and how they are used more effectively. An emphasis on management and the sustainable use of soil and water resources makes it especially relevant to these audiences. The inclusion of nutrient management, best practices and relevant legal issues and government programs make this text a practical application for students. The images have been updated and are now in full color, reinforcing the content contained in the text.
About the Author
Edward Plaster has taught horticulture and soil science for 30 years. He belongs to the American Society for Horticultural Science (ASHS) and the Soil and Water Conservation Society (SWCS). He is a Certified Professional Horticulturist, an ASHS program and is active in several national and local trade organizations.
Table of Contents
Chapter 1: The Importance of Soil. Chapter 2: Soil Origin and Development.. Chapter 3: Soil Classification and Survey. Chapter 4: Physical Properties of Soil. Chapter 5: Life in the Soil. Chapter 6: Organic Matter. Chapter 7: Soil Water. Chapter 8: Water Conservation. Chapter 9: Drainage and Irrigation. Chapter 10: Soil Fertility. Chapter 11: Soil pH and Salinity. Chapter 12: Plant Nutrition. Chapter 13: Soil Sampling and Testing. Chapter 14: Fertilizers. Chapter 15: Organic Amendments. Chapter 16: Tillage and Cropping Systems. Chapter 17: Horticultural Uses of Soil. Chapter 18: Soil Conservation. Chapter 19: Urban Soil. Chapter 20: Government Agencies and Programs. Appendix 1 Some Basic Chemistry. Appendix 2 Soil Orders of the United States. Appendix 3 Soil Horizon Symbol Suffixes. Appendix 4 Land Evaluation. Appendix 5 Preferred Soil Characteristics for Selected Trees. Glossary. Index.