Synopses & Reviews
One of the most influential works by a world authority on soils and their formation. This advanced treatise on theoretical soil science, long considered a masterpiece of scientific methodology offers pedologists, geologists and geophysicists both a detailed discussion of the nature of the earth's terrestrial environment, and a method of subdividing and studying it.
Synopsis
"Hans Jenny's oeuvre ranks among those of the giant in the earth sciences. Even within this rarefied atmosphere of intellectual achievements, his book Factors of Soil Formation stands out as a masterpiece." from the Foreword by Ronald Amundson, University of California at Berkeley
Hans Jenny (1899 1992), who taught at the University of California at Berkeley for 31 years, was a world authority on soils and soil formation. Factors of Soil Formation, his most influential work, is an advanced treatise on theoretical soil science. It has been said that this book, long considered a masterpiece of scientific methodology, had as great an impact on soil science as Charles Darwin's The Origin of Species had on the study of evolution.
The book offers both a detailed discussion of the nature of the earth's terrestrial environment and a method of subdividing and studying it. The first two chapters are devoted to definitions and concepts, and methods of presentation of soil data. Chapters 3 through 7 explore the roles of time, parent material, topography, climate and organisms in the formation of soil. Chapter 8 presents conclusions.
Though it was written more than 50 years ago, Factors of Soil Formation has not been superseded, nor has Jenny's theory of how soils and ecosystems form been replaced by new factorial theories. Students and professionals working in the fields of pedology, geology and ecology will find this clear, concise study, filled with many of Professor Jenny's own illustrations, stimulating reading."
Synopsis
Masterpiece offers a detailed discussion of the nature of the earth's terrestrial environment, and a method of subdividing and studying it. 1941 edition.
Table of Contents
CHAPTER I DEFINITIONS AND CONCEPTS
CHAPTER II METHODS OF PRESENTATION OF SOIL DATA
CHAPTER III TIME AS A SOIL-FORMING FACTOR
CHAPTER IV PARENT MATERIAL AS A SOIL-FORMING FACTOR
A. Definition and Method of Approach
B. Soil Formation on Igneous Rocks
C. Soil Formation on Sedimentary rocks
D. Systems of Soil Classification Based on Nature of Parent Material
CHAPTER V TOPOGRAPHY AS A SOIL-FORMING FACTOR
CHAPTER VI CLIMATE AS A SOIL-FORMING FACTOR
A. Moisture as a Soil-forming Factor:
1. Discussion of Moisture Criteria
2. Relationships between Soil Properties and Moisture Factors:
a. Organic Constituents of the Soil
b. Inorganic Constituents of the Soil
B. Temperature as a Soil-forming Factor:
1. Discussion of Moisture Criteria
2. Relationships between Soil Properties and Temperature
C. Combinations of Moisture and Temperature Influences
D. Distribution of Soils According to Climate
CHAPTER VII ORGANISMS AS A SOIL-FORMING FACTOR
A. Dependent and Independent Nature of Organisms
B. Vegetation:
1. Vegetation as a Dependent Variable
2. Vegetation as an Independent Variable
C. Man as a Soil-forming factor:
1. Influences of Cultural Practices
2. Concepts of Soil Productivity and Soil Fertility
3. Future Trends of Soil Fertility
CHAPTER VIII
CONCLUSIONS
INDEX