Pedosphere and soil resources.- Soil formation factors and soil environmental conditions.- Soil function.- The general characteristics and distribution of major soil groups.- Soil characteristics, pedogenesis and utilization of major soil groups.- Soil degradation and soil conservation.- Soil survey and soil information system.
Taiwan is located at the convergent boundary between the Philippine Sea plate and the continental margin of the Eurasian plate. The collision by oblique plate convergence began at around 5 to 6 million years and is ongoing with continual crustal shortening and widespread seismic activities. As a result Taiwan has very diverse environmental conditions and consists of five geologic provinces from west to east namely the coastal plain, western foothills, central range, longitudinal valley and coastal range. Besides this there is also the elevation change from sea level to about 4000 meter above sea level.
This book presents a comprehensive and up-to-date overview on the soils of Taiwan which includes sections on soil research, history, climate, geology, geomorphology, major soil types, soil maps, soil properties, soil classification, soil fertility, land use and vegetation, soil management, soils and humans, soils and industry as well as future soil issues.
It summarizes what is known about the soils in Taiwan in a concise and highly reader-friendly way which makes this latest volume in the World Soil series accessible to a broad audience.
