This introductory text aims to help students understand the behavior of soils in both the man-made and the natural environment. The book is structured in two parts: Part A is an introduction to general soil properties and processes, while Part B considers soil in relation to the environment, covering topics such as the role of soil in supporting plant growth, in maintaining a clean environment, and in the flux of atmospheric gases. Issues such as acidification, contamination, conservation and erosion are also considered.

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...

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...