Your Search Results

      • Trusted Partner
        Soil science, sedimentology
        October 2011

        Architecture and Biology of Soils

        Life in Inner Space

        by Edited by Karl Ritz, Iain M Young.

        Soil is a fundamental and critical, yet often overlooked, component of terrestrial ecosystems. It is an extremely complex environment, supporting levels of diversity far greater than any ecosystem above ground. Bringing together existing knowledge in the areas of soil biology and physics, this book explores the key characteristics of soil spatial architecture, including how it develops and the consequences this has for life underground. The effects of soil's physical and biological components on their interactions and functions are used to demonstrate their roles in ecosystem dynamics.

      • Trusted Partner
        Soil science, sedimentology
        September 1995

        Grassland Nitrogen

        by David C Whitehead

        This books provides a comprehensive overview of grassland nitrogen incorporating information from crop science, soils and fertilizers, ruminant consumption and environmental aspects.The published information is reviewed on the various transformations of nitrogen in temperate grassland systems. These include those taking place in soils. The effects of soil, weather and management practices are discussed and considerable emphasis is placed on soil-plant-animal interactions. A second aim of the book is to describe the factors that influence the response of grassland to the application of fertilizer nitrogen, and how the optimum rate of application may be determined. In addition, nitrogen balances are described for different grassland systems, showing how the annual inputs and outputs vary greatly depending on sward type and management.The book is of interest to a wide readership, especially those engaged in research, teaching and advisory work, and students taking courses in agricultural and environmental sciences.

      • Trusted Partner
        Soil science, sedimentology
        October 2007

        Irrigation Water Pricing

        The Gap Between Theory and Practice

        by Edited by François Molle, Jeremy Berkoff

        Much hope has been vested in pricing as a means of helping to regulate and rationalize water management, notably in the irrigation sector. The pricing of water has often been applied universally, using general and ideological policies, and not considering regional environmental and economic differences. Almost fifteen years after the emphasis laid at the Dublin and Rio conferences on treating water as an economic good, a comprehensive review of how such policies have helped manage water resources an irrigation use is necessary.The case-studies presented here offer a re-assessment of current policies by evaluating their objectives and constraints and often demonstrating their failure by not considering the regional context. They will therefore contribute to avoiding costly and misplaced reforms and help design water policies that are based on a deeper understanding of the factors which eventually dictate their effectiveness.

      • Trusted Partner
        Soil science, sedimentology
        October 2015

        Visual Soil Evaluation

        Realizing Potential Crop Production with Minimum Environmental Impact

        by Edited by Bruce C. Ball, Lars J. Munkholm.

        Visual Soil Evaluation (VSE) provides land users and environmental authorities with the tools to assess soil quality for crop performance. This book describes the assessment of the various structural conditions of soil, especially after quality degradation such as compaction, erosion or organic matter loss. Covering a broad range of land types from abandoned peats to prime arable land, this useful handbook assesses yield potential across a range of scales. It also appraises the use of VSE in determining the potential of different land types for carbon storage, greenhouse gas emissions and nutrient leaching, and for diagnosing and rectifying erosion and compaction in soils.

      • Trusted Partner
        Soil science, sedimentology
        October 2015

        Visual Soil Evaluation

        Realizing Potential Crop Production with Minimum Environmental Impact

        by Edited by Bruce C. Ball, Lars J. Munkholm.

        Visual Soil Evaluation (VSE) provides land users and environmental authorities with the tools to assess soil quality for crop performance. This book describes the assessment of the various structural conditions of soil, especially after quality degradation such as compaction, erosion or organic matter loss. Covering a broad range of land types from abandoned peats to prime arable land, this useful handbook assesses yield potential across a range of scales. It also appraises the use of VSE in determining the potential of different land types for carbon storage, greenhouse gas emissions and nutrient leaching, and for diagnosing and rectifying erosion and compaction in soils.

      • Trusted Partner
        Geography & the Environment
        June 2020

        New Land, New Life

        A success story of new land resettlement in Bangladesh

        by Andrew Jenkins, Natasha Haider, Bazlul Karim, Mihir Kumar Chakraborty, Kiran Sankar Sarker, Rezaul Karim, Robiul Islam, Nujulee Begum, Edward Mallorie, Koen de Wilde

        The Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna delta has newly emerged 'char' islands, resulting from the deposition of sediment, which are very vulnerable, socially, institutionally and environmentally. This book explains how the governments of Bangladesh and the Netherlands and the International Fund for Agricultural Development cooperated on a land-based rural development project to give settlers security and purpose. It details how they engaged communities and civil societies, and implemented an infrastructure aimed at reducing flooding, improving drainage, and providing adequate drinking water and sanitation. The book describes the project's application to crop and animal agriculture, and the development of value chains and encouragement of female participation. It considers the financial underpinning and infrastructure, as well as how to ensure the impacts of the scheme are enduring. The scheme serves as a model for support projects to vulnerable groups faced with climate change and other environmental challenges. This book is suitable for students, researchers, specialists and practitioners in rural development, water resources, land management and soil science.

      • Trusted Partner
        Geography & the Environment
        September 2019

        Soil Carbon

        Science, Management and Policy for Multiple Benefits

        by Steven A Banwart, Elke Noellemeyer, Eleanor Milne

        This book brings together the essential evidence and policy opportunities regarding the global importance of soil carbon for sustaining Earth's life support system for humanity. Covering the science and policy background for this important natural resource, it describes land management options that improve soil carbon status and therefore increase the benefits that humans derive from the environment. Written by renowned global experts, it is the principal output from a SCOPE rapid assessment process project.

      • Trusted Partner
        Geography & the Environment
        March 2022

        Plants for Soil Regeneration

        An Illustrated Guide

        by Sally Pinhey, Margaret Tebbs

        This book is a comprehensive, beautifully illustrated colour guide to the plants which farmers, growers and gardeners can use to improve soil structure and restore fertility without the use and expense of agrichemicals. Information based on the latest research is given on how to use soil conditioning plants to avoid soil degradation, restore soil quality and help clean polluted land. There are 11 chapters: 1 to 6 cover soil health, nitrogen fixation, green manures and herbal leys, bacteria and other microorganisms, phytoremediators and soil mycorrhiza (plant-fungal symbiosis). Chapter 7 has plant illustrations, with climate range and soil types, along with their soil conditioning properties and each plant is presented with a comprehensive description opposite a detailed illustration, in full colour. Chapters 8 to 10 examine soil stabilisers, weeds and invasive plants, and hedges and trees and the final chapter, contains 5 case studies with the most recent data, followed by an appendix and glossary. The book allows the reader to identify the plants they need quickly and find the information necessary to begin implementation of soil regeneration.

      • Trusted Partner
        Soil science, sedimentology
        December 2014

        Soil Carbon

        Science, Management and Policy for Multiple Benefits

        by Edited by Steven A Banwart, Elke Noellemeyer, Eleanor Milne.

        This book brings together the essential evidence and policy opportunities regarding the global importance of soil carbon for sustaining Earth's life support system for humanity. Covering the science and policy background for this important natural resource, it describes land management options that improve soil carbon status and therefore increase the benefits that humans derive from the environment. Written by renowned global experts, it is the principal output from a SCOPE rapid assessment process project. Read a chapter for free

      • Soil science, sedimentology
        February 1986

        Soil Conservation

        Assessing the National Resources Inventory, Volume 1

        by Committee on Conservation Needs and Opportunities, Board on Agriculture, National Research Council

        This new volume is the first independent analysis of an important national data base, the National Resources Inventory. It cites potential uses of the NRI in controlling soil erosion; determining land use; deciding conservation treatment; classifying soils; and protecting groundwater quality. Methods for soil conservation activities, ranging from the ranking of the lands most susceptible to erosion to the measurement and prediction of both wind and water erosion, are recommended throughout the volume.

      • Soil science, sedimentology
        January 1986

        Soil Conservation

        An Assessment of the National Resources Inventory, Volume 2

        by Committee on Conservation Needs and Opportunities; National Research Council

        Written by the foremost authorities in the field, this volume brings together the technical papers from which Volume 1 is drawn. The 10 papers and discussion from a National Research Council symposium cover such topics as soil erosion classification, evaluating how soil erosion damages productivity, calculating soil erosion, understanding ephemeral gully erosion, wind erosion, and the impact of range erosion on land use.

      • Soil science, sedimentology
        January 1993

        Soil and Water Quality

        An Agenda for Agriculture

        by Committee on Long-Range Soil and Water Conservation Policy, National Research Council

        How can the United States meet demands for agricultural production while solving the broader range of environmental problems attributed to farming practices? National policymakers who try to answer this question confront difficult trade-offs. This book offers four specific strategies that can serve as the basis for a national policy to protect soil and water quality while maintaining U.S. agricultural productivity and competitiveness. Timely and comprehensive, the volume has important implications for the Clean Air Act and the 1995 farm bill. Advocating a systems approach, the committee recommends specific farm practices and new approaches to prevention of soil degradation and water pollution for environmental agencies. The volume details methods of evaluating soil management systems and offers a wealth of information on improved management of nitrogen, phosphorus, manure, pesticides, sediments, salt, and trace elements. Landscape analysis of nonpoint source pollution is also detailed. Drawing together research findings, survey results, and case examples, the volume will be of interest to federal, state, and local policymakers; state and local environmental and agricultural officials and other environmental and agricultural specialists; scientists involved in soil and water issues; researchers; and agricultural producers.

      • Soil science, sedimentology
        April 2003

        Bioavailability of Contaminants in Soils and Sediments

        Processes, Tools, and Applications

        by Committee on Bioavailability of Contaminants in Soils and Sediments, National Research Council

        Bioavailability refers to the extent to which humans and ecological receptors are exposed to contaminants in soil or sediment. The concept of bioavailability has recently piqued the interest of the hazardous waste industry as an important consideration in deciding how much waste to clean up. The rationale is that if contaminants in soil and sediment are not bioavailable, then more contaminant mass can be left in place without creating additional risk. A new NRC report notes that the potential for the consideration of bioavailability to influence decision-making is greatest where certain chemical, environmental, and regulatory factors align. The current use of bioavailability in risk assessment and hazardous waste cleanup regulations is demystified, and acceptable tools and models for bioavailability assessment are discussed and ranked according to seven criteria. Finally, the intimate link between bioavailability and bioremediation is explored. The report concludes with suggestions for moving bioavailability forward in the regulatory arena for both soil and sediment cleanup.

      • Soil science, sedimentology
        May 2007

        Earth Materials and Health

        Research Priorities for Earth Science and Public Health

        by Committee on Research Priorities for Earth Science and Public Health, National Research Council

        A range of natural earth materials, like arsenic or fluoride, have long been linked to significant human health effects. Improved understanding of the pervasive and complex interactions between earth materials and human health will require creative collaborations between earth scientists and public health professionals. At the request of the National Science Foundation, U.S. Geological Survey, and National Aeronautics and Space Administration, this National Research Council book assesses the current state of knowledge at the interface between the earth sciences and public health disciplines. The book identifies high-priority areas for collaborative research, including understanding the transport and bioavailability of potentially hazardous earth materials, using risk-based scenarios to mitigate the public health effects of natural hazards under current and future climate regimes, and understanding the health risks that result from disturbance of earth systems. Geospatial information - geological maps for earth scientists and epidemiological data for public health professionals - is identified as one of the essential integrative tools that is fundamental to the activities of both communities. The book also calls for increased data sharing between agencies to promote interdisciplinary research without compromising privacy.

      • Soil science, sedimentology
        August 2009

        Frontiers in Soil Science Research

        Report of a Workshop

        by Steering Committee for Frontiers in Soil Science Research; National Research Council

        There has been renewed interest in soil and soil science in recent years as the recognition that biogeochemical processes that occur at the Earth's surface influence global climate change, land degradation and remediation, the fate and transport of nutrients and contaminants, soil and water conservation, soil and water quality, food sufficiency and safety, and many other issues pertinent to the stewardship and conservation of land and water resources. In some areas of the Earth we have approached near irreversible soil conditions that may threaten the existence of future generations. Understanding the long-term implications of decreased soil quality and addressing the aforementioned challenges will require new information based on advances and breakthroughs in soil science research that need to be effectively communicated to stakeholders, policy makers, and the general public. On December 12-14, 2005, the National Academies convened the Frontiers in Soil Science Research Workshop, summarized in this volume, to identify emerging areas for research in soil science by addressing the interaction of soil science subdisciplines, collaborative research with other disciplines, and the use of new technologies in research. The workshop focused around seven key questions addressing research frontiers for the individual soil science disciplines, and also addressing the need for integration across soil science with other disciplines.

      • Chemistry
        April 2023

        Biodiversity

        Concepts, Crises, and Conservation

        by Vir Singh

        The variety of life the Planet Earth flowers with is a wonderful culmination of natural evolution. All natural ecosystems and cultivated lands blossoming with biodiversity set out the preconditions for a healthy, vibrant, and sustainable biosphere. Authored by an eminent academician, expert, and celebrated author, the book on Biodiversity: Concepts, Crises and Conservation embraces all dimensions of the biological diversity we need to conceive, understand, recognize, discover, and practically protect, conserve, and augment for posterity, sustainability, and happiness. Emerging concepts, ongoing crises, and potential conservation tactics of biodiversity have been ecstatically explained. The book is composed in a textbook flavor setting out mental agility exercises for students belonging to multiple disciplines and comes out with renewed, enriched, and innovation-disrupting academic content. Apart from the students and their teachers in the life sciences/ biological sciences, environmental sciences, agricultural sciences, geography, and natural resource management streams, the book will also serve as a useful guide for planners, policy-makers, environmental activists, government, and non-government organizations. FEATURES Provides diverse concepts, crises, and conservation strategies Elaborates on a wide range of biodiversity values · Presents magnificent scenarios of agrobiodiversity (biodiversity in agriculture), pedo-biodiversity (biodiversity in soils), biodiversity in the chemosynthesis-based communities Examines biodiversity-climate links Discusses the vital biodiversity-sustainability relationships · Elucidates biodiversity-based sustainability principles and operationalization techniques

      • Soil science, sedimentology
        June 2023

        Soil Organic Matter

        by A.Raja Rajan

        This book dwells on soil organic matter in its entirety: the composition, distribution, pools and reactive functional groups of soil organic matter; its decomposition, nutrient transformations and biochemistry of humus formation; its role in pedogenic processes; adsorption of organic compounds by clay; clay-organic matter complexes; humus - trace metals and humus - pesticides interactions; environmental significance of humic substances and characterization of soil organic matter. The potentials of nuclear techniques in the study of soil organic matter have been elucidated for the benefit of research scholars. Various management practices for building organic matter in soils have also been discussed. A compilation of qualitative and quantitative analytical procedures on organic matter complements the book. The book will be a useful source material for researchers, scholars and all stakeholders concerned with soil organic matter and sustainable agriculture.

      • Geographical information systems (GIS) & remote sensing
        September 2017

        Soil Resources and Its Mapping Through Geostatistics Using R and QGIS

        by Priyabrata Santra, Mahesh Kumar, N.R. Panwar & C.B. Pandey

        This book will provide an exposure to recent developments in the field of geostatistical modeling, spatial variability of soil resources, and preparation of digital soil maps using R and GIS and potential application of it in agricultural resource management. Specifically following major areas are covered in the book.

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