Soil Conservation And Management

“Principles of Soil Management and Conservation” comprehensively reviews the state-of-knowledge on soil erosion and management. It discusses in detail soil conservation topics in relation to soil productivity, environment quality, and agronomic production. It addresses the implications of soil erosion with emphasis on global hotspots and synthesizes available from developed and developing countries. It also critically reviews information on no-till management, organic farming, crop residue management for industrial uses, conservation buffers (e.g., grass buffers, agroforestry systems), and the problem of hypoxia in the Gulf of Mexico and in other regions. This book uniquely addresses the global issues including carbon sequestration, net emissions of CO2, and erosion as a sink or source of C under different scenarios of soil management. It also deliberates the implications of the projected global warming on soil erosion and vice versa. The concern about global food security in relation to soil erosion and strategies for confronting the remaining problems in soil management and conservation are specifically addressed. This volume is suitable for both undergraduate and graduate students interested in understanding the principles of soil conservation and management. The book is also useful for practitioners, extension agents, soil conservationists, and policymakers as an important reference material.

"Along its existence, humans have used Earth resources in a reckless way, having little consideration for its importance, and for the future generations and their needs. Considering the complexity of this subject, and the extreme difficulty of analyzing all aspects of soil degradation, the Editors nonetheless gather here some contributions, each one addressing different soil conservation problems, strategies or methodologies, trying to add some contributions for the understanding of the overall problem of soil degradation and conservation in the world. The seven chapters that comprise this book address topics related to soil degradation and conservation strategies, presenting some cases and methodological approaches, in different parts of the world, promoting scientific research developed with the objective of contributing to a better knowledge of the problem and to help in its mitigation"--

Are they human, biological, extraterrestrial? The future of our food, our waterways, our climate, and our civilization depend upon soil. How we conserve, or repair damage to this essential re- source is one of the most important commitments of our generation! This author leads us on a 30-year journey of discovery working with those closest to the land as they tackle significant challenges of soil protection, restoration, and sustainability.

Introduction; Basic aspects of soil and water conservation; Characterization of soils and climates in relation to the erosion hazard; Management for erosion control; Farming systems and erosion hazard in Africa; Farming systems and erosion hazard in the far east; Farming systems and erosion hazard in Latin America; Towards erosion control in the humid tropics; Appendix; Author index; Subject index.

This updated and expanded second edition textbook, describes all main aspects of soil management, to address the serious problems of soil erosion and the attendant environmental pollution. The global high demands for food, fiber, feed, and fuel put a constant strain on the environment, which can only be mitigated by soil conservation. This edition incorporates new concepts and provides an up-to-date review of soil management principles and practices. The authors also added new chapters on cover crops, crop residues, soil water management, nutrient management, perennials in crop rotations and organic amendments. All practices have a clear perspective on addressing soil erosion, physical and chemical problems, carbon dynamics and sequestration as well as non-point source pollution. The restorative nature of many practices, also consider water conservation as a main pillar of sustaining a healthy soil. This textbook is valuable for students and professionals in soil science, agronomy, agricultural engineering, hydrology, and management of natural resources.

"Soils is a practically focused soil science text, designed to give a sound understanding of soils for those studying or working in environmental management, soil conservation or natural resource management. The authors put soils and soil management into a natural resource management context at the broadest level, providing a practical description of soils and their properties. The book examines the different kinds of degradation soils are susceptible to and describes the available soil management and conservation methods." "Land management in Australia has undergone significant changes in recent years. New approaches and concerns have emerged in response to environmental issues and the development of new methodologies. This text explores the relevance of soils to the ecological sustainability of land-use practices, catchment management and the management of water resources."--BOOK JACKET.

Degradation of soils continues at a pace that will eventually create a local, regional, or even global crisis when diminished soil resources collide with increasing climate variation. It's not too late to restore our soils to a more productive state by rediscovering the value of soil management, building on our well-established and ever-expanding scientific understanding of soils. Soil management concepts have been in place since the cultivation of crops, but we need to rediscover the principles that are linked together in effective soil management. This book is unique because of its treatment of soil management based on principles—the physical, chemical, and biological processes and how together they form the foundation for soil management processes that range from tillage to nutrient management. Whether new to soil science or needing a concise reference, readers will benefit from this book's ability to integrate the science of soils with management issues and long-term conservation efforts.