Essential Soil Physics: An Introduction to Soil Processes, Functions, Structure and Mechanics

Description

The book treats the physics of water, gas and heat movement in soils and interactions with the solid phase at various scales and other factors in detail - because these are considered the ultimate basis of any model of soil behaviour. Threats to soils worldwide ultimately endanger food security for a growing world population. Because of this, the effects of soil use and degradation on transport processes, soil stability and pore functions are discussed, and options for soil protection, conservation, and amelioration are addressed. The authors close a gap between general soil science texts and very specialised treatments of foundation engineering by integrating the concepts of soil mechanics to achieve a comprehensive description of soil physical behaviour. Traditional soil physics topics, such as soil-water-plant relations, soil hydrology and gas, heat and field water cycles are complemented by soil rheology, physicochemical and amelioration sciences. Well-known and recent advances in analytical approaches and methods are well explained to be of use to persons interested in improving plant growth and optimising crop yield. Essential Soil Physics is a valuable resource for researchers, upper-level undergraduate students, and graduate students of agronomy, soil science, horticulture, geosciences, environmental science, landscape architects and everybody interested in understanding the intricate physical processes which control and modify soil functions.