Soils: Basic Concepts and Future Challenges

This book was born as an international tribute to Fiorenzo C. Ugolini, an outstanding soil scientist, now retired from university teaching and research. It is a synthesis of the knowledge of soils, their genesis, functions and management, and includes contributions from leading soil scientists. It provides the basic concepts as well as data and practical examples from across the discipline. The book also discusses the increasingly important role of soils in enabling the preservation of life and contains a rare attempt to cross-harmonize the Soil Groups of the World Reference Base of Soil Resources with the Orders of the Soil Taxonomy. It also considers the possible existence of extraterrestrial soils based on the findings from the last space missions. This volume will be a valuable resource for researchers and students of soil science, soil conservation, geography and landscape ecology.

1. Concepts of soils Richard W. Arnold; 2. Pedogenic processes and pathways of horizon differentiation Stanley W. Buol; 3. Soil phases: the inorganic solid phase G. Jock Churchman; 4. Soil phases: the organic solid phase Claire Chenu; 5. Soil phases: the liquid phase Randy A. Dahlgren; 6. Soil phases: the gaseous phase Andrey V. Smagin; 7. Soil phases: the living phase Oliver Dilly, Eva-Maria Pfeiffer and Ulrich Irmler; 8. The State Factor theory of soil formation Ronald Amundson; 9. Factors of soil formation: parent material M. Jeff Wilson; 10. Factors of soil formation: climate as exemplified by volcanic ash soils Sadao Shoji, Masami Nanzyo and Tadashi Takahashi; 11. Factors of soil formation: topography Robert C. Graham; 12. Factors of soil formation: biota Francoise Courchesne; 13. Factors of soil formation: time Ewart A. FitzPatrick; 14. Soil formation on Earth and beyond: the role of additional soil forming factors Giacomo Certini and Riccardo Scalenghe; 15. Soil functions and land use Johan Bouma; 16. Physical degradation of soils Michael J. Singer; 17. Chemical degradation of soils Peter Blaser; 18. The future of soil research Anthony C. Edwards.