Traditionally the study of chemical principles as they relate to soil has been limited to the field of agronomics. Soil and Water Chemistry: An Integrative Approach, stands alone because it balances agricultural and environmental perspectives in its analysis of the chemical properties and processes that affect organic and inorganic soil substances.
Written for soil science practitioners, researchers, and students, Soil and Water Chemistry provides a comprehensive treatment of soil composition and reactions. Topics include: clay mineralogy, soil organic matter, mineral weathering and stability, ion speciation, solubility, ion exchange, adsorption, oxidation-reduction, acidity, alkalinity, and salinity. Each chapter concludes with numerous exercises that emphasize concepts and have practical, real-world applications.
THE SOIL CHEMICAL ENVIRONMENT: AN OVERVIEW
Phases and Chemical Processes in Soil
Elements in the Soil Environment: Their Concentrations and Important Species
Units and Conversions
Heterogeneity of Soil Chemical Characteristics
SOIL MINERALS
Chemical Bonds
Pauling’s Rules
Silicate Classes
Clay Mineralogy
Division 1:1 Phyllosilicate Minerals
Division 2:1 Phyllosilicate Minerals
Hydrous Metal Oxides
X-Ray Diffraction Analysis
CHEMICAL WEATHERING
Hydrolysis and Oxidation
Balancing Chemical Reactions
Mineral Stability: Primary Silicates in the Sand- and Silt-Sized Fractions
Mineral Stability: Clay-Size Fraction
Weathering and Formation Characteristics of the Phyllosilicates
General Weathering Scheme for the Phyllosilicates
ORGANIC MATTER IN SOIL
Determination of Soil Organic Carbon Concentrations
Organic Functional Groups: a Review
Nonhumic Substances
Humic Substances
Genesis of Humic Substances
Chemical and Structural Characteristics of Humic Substances
SOIL WATER CHEMISTRY
Nature of Water
Ion Hydration
Electrolyte Solutions
Hydrolysis of Cations
Lowry-Brønsted Acids and Bases
Complex Ions and Ion Pairs
The ion association model
Ion Speciation in Soil Solutions
Qualitative Aspects of Ion Speciation
Soil Solution Sampling Methodologies
Methods of Chemical Analysis: Elemental Analysis
MINERAL SOLUBILITY
Mineral Solubility: Basic Principles
Application of Mineral Solubility Principles: Impediments
The Deviation of Ksp from Kdis
Mineral Solubility and Solution Composition
Stability Diagrams
Predicting Solution Composition
SURFACE CHEMISTRY AND ADSORPTION REACTIONS
Surface Functional Groups and Complexes
The Solid-Solution Interface: a Microscopic View
Quantitative Description of Adsorption
Specific Retention of Metals and Ligands
Ligand Effects on Metal Adsorption
Organic Surface Functional Groups and Organic Molecular Retention Mechanisms
Surface Complexation Models
CATION EXCHANGE
Cation Exchange: a Beginning for Soil Chemistry
Qualitative aspects of Cation Exchange
Cation Exchange Capacity and Exchange Phase Composition
Quantitative Description of Cation Exchange
OXIDATION-REDUCTION REACTIONS IN SOILS
The Electron Activity
Redox Potential Measurements
Redox Status in Soils
pe – pH Predominance Diagrams
ACIDITY IN SOIL MATERIALS
Measurement of Soil Solution pH
Chemical and Biochemical Processes that Influence Soil Solution pH
Acid-Neutralizing Capacity and the Quantification of Soil Acidity
Neutralization of Soil Acidity
Acid Generation and Management in Mine Spoils: the Oxidation of Pyrite
SOIL SALINITY AND SODICITY
Sources of Salts
Diagnostic Characteristics of Saline and Sodic Soils
Irrigation Water Quality Parameters and Relationships
Genesis, Management, and Reclamation of Salt-Affected Soils
"Overall, this book comprehensively presents the chemical and mineralogical characteristics and processes of soils. The breadth and depth of coverage [...] make this book one of the most thorough available. Numerous figures and tables help simplify the complex principles and reactions described. [...] The book will [...] be a comprehensive source of information for researchers and professionals [dealing with] the effect of soil-water chemistry, interactions, and processes that impact the environment. As usual, the publishers have done an excellent job of editing and preparing a high quality product."
– Journal of Environmental Quality, Vol. 33, No. 4, July/Aug. 2004
"I congratulate the author on producing an outstanding up-to-date book that sets a higher standard for future environmental science textbooks. I would highly recommend anyone who is interested in the area of soil and water chemistry to purchase this book."
– Vadose Zone Journal, May 2005
"Dr. Essington's book will be an outstanding choice as a textbook for those of us who teach soil chemistry, and will be an excellent resource for anyone working in the area of environmental soil science. He should be congratulated for producing a thorough, well-written book."
– Dr. George F. Vance, J.E. Warren Distinguished Professor of Energy and the Environment, Department of Renewable Resources, University of Wyoming, Laramie
"I continue to be impressed by the quality of writing in this book. The author has a superb command of the subject matter and presents many difficult concepts in an easily understood manner. Material is covered in as complete a fashion as I have seen in any other soil chemistry textbook."
– Dr. Gary Pierzynski, Kansas State University
"I am so glad to see specific chemical reactions to describe the chemistry behind common methods. This is where I think Essington's textbook is really going to excel. [...] this book should also serve as an excellent 'working reference' for geochemists, environmental scientists, and consultants."
– Dr. April L. Ulery, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces