United States
£ GBP
Comprehensive textbook on all aspects of soils. The book begins with introductory chapters on soil morphology, physics, mineralogy and organisms and then progresses to discuss more advanced topics. An invaluable reference for anyone studying soils, landforms and landscape change at the mid- to upper-level undergraduate and graduate level.
Part I. The Building Blocks of Soil:
1. Introduction
2. Basic concepts: soil morphology
3. Basic concepts: soil horizonation
4. Basic concepts: soil mineralogy
5. Basic concepts: soil physics
6. Basic concepts: soil organisms
7. Soil classification, mapping and maps
Part II. Soil Genesis: From Parent Material to Soil:
8. Soil parent materials
9. Weathering
10. Pedoturbation
11. Models and concepts of soil formation
12. Soil genesis and profile differentiation
Part III. Soil Geomorphology:
13. Soil geomorphology and hydrology
14. Soil development and surface exposure dating
15. Soils, paleosols and paleoenvironmental reconstruction
16. Conclusions and perspectives
Literature cited
Glossary
Index
Randall Schaetzl is a Professor of Geography at Michigan State University, East Lansing. He has trained as a physical geographer at some of the top departments in the USA, and has established himself as a leading figure in soil genesis and geomorphology research. He has published in all the leading soils, geomorphology and geography journals. Schaetzl is an associate editor for the Soil Science Society of America Journal. His expertise on podzolization and pedoturbation has led him to publish papers that have advanced the theory behind both these widespread soil processes.
Sharon Anderson is an Associate Professor and Chair of Earth Systems Science and Policy, California State University, Monterey Bay. Anderson has a broad educational background in geology, chemistry, plant-soil relations, and soil chemistry, and has a publication record in all of these areas. Her research has spanned the areas of soil organic matter composition, soil mineralogy, pesticide fate in the environment, and water quality. As Chair of the Earth Systems Science and Policy Program, her current work focuses on developing rigorous yet applied and interdisciplinary curricula.
"[...] a comprehensive new text that brings the excitement of discovery back into soil science [...] an enthusiastic presentation of the complexity and beauty of soils and the landscapes they occupy. The writing is clear without being simplistic and the numerous figures illustrate the concepts admirably [...] The book will be essential reading for teachers, students, researchers, field soil scientists and all who have an interest in soil geomorphology."
- Dan Muhs, US Geological Survey
"[...] a landmark publication in the study of soils [...] This book should be unusually versatile, suitable at advanced undergraduate and graduate levels for courses in pedology, soil geography, and soil geomorphology. It is a remarkable volume, quite unlike any other soils books out there."
- Vance Holliday, Professor of Anthropology and Geosciences, University of Arizona
"[...] a well written, refreshing, and sorely needed addition to the fields of soils, geomorphology, physical geography, ecology, archaeology, and Quaternary geology. This book has it all [...] I predict wide adoption in courses that treat these subjects. It is not just a text, it is a useful compendium, a comprehensive all-encompassing goldmine [...] It will be a welcome addition to the shelves of all who claim any field of environmental science as part of their research or teaching domain. Kudos to the authors for a job well done."
- Donald Johnson, Emeritus Professor of Geography, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
"[...] provides a critical bridge between historical and contemporary approaches and theories utilized in Pedology. The scope of the book is broad and the presentation is robust, quantitative and highly interdisciplinary and places the science of Pedology more in line with regional and global perspectives of soil."
- E. F. Kelly, Professor of Pedology, Colorado State University
"This fresh treatment of the discipline of Pedology is very welcome. Schaetzl and Anderson have crafted a book that is highly readable, utterly up to date and thorough, with dazzling illustrations."
- Alan Busacca, Professor of Pedology and Geology, Washington State University
"[...] a very readable and well-illustrated text that covers all the bases. Finally, we can offer our students a single text that provides a thorough introduction to soil genesis, classification, and soil geomorphology. I'm sure this will become the standard text in the discipline for many years to come. I'm definitely going to adopt it for my Soil Genesis and Geomorphology class at Iowa."
- Art Bettis, Associate Professor of Soils and Quaternary Geology, University of Iowa
"[...] a remarkably comprehensive and up-to-date review of the scientific investigation of soils [...] will appeal to individuals from a number of disciplines and sub-disciplines [...] including pedology, soil geomorphology, earth system science, environmental science and Quaternary geology. [...] the book is a mine of detailed information. [...] the list of references is truly impressive [...] There is no doubt that it will serve as an invaluable reference text for researchers for some time to come."
- Canadian Geographer
"[...] lavishly illustrated, with an extensive reference list providing the student reader with a ready gateway into the research literature. A large glossary of terms associated with both soils and geomorphology is [...] a welcome addition to the book. [...] there is absolutely no doubt this book is one of great quality and a more than welcome addition to the academic communities of both soil science and geomorphology."
- Environmental Conservation
"This is a rare textbook: well-written, comprehensive, up-to-date, thought-provoking and refreshingly opinionated."
- Annals of the Association of American Geographers
"This is undoubtedly an important addition to the soils textbook literature, and for anyone teaching or researching in the areas of pedology or landscape change it is an extremely useful reference."
- The Holocene
"The book can be used in courses on soil geography, soil genesis, penology and soil geomorphology. It will be important for scholars of soils and geomorphology and also useful for hydrogeologists, environmental geologists and engineers."
- Environmental Geology
