This profusely illustrated book gives an exhaustive account of the principal types of soils of our planet. The "progressive descent of weathering fronts" model, recognized and used by eminent international scientists is the guiding principle of choice to link the observations and to give the reader a synthetic and coherent view of the differentiation of soils. In each case, the introductory reminders summarize the physicochemical and mineralogical principles necessary for understanding the text. The nomenclatures rely systematically and simultaneously on the two most commonly used classifications: Soil Taxonomy and World Reference Base. This reference manual is aimed at students of the undergraduate and graduate courses, but is also intended for workers and scientists in this subject area (geologists, pedologists, agronomists, land-use planners, foresters, etc.) as well as for all those concerned with or interested in protection of the environment.

Developments in soil classification have accompanied parallel progress in our understanding of the soil system. However the theories behind the classifications and the purposes for which they were created have changed over time. The editors hope that this comprehensive synthesis will help to rally soil scientists around the world to develop an acce

Key to the reference soil groups; Diagnostic horizonts, properties and materials; Diagnostic horizons, Albic horizon; Andic horizon; Anthraquic horizon; Anthropedogenic horizons, Argic horizon; Calcic horizon; Cambic horizon; Cryic horizon; Duric horizon; Ferralic horizon; Ferric horizon; Folic horizon; Fragic horizon; Fulvic horizon; Gypsic horizon; Histic horizon; Hydragric horizon; Hortic horizon; Irragric horizon; Melanic horizon; Mollic horizon; Natric horizon; Nitic horizon; Ochric horizon; Petrocalcic horizon;petroduric horizon; Petrogypsic horizon; Petroplinthic horizon; Plaggic horizon; Plinthic horizon; Salic horizon; Spodic horizon; Sulfuric horizon; Takyric horizon; Terric horizon; Umbric horizon; Vertic horizon; Vitric horizon; Yermic horizon; Diagnostic properties; Abrupt textural change; Albeluvic tonguing, Alic properties; Aridic properties; Continuous hard rock; Ferralic properties; Geric properties; Gleyic properties; Permafrost; Secondary carbonates; Stagnic properties; Strongly humic properties; Diagnostic materials; Anthropogeomorphic soil material; Calcaric soil material; Fluvic soil material; Gypsiric soil material; Organic soil material; Sulfidic soil material; Tephric soil material; Classifying subdivisions of the reference soil groups.

This monograph is part of a series of reports that explain how techniques of spatial analysis can be used to investigate poverty and environment links worldwide. It combines rural population distribution data contained in the global rural population database for the year 2000 with methods and results of the "Global agro-ecological assessment for agriculture in the 21st century," in order to estimate the distribution of the world's rural population by agricultural suitability class, land-use category and type of farming system.--Publisher's description.

Written in easy to follow language, the book presents cutting-edge agriculturally relevant plant biotechnologies and applications in a manner that is accessible to all. This book updates and introduces the scope and method of plant biotechnologies and molecular breeding within the context of environmental analysis and assessment, a diminishing supply of productive arable land, scarce water resources and climate change. New plant breeding techniques including CRISPR-cas system are now tools to meet these challenges both in developed countries and in developing countries. Ethical issues, intellectual property rights, regulation policies in various countries related to agricultural biotechnology are examined. The rapid developments in plant biotechnology are explained to a large audience with relevant examples. New varieties of crops can be adapted to new climatic conditions in order to reduce pest-associated losses and the adverse abiotic effects

Agriculture is a crucial component of the economies of many of the countries in transition from a centrally-planned to a market economy and the sector is by no means immune to the environmental and socioeconomic problems confronting the countries as a whole. The concept of sustainable development provides a convenient framework for the formulation of government environmental policy for such countries, especially those of them that aspire to join the EU and would thus be expected to meet EU environmental standards. For agriculture, this inevitably involves appropriate strategies for balancing crop and animal production while protecting the quality of the national soil and water resources. There is thus an urgent need to compile, exchange and evaluate current information on the quality of soils in these countries, and to assess the potential impact of new management practices on the soil and on the wider environment.

A textbook (1st ed., 1978) presenting a wide range of information for students of ecology, geography, and biogeography.

Soil Genesis and Classification, Sixth Edition, builds on the success of the previous editions to present an unparalleled resource on soil formation and classification. Featuring a color plate section containing multiple soil profiles, this text also includes information on new classification systems and emerging technologies and databases with updated references throughout. Covering the diverse needs of both the academic and professional communities, this classic text will be a must have reference for all those in soil science and related fields.

This Encyclopedia of Land Use, Land Cover and Soil Sciences is a component of the global Encyclopedia of Life Support Systems (EOLSS), which is an integrated compendium of twenty one Encyclopedias. Land is one of our most precious assets. It represents space, provides food and shelter, stores and filters water, and it is a base for urban and industrial development, road construction, leisure and many other social activities. Land is, however not unlimited in extent, and even when it is physically available its use is not necessarily free, either because of natural limitations (too cold, too steep, too wet or too dry, etc.) or because of constraints of access or land tenure. This 7-volume set contains several chapters, each of size 5000-30000 words, with perspectives, applications and extensive illustrations. It carries state-of-the-art knowledge in the fields of Land Use, Land Cover and Soil Sciences and is aimed, by virtue of the several applications, at the following five major target audiences: University and College Students, Educators, Professional Practitioners, Research Personnel and Policy Analysts, Managers, and Decision Makers and NGOs.