Book description
Forest soils are the foundation of the entire forest ecosystem and
complex, long-term interactions between trees, soil animals, and the
microbial community shape soils in was that are very distinct from
agricultural soils. The composition, structure, and processes in
forest soils at any given time reflect current conditions, as well as
the legacies of decades (and even millennia) of interactions that
shape each forest soil. Reciprocal interactions are fundamental;
vegetation alters soil physical properties, which influence soil
biology and chemistry, which in turn influence the growth and success
of plants. These dynamic systems may be strongly influenced by
intentional and unintentional management, ranging from fire to
fertilization. Sustaining the long-term fertility of forest soils
depends on insights about a diverse array of soil features and changes
over space and time.
Since the third edition of this successful book many new interests in
forest soils and their management have arisen, including the role of
forest soils in sequestering carbon, and how management influences
rates of carbon accumulation. This edition also expands the
consideration of how soils are sampled and characterized, and how tree
species differ in their influence on soil development.
Clearly structured throughout, the book opens with the origins of
forest soil science and ends with the application of soil science
principles to land management. This new edition provides:
- A completely revised and updated Fourth Edition of this classic
textbook in the field
- A coherent overview of the major issues surrounding the ecology
and management of forest soils
- Global in scope with coverage of soil types ranging from the
tropical rainforest soils of Latin America to the boreal forest
soils of Siberia
- New chapters on Management: Carbon sequestration; Evidence-based
approaches and applications of geostatistics, GIS and taxonomies
- A clear overview of each topic, informative examples/case
studies, and an overall context for helping readers think clearly
about forest soils
- An introduction to the literature of forest soil science and to
the philosophy of forest soil science research
This coherent overview of the major issues surrounding the ecology
and management of forest soils will be particularly useful to students
taking courses in soil science, forestry, agronomy, ecology, natural
resource management, environmental management and conservation, as
well as professionals in forestry dealing with the productivity of
forests and functioning of watersheds.
