1st Edition

Major Soil Groups of the World Ecology, Genesis, Properties and Classification

By Jean-Paul Legros Copyright 2012
    478 Pages 189 B/W Illustrations
    by CRC Press

    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.

    Introduction
    Definitions, Concepts and Tools
    Basic Concepts
    Methods for Study of Pedogenesis
    Dating and Tracing
    Factors of Pedogenesis
    Climate
    Rocks
    Time and Age of Soils
    Geomorphology and Surface Formations
    Vegetation and Humus
    Soil Fauna and Microorganisms
    Man
    Progressive Descent of Weathering Fronts, other Pedogenetic Mechanisms and Spatial Organization of Soils
    Vertical Differentiation of Soils
    Mechanisms of Evolution of Soils
    Mineralogical Evolution of Clays
    Attempt at Modelling
    Organization of Soils at all Scales
    Classifications: International WRB and U.S. Soil Taxonomy
    Historical Review
    World Reference Base for Soil Resources (WRB)
    The American Classification
    Ferralsols and other Soils of the Hot Regions
    Generalities
    Typical Profile and Differentiation
    Duration of Pedogenesis
    Ecology and Classification
    Evolution of Ferrallitic Environments
    Land Use
    Vertisols
    Typical Profile and Differentiation
    Ecology and Typology
    Functioning
    Genesis
    Classification
    Evolution/Degradation of Vertisols
    Return to the Weathering-front Model
    Utilization of Vertisols
    Calcisols and other Soils on Carbonate-Bearing and Sulphate-Bearing Materials
    Generalities
    Distribution of Calcareous and Ca-saturated Soils
    Decarbonatation Phenomena
    Accumulation Phenomena
    Typology and Classification
    Utilization of Calcareous Soils
    Cambisols, Luvisols and Planosols
    Fundamental Mechanisms of Development
    Development of the Profiles
    Typology and Classification
    Ecology and Duration of Pedogenesis
    Conservation and Utilization
    Red Soils of the Mediterranean and Dry Tropical Zones
    Soil Sequences in the Rhône Valley
    Ecology of the Red Soils
    Classification and Typology
    Utilization of the Soils
    Andosols
    Principal Features and Ecology
    The ‘Amorphous Materials’ in Andosols
    Genesis of Andosols
    Properties of Andosols
    Typology and Classification
    Protection and Utilization
    Podzolic Soils
    Morphology and Properties of Podzolic Soils
    Ecology
    Genesis of Podzols
    Typology and Classification
    Utilization of Podzolic Soils
    Gleysols, Stagnosols and Histosols
    Oxidation-reduction Phenomena
    Dynamics of Iron in Presence of Excess Water
    Evolution of Organic Matter when Excess Water is present
    Gleysols and Stagnosols
    Marshes and Peatlands
    Mangrove Swamps
    Rice Paddies
    Saline Soils: Solonchaks and Solonetz
    Expression of Salinity
    Origin of Soil Salinity
    Properties of Saline Soils
    Dynamics of Salts
    Evolution and Typology of Saline Soils
    Elements of Land Reclamation
    Appendix: Brief Glossary for Saline Soils
    Chernozems; General Conclusions
    The Chernozem
    Index

    Biography

    Jean-Paul Legros

    "Profusely illustrated throughout with photos and diagrams, [the book] is exhaustively comprehensive, informed, informative, superbly organized and a model of seminal scholarship making it ideal as a curriculum textbook and highly recommended for professional academic library Agricultural Science and Environmental Studies reference collections and supplemental reading lists."
    —Midwest Book Review

    "This is the English language edition of the I.e.r Grand.r Solr Du Mrmde (2007), tanslated by V. A. K. Sharma. There are four chapters on general topics, and one each on 10 globally important soil types. This book is useful to Anglophone readers because the strong French emphasis introduces unfamiliar studies and fresh concepts. It is a highly personal, almost valedictory, exposition. It organizes a great deal of material in a logical way and the text is generally succinct and clear. "
    —Journal of Experimental Agriculture, 2013