304 Pages
    by CRC Press

    304 Pages
    by CRC Press

    Soils are one of the world's most important resources, and their protection, maintenance, and improvement is critical to the continuance of life on earth. Soil Fertility, Second Edition, offers thorough coverage of the fertility, composition, properties, and management of soils. This book carries on the tradition of excellence established by authors Henry Foth and Boyd Ellis, leading soil scientists whose previous books in this field have become multi-edition classics.
    The Second Edition of Soil Fertility has been significantly expanded to include more information on mineralogy, while keeping the thorough coverage of essential topics. The book presents soils as dynamic, constantly changing bodies, and relates soil fertility and management to the mineralogy of their origin. Four new chapters offer updated information on soil charge properties, ion adsorption, exchange and fixation, and soil reaction. There is also a far greater emphasis on environmental issues, reflecting the increasing importance of environmental concerns to agronomists and soil scientists today.

    Soil Fertility and Plant Nutrition
    Definition and Nature of Soil Fertility
    Historical Development
    Soil as a Nutrient Reservoir
    Root Interception and Movement of Nutrients to Roots
    Nutrient Uptake From Soils
    Importance of Fertilizers
    Charge Properties
    Constant Charge
    Variable Charge
    Determination of Charge
    The Charge of Soil Organic Matter
    The Mineral Weathering Sequence and Charge Development
    Constant Charge 2:1 Layer Phyllosilicates
    Variable Charge 1:1 Layer Phyllosilicates
    Variable Charge Short-Range Order Aluminosilicates
    Variable Charge Oxide Minerals
    Charge Characteristics of Soils
    Ion Adsorption, Exchange, and Fixation
    Exchangeable Ion Distribution Near Charged Surfaces
    Factors Affecting the Cation Exchange Capacity
    Cation Exchange Capacity of Soils
    The Effective Cation Exchange Capacity
    Characteristics of Cation Exchange Reactions
    The Exchange Cations in Soils
    Exchangeable Cations as a Source of Plant Nutrients
    Specific Cation Adsorption
    Anion Adsorption and Exchange
    Soils with Equal Amounts of Anion and Cation Exchange Capacity
    Soil Reaction
    Determination of Soil pH
    The Soil pH Continuum
    Forms of Soil Acidity
    Reaction of Soil Orders
    Atmospheric Inputs
    Effects of Soil pH on Plant Growth
    Extreme Weathering Effects on pH
    Soil pH Management
    The pH Preferences of Plants
    Neutralization Reactions
    The Lime Requirement
    Liming Practices
    Other Liming Materials
    Selection of a Liming Material
    Culturally Produced Soil Acidity
    Soil Acidification
    Nitrogen
    The Nitrogen Cycle
    Biological Nitrogen Fixation
    Mineralization
    Nitrification
    Immobilization
    Denitrification
    Ammonium Fixation
    Summary Statement for Soil Nitrogen Cycle
    Nitrogen Uptake by Plants
    Nitrogen Distribution and Cycling in Ecosystems
    Basis of Nitrogen Fertilizer Recommendation
    Phosphorus
    Inventory of the Earth's Phosphorus
    Phosphorus Cycling in Soil Development
    Phosphorus in Fertilized Agricultural Soils
    Precipitated Phosphorus
    Biologically Incorporated Phosphorus
    Soil Organic Phosphorus
    Phosphorus Uptake by Plants
    Basis of Phosphorus Fertilizer Recommendations
    Recommendations for Phosphorus Fertilization of Crops
    Environmental Concerns of Soils High in Phosphorus
    Potassium
    The Soil Potassium Cycle
    Mineral Weathering Release of Potassium
    Potassium Fixation
    Leaching Loss
    Plant and Soil Potassium Relationships
    Potassium Buffer Capacity
    Factors Affecting Uptake of Potassium
    Basis of Potassium Fertilizer Recommendations
    Replacement of Potassium by Sodium
    Calcium, Magnesium, Sulfur, and Chlorine
    Calcium
    Magnesium
    Sulfur
    Chlorine
    Micronutrients
    Classification of Micronutrients and Trace Elements
    Copper and Zinc
    Manganese and Iron
    Boron and Molybdenum
    Trace Elements that May Be Toxic
    Methods of Evaluating Soil Fertility for Micronutrients
    Micronutrient Deficiency Symptoms
    Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium Fertilizers
    Nitrogen Fertilizers
    Phosphorus Fertilizers
    Use of Phosphorus Fertilizers
    Fate of Applied Fertilizer Phosphorus
    Potassium Fertilizers
    Mixed Fertilizers
    Major Fertilizer Systems
    Granular Fertilizers
    Bulk Blended Fertilizers
    Fluid Fertilizers
    Addition and Incorporation of Micronutrients
    Salt Index
    Fertilizer and Pesticide Combinations
    Soil Fertility Evaluation
    Plant-Deficiency Symptoms
    Soil Tests
    Plant Analysis
    Application and Use of Fertilizers
    Fertilizer Application Practices
    Fertilizer Recommendation Philosophies
    Fertilizer and Plant-Water Relations
    Economics of Fertilizer Use
    Environmental Concerns
    Site Specific Fertilizer Application
    Chapters contain summary and reference sections.

    Biography

    Ellis, Boyd | Foth, Henry