Books published in 2001
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Waste Composting for Urban
and Peri-urban Agriculture: Closing the Rural-Urban Nutrient Cycle in
Sub-Saharan
Rapid urbanization has created a
major challenge with regard to waste management and environmental protection.
However, turning organic waste into compost for use as an agricultural
fertilizer in peri-urban areas can ameliorate the problem. This is especially
significant in less developed countries, where food security is also a key
issue. This book is based on papers presented at a workshop held in
After an introductory chapter,
the following themes are addressed: (1) The potential use of waste-stream
products for soil amelioration in peril-urban interface agricultural production
systems (1 paper); (2) Economic, sociocultural and environmental considerations
((3 papers); (3) Turning urban waste into fertilizers: case studies from East
and West Africa (9 papers); (4) Modelling biomass and nutrient flows (5
papers); (5) Urban agriculture: international support and capacity building in
Africa (1 paper). The book closes with a chapter about research and development
priorities.
Price: GBP 45.00; USD 80.00.
Orders
to: see below.
Securing
the Harvest. Biotechnology,
Breeding and Seed Systems for African Crops. J. DeVries and G. Toenniessen.
CABI Publishing,
Softcover.
As the one remaining major world
region where agriculture has yet to be transformed from subsistence, low-yield
systems dependent on shifting cultivation to efficient modern systems capable
of producing regular surpluses, the question of crop improvement is especially
important to
Price: GBP 27.50.
Orders
to: see below.
Nitrate and Man: Toxic,
Harmless or Beneficial? J.
l’Hirondel and J.L. l’Hirondel. CABI Publishing,
Nitrate is ubiquitous. It is
present in Water, soil, plants and food, and it is also a normal human
metabolite. The main external sources of nitrate are vegetables and drinking
water. This book examines the relationship between nitrates and human health.
Nitrate has been feared as the source of some serious diseases. This book sets
out research results to disprove these assumptions, and goes on to explore the
beneficial effects of nitrate in preventing infections, cancer and
cardiovascular diseases.
Price: GBP 35.00; USD 65.00
Orders to: see below.
The
Sustainable Management of Vertisols. IBSRAM
Proceedings No. 20. J.K. Syers, F.W.T.
Penning de Vries and P. Nyamudeza, editors. CABI Publishing,
Black cracking clay soils,
classified as Vertisols, are an important an important resource in the
subtropics and tropics. In
After four keynote and overview
papers, the publication contains eight country papers. In five papers attention
is given to international perspectives on the management of Vertisols.
Price: GBP 55.00; USD 100.00.
Orders
to: see below.
Nitrogen
Fixation in Tropical Cropping Systems. Second
edition. K. Giller. CABI Publishing,
This second edition of the
highly successful book, first published in 1991, contains thoroughly updated
and revised material on the theory and practice of nitrogen fixation in
tropical cropping systems. Nitrogen fixation is especially important when
farmers are trying to minimize fertilizer use for cost or environmental
reasons. The significant research advances in the last decade on both the
fundamental and applied level are covered, including those relating to the
classification and description of N2-fixing bacteria and symbioses and the
processes of N2-fixation.
Price:
GBP 60.00; USD 110.00.
Planning
Agricultural Research: A Sourcebook. G.
Gijsbers, H. Hambly Odame, W. Janssen,
and G.
Meijerink, editors. CABI Publishing,
the use of plans to identify
strategic issues and to help organizations adjust to rapidly changing
conditions in the external environment. These ideas are important for
agricultural research organizations, which must balance the need to adjust to
changing circumstances with the long-term nature of agricultural research. The
book provides a variety of perspectives on agricultural research planning,
grouped into four sections dealing with the context of planning, planning
content, planning processes, and planning tools. A glossary provides an
overview of concepts and definitions.
Price: GBP 29.50; USD 55.00.
Some sections are available free
of charge in html and pdf formats. See at internet:
www.isnar.cgiar.org/publications/planningbook.htm.
Orders to: CABI Publishing, CAB
International,
Note: 10% discount is granted to
IUSS members, when ordering online at orders@cabi.org, mentioning reference code AVT.
This applies to all CABI books mentioned above.
Food
Security in Sub-Saharan
Sub-Saharan
Price: GBP 15.95.
Orders
to: ITDG Publishing, 103-105 Southampton Row,
Organic
Recycling & Biofertilisation in
This book is published in the
FDCO’s series of reference and practical publications on various aspects of
mineral, organic and biofertilisers; nutrition of food grains, other field
crops and plantation crops through major and micronutrients from diverse
sources; analytical methods, non-traditional sectors of fertiliser use and
volumes on individual nutrients. The present volume has been prepared largely
to put in one place some of the current information on biofertilisers and
organic recycling in South Asia, covering
Price: Rs.
Orders
to: FDCO, 204-204A Bhanot Corner, 1-2 Pamposh Enclave,
Land Use and Cover Change. R.B.
Singh, J. Fox and Y. Himiyama, editors. Science Publishers,
Land-use and land-cover change
is a focal theme and emerging issue in the study of global environmental
change. Human modifications and alterations of the environment cause impacts on
the surface of the earth, threaten global sustainability and livelihood
systems, and contribute to changes in the biogeochemical cycles on the earth,
which in turn affect atmospheric levels of greenhouse and other trace gases.
Scientists working in this area of research have recently drawn attention to
the need to integrate research on monitoring land-use and land-cover change
from space with research on the socio-economic causes of these changes. Remote
sensing observations alone cannot explain the socio-economic and institutional
factors that cause land-use and land-cover change, nor can they identify the
factors that influence regional trends or local dynamics. These issues can only
be addresses by using population and other social science data in a comparative
framework. Geographic information systems are used to merge social science
variables spatially and temporally with physical science data. This analysis
must then be supplemented by field research in order to understand the
individual-level decision processes that produce the land-use and land-cover
change. At a meeting held in
Price: USD 88.00; GBP 61.00.
Orders
to: Science Publishers,
Knowing Where You’re Going. Information Systems for
Agricultural Research Management. R.
Vernon. International Service for National Agricultural Research (ISNAR),
Agricultural researchers,
especially in developing countries, are facing serious problems in accessing
information. Scientific journals are becoming less and less affordable to most institutions.
Research is often inefficient: scientists pursue lines of research unaware that
the topic has already been covered in the past, because they have no access to
records of former research, even in their own country. Research managers
supervise programs and make decisions with insufficient information from within
their own research programs, and little or no information on external factors
that should have a crucial bearing on research priorities. But there is also
good news! Never before has there been such rapid development of information
and communication technologies. Capacities and speeds are increasing, while
prices are falling. The Internet has opened a vast range of information to
millions of users. CD-ROMs provide enormous capacity for cheap storage and
distribution of information, even to those without Internet access. Most of the
benefit of the information management revolution, however, accrues to the
developed countries, and the North-South gap in information access is
increasing. It is the target of this book to help reverse that trend. The
objective of this book is to provide agricultural research managers at all
levels, and information specialists within agricultural research organizations,
with a source of ideas, concepts, methodologies, explanations, and guidance in
information management within their respective roles. Part 1, covering about
one-third of the text, is aimed particularly at research managers and part 2 at
information managers. The complete text is also available free of charge from
the internet. See: www.isnar.cgiar.org/publications/mis_book.htm.
Orders
to: ISNAR,
Heavy
Metals Release in Soils. H.M. Selim and D.L. Sparks,
editors. Lewis Publishers, CRC Press LLC,
Characterizing the nature of
heavy metal release reactions, sorption mechanisms, and movement in the soil is
the main topic of this book. Because soils are heterogeneous, heavy metals in
soils can be involved in a series of complex chemical and biological interactions
including oxidation-reduction, precipitation and dissolution, volatilization,
and surface and solution phase complexation. The heterogeneous nature of the
different soil constituents adds to the complexity of interactions of heavy
metal species with the soil environment. In the first four chapters, the
primary focus in on transport processes and parameters which control the
mobility of heavy metals in contaminated and uncontaminated soils, assessment
of their potential for migration, and the impact on the soil environment.
Models that are often used to describe the reactivity and transport of heavy
metals in the soil system are described. The subsequent two chapters are
devoted to the kinetics of sorption-release processes in the soil environment.
Theoretical and experimental analyses of kinetic and reversible processes are
presented. The next two chapters deal with the identification of the major soil
parameters affecting metal lability in soils, a requisite to the prediction of
metal behavior and establishment of appropriate soil screening levels. The next
chapter discusses the sorption and release processes of selenate in various
soils typical of the Mediterranean area. In the last chapters, complexation and
speciation processes and their influence on heavy metal mobility are discussed
in detail.
Price: USD 99.95.
Orders
to: In USA, Canada, Asia, India and Australia: CRC Press LLC, Attn: Order
Entry, 2000 N.W. Corporate Blvd., Boca Raton, FL 33431-9868, USA. Fax:
1-800-374-3401, or +1-561-989-8732. E-mail: orders@crcpress.com.
Elsewhere: CRC Press, ITPS, Cheriton House,
Sustaining
Soil Fertility in
The rapid growth of the
population of
Price: USD 30.00.
Orders
to: see below.
Humic
Substances and Chemical Contaminants. C.E.
Clapp, M.H.B. Hayes, N. Senesi, P.R. Bloom and P.M. Jardine, editors. Soil
Science Society of
There have been numerous
publications that deal with humic-anthropogenic and humic-metal interactions,
but there has not been a single treatise with all aspects of these
interactions. The lack of such a book provided the inspiration for this
publication. It is divided into four sections. The first section covers
composition and structure of humic substances. The theme for the second section
is the interaction with xenobiotics. The chapters take account of
adsorption-desorption phenomena involving organic chemicals and humic
fractions. The focus the third section in on interaction with metals. Emphasis
here is on modeling metal-humic complexation, and due attention is given also
to modern spectroscopic analytical procedures, and to applications of nuclear
magnetic resonance for investigations of the metal/humic binding mechanisms.
The final section examines transport and modeling. This section is of prime
environmental importance, especially with regard to the tracing of a
contaminant to its source. The CD-ROM combines computational chemistry,
scanning probe microscopy and animated virtual reality to allow readers to
visualize the chemical reactivity of humic substances in ways we’ve never been
able to before.
Price: USD 54.00.
Orders
to: see below.
Sustainability
of Agricultural Systems in Transition.
ASA Special Publication Number 64. W.A. Payne, D.R. Keeney and
S.C. Rao, editors. American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of
Agriculture has changes during
the last few decades, and will change even more during the next few. Modern
agriculture faces several daunting challenges, including global food security,
persistent poverty, low commodity prices, dwindling land and water resources,
environmental protection, and meeting the demand of diverse social, commercial
and political movements. Because of the changing demands placed upon
agriculture, and the many technological advances in feed, food and fiber
production, agricultural systems of the world are ever in transition. To become
sustainable, agricultural systems ought to transition towards ones that are
characterized by favorable economics, conservation of resources, preservation
of ecology, and promotion of social justice. These issues, with case studies
from various countries, are addressed in this publication. Added in the
publication are relevant papers presented at a concurrent symposium entitled
Food Security and Sustainable Development for the 21st Century in
Price: USD 48.00.
Orders
to: see below.
Estimating
Uncertainty in Soil Models (Pedometrics ’99) I.O.A.
Odeh and A.B. McBratney, editors. Special Issue of Geoderma,
volume 103, nos. 1-2. September 2001, 229 p. Elsevier,
This issue of Geoderma contains
some of the papers presented at the Third Conference of the Working Group on
Pedometrics (WG-PM) of the IUSS, held on September 27-29, 1999, at the
Orders
to: Customer Support Department at the Regional Sales Office in
Predicting
Land-use Change. A. Veldkamp and E. Lambin,
guest editors. Special Issue of Agriculture Ecosystems & Environment, vol.
85, nos. 1-3, June 2001, 292 p. Elsevier, Amsterdam, London. ISSN 0167-8809.
Land-use change modeling, especially
if done in a spatially-explicit, integrated and multi-scale manner, is an
important technique for the projection of alternative pathways into the future,
for conducting experiments that test our understanding of key processes in land
use changes. Land-use change models should represent part of the complexity of
land-use systems. They offer the possibility to test the sensitivity of
land-use patterns to changes in selected variables. They also allow testing of
the stability of linked social and ecological systems, through scenario
building. To assess current progress in this field, a workshop on spatially
explicit land-use/land-cover models was organized within the scope of the
Land-Use and Land Cover Change project (LUCC). The main developments presented
in this special issue concern progress in: (1) modeling and drivers of land use
change; (2) modeling of scale dependency of drivers of land use change; (3)
modeling progress in predicting location versus quantity of land use change;
and (5) the incorporation of biophysical feedbacks in land-use change models.
Orders
to: Customer Support Department at the Regional Sales Office in
XVth ISTRO Conference on
Tillage at the Threshold of the 21st Century: Looking Ahead. W.B.
Voorhees, guest editor. Special Issue of Soil & Tillage Research, volume
61, issues 1-2, August 2001, 123 p. Elsevier,
This special issue contains the
keynote papers of the 15th ISTRO Conference, which took place in
Forth North, from 2-7 July 2001. It contains an overview paper about ISTRO’s
important history since 1955 and eight keynote addresses, grouped into four
general themes: (1) tillage and soil structure; (2) tillage and erosion; (3)
tillage and biology; and (4) tillage and sustainable systems.
Orders
to: Customer Support Department at the Regional Sales Office in
The
Sustainability of Long-term Growth.
Socioeconomic and Ecological Perspectives. M.
Munasinghe, O. Sunkel and C. de Miguel, editors. Edward Elgar, Cheltenham and
This is a comprehensive review
of the links between sustainable development and long-term growth. This state-of-the-art
book develops our understanding of the complex issues that will shape
sustainable development strategies in the 21st century – economic
growth, poverty eradication, environmental protection, social inclusion and
good governance. Sustainability is analysed in terms of its economic, social
and environmental dimensions. The authors argue that material-intensive
conventional economic growth is unsustainable in the long term, unless
environmental and social elements are given equal priority. Important issues
are critically discussed, including durability versus optimality of development
globalization, dematerialization of production and consumption, alternative
lifestyles, green national income accounting and environmental valuation,
ecodevelopment, the growing North-South development gap, environmental and
trade policy and the equitable distribution of assets and among nations. The
coverage ranges from comprehensive analytical models to practical case studies
applications, ensuring this will be essential reading for policy analysts and
researchers as well as academics involved in economic growth, environmental
economics and sustainable development.
Price: GBP 75.00.
Orders
to: see below.
Biodiversity
in the Balance. Land Use, National
Development and Global Welfare. R. Cervigni. Edward Elgar,
Cheltenham and
Biodiversity has become over the
last couple of decades the subject of world-wide debate, due to mounting
concerns about the negative consequences of its accelerating decline. The
contribution of biological resources both to sustainable national development
and to the well being of the international community has been underestimated in
the past. Ecological and biological research is increasingly pointing to the
possibility that “low” diversity of life forms may threaten the satisfaction of
material needs, imperil the life support functions of natural systems, and in
general deprive present, and more likely future generations of material and
spiritual benefits related to a biologically diverse planet. At the same time,
biodiversity is a concept that encompasses multiple scientific dimensions
(genetic, species and ecosystem levels), multiple scales (local, national and
international), and multiple justifications (materialistic, ethical, religious)
for concern and action. As a result, there seems to be little clarity on what
should constitute the objectives of public policies for biodiversity
conservation and management. One set of issues appears of particular interest,
and is addressed in this book. These revolve around the broad question of
whether there are options to conserve the benefits of biodiversity without
compromising the benefits of development. Specific questions that stem from this
are: how much land may be allocated to productive uses without compromising the
ability of biodiversity to contribute to human welfare? Will the development
process continue to exert pressure on biodiversity, or will it generate
incentives for its sustainable use? Does the international community have a
role in facilitating the transition towards sustainability? This book contains
a collection of writings, drafted between 1993 and 1998. The introductory
chapter summarizes the main terms of the scientific and policy debate. Chapter
2 proposes a framework to analyse the sequence of land use changes typically
observed in a number of tropical countries; and discusses different policy
interventions which could alter the incentives for land conversion. A model that
addresses the allocative and incentive implications of the incremental cost
mechanism is proposed in Chapter 3. The actual process of land use change is
presented in a case study made in the region of Sierra de
Price: GBP 59.95.
Orders
to: Marston Book Services,
Encyclopedia
of Global Change. Environmental
Change and Human Society. A.
Goudie, editor-in-chief. D.J. Cuff, associate editor.
This comprehensive and
interdisciplinary guide to the Earth’s environment includes 320 entries, 300
graphs, photographs and maps. It describes the current knowledge of natural and
anthropogenic changes in the physical, chemical and biological systems and
resources, and explores the effects of those on changes in human society. The
articles cover concepts of global change, earth and earth systems, human
factors, resources, responses to global change, agreements and associations,
institutions, policies, biographies and case studies. Enhanced by 1500 charts,
diagrams, and other illustrations, extensive cross-references, bibliographies
and an index, the encyclopedia links essential knowledge across many fields,
including geography, geology, geophysics, atmospheric science, political
science, economics, technology, and others.
Price: GBP 185.00.
Orders
to: Direct Sales Department, OUP,
Remote
Sensing for Tropical Ecosystem Management. United
Nations.
Monitoring the Earth’s
environment by remote sensing provides an opportunity for greater information
sharing and predicting changes in the Earth’s environment. These conference
proceedings spread an awareness among managers and planners concerned with
natural resources and environmental management about the usefulness of remote
sensing and geographic information system techniques in aping, monitoring and
managing the land and its resources in tropical environments. Recently have
been published: Proceedings of the Sixth Regional Seminar on Earth Observation
for Tropical Ecosystem Management,
Orders
to: see below.
Monitoring Nutrient Flows and
Economic Performance in Tropical Farming Systems (NUTMON). Part 1:
Manual for the NUTMON-toolbox. And
Annex. J. Vlaming, H. Van den Bosch. M.S.
van Wijk, A. De Jager, A. Bannink and H. van Keulen. Alterra,
Wageningen and Agricultural Economics Research Institute,
Soil fertility is a dynamic
entity. While parts of Western Europe and
Price: EUR 250, plus VAT when
applicable. Free for Universities, National Research Institutions and relevant
NGO’s in developing countries. See for details the homepage mentioned above.
Orders
to: Alterra,
Conservation Agriculture, A Worldwide Challenge. Volume I: Keynote
Contributions. Volume II: Offered Contributions. L. García-Torres, J. Benites
and A. Martínez-Vilela, editors. ECAF, Córdoba. Volume I, xii + 391 p. ISBN
84-932237-1-9. Volume II, xxxi + 815 p. ISBN 84-932237-2-7. Set of two volumes:
ISBN 84-932237-0-0. Hardcover.
These volumes contain the
proceedings of the First World Congress on Conservation Agriculture (
Volume I of the Proceedings
contains 40 keynote papers, Volume II the 153 contributions presented at this
well-attended first international congress on Conservation Agriculture.
Price: EUR 60.00 plus postal
charges.
Orders
to: European Conservation Agriculture Federation (ECAF), CIFA
World in Transition:
Conservation and Sustainable Use of the Biosphere. H.-J.
Schellnhuber, J. Kokot, F.O. Beese, at al. German Advisory Council on Global
Change (WBGU). Published by Earthscan,
Biodiversity – the planet’s
natural capital – is undergoing a dramatic collapse: its ‘Sixth Extinction’.
The losses, which are due to human activities and overexploitation of the
biosphere, are irreversible. They are undermining the basis of future
well-being and prosperity - including genetic resources, food production,
climate stability, and coastal and soil protection. This volume presents an
analysis of the state of the biosphere. In it, the scientists of the German
Advisory Council on Global Change show that the time remaining for remedial
action is fast disappearing and they set out a range of initiatives to be
undertaken at different levels. Among their main urgent recommendations are:
(1) protect 10 to 20 per cent of the global land area; (2) establish an
International Panel on Biodiversity to provide scientific advice; (3)
conservation of the diversity of cultivated as well as wild plant species; (4)
extend bioregional management and nature sponsorship; and (5) a greater
multilateral cooperation and implementation of the Convention on Biological
Diversity. It is a thorough, interdisciplinary view of the biosphere, covering
both science aspects as well as policy issues.
Price: GBP 50.00. If ordered online from Earthscan directly:
GBP 40.00.
Orders
to: see below.
World
in Transition 2. New
Structures for Global Environmental Policy. H.-J. Schellnhuber, J. Kokot, F.O. Beese, et al. German
Advisory Council on Global Change (WBGU). Published by Earthscan,
International institutions and
structures are crucial to the management of the global environment. Today, more
than 900 bilateral and multilateral environmental treaties are in force.
Nevertheless, the most pressing problems of global environmental change remain
unresolved – some, indeed, are intensifying – and alternative institutional
responses are urgently needed. In this volume the current problems are analysed
and comprehensive and persuasive policies for a successful future regime are
set out. The authors offer a vision of reforming the United Nations in the
environmental arena that they term the ‘Earth Alliance’, comprising three
interlocking realms: (1) Earth Assessment: the establishment of an independent
body to provide advance warning of the risks of particular environmental
changes. (2) Earth Organization: the radical redesign of the organizational
core of the international policy, centered on the establishment of an
International Environmental Organization, with the existing United Nations
Environment Programme as its initial nucleus. (3) Earth Funding: the
exploration of new avenues for financing global environmental policy.
Price: GBP 50.00. If ordered
online from Earthscan directly: GBP 42.50.
Orders
to: see below.
Farmer
Innovation in
One of
This book is a rich source of
case studies and analyses of how agricultural research and development policy
can and should be changed. It presents evidence of the resilience and
resolution of rural communities in
Price: GBP 18.95. Special Reader
Offer if ordered online from Earthscan directly: 15% discount.
Orders
to: see below.
Handbook
of the Field Assessment of Land Degradation. M.A.
Stocking and N. Murnaghan. Earthscan,
With the increasing concern over
rural livelihoods and the food security of poor communities in developing
countries, it is vital that the land quality is maintained. Yet land
degradation is widespread and is lowering the productive capacity of the land
in these countries. This practical guidebook presents simple, non-technical
indicators for assessing land degradation in the field. Based on the
perspective of the farmer, the methods selected lend meaning to real farming
situations, helping the field professional to understand not only the impact of
degradation but also the benefits to be gained from reversing it.
The handbook shows how to
calculate indicators such as those of soil loss and explains the interpretation
of results and, in particular, how combinations of different indicators can
give conclusive evidence of the severity of land degradation. The focus of the
book in on understanding the farmer’s interaction with the land, and how
environmental protection, food security and the well being of rural land users
may be assured. With many figures, colour photographs, worked examples and
sample forms based on assessment techniques validated by field professionals in
Africa, Asia and Latin America, this will be an essential training manual for
field-workers, researchers in educational institutions and students. An outline
for a two-week training workshop in land degradation field assessment is also
given, as well as an annotated bibliography for further reading, and a listing
of websites.
Price: GBP 25.00. Special Reader
Offer if ordered online from Earthscan directly: 15% discount.
Orders
to: see below.
Dynamics
& Diversity. Soil
Fertility and Farming Livelihoods in
The management of
Price: GBP 16.95, softcover; GBP
45.00, hardcover. Special Reader Offer if ordered online from Earthscan
directly: 15% discount.
Orders
to: Earthscan,
Trace
Elements in Terrestrial Environments.
Biogeochemistry, Bioavailability, and Risks of Metals. Second
edition. D.C. Adriano.
The first edition of this book
appeared in 1986 under the title Trace Elements in the Terrestrial Environment.
The primary objective was to provide students and professionals with a
comprehensive book about many important aspects of trace elements in the
environment. The present edition follows a similar format, but includes new
chapters on biogeochemistry, bioavailability, environmental pollution and
regulation, ecological and human health effects, and risk and risk management
and expanding the coverage to include freshwater systems and groundwater where
appropriate. In addition to plants, which were the main biota of emphasis in
the first edition, fish and wildlife and invertebrates are discussed as
necessary. The ecological and human health effects of major environmental
contaminants, such as As, Cd, Cr, Pb and Hg are also highlighted, along with
relevant information on potential risks to the ecology and human health. The
chapters are organized by element, which are grouped into “the big five”
environmental metals, the essential elements, and other trace elements. For all
elements are given: the general properties; the production and uses; the
element in nature; the element is soils; the element in plants; factors
affecting mobility and bioavailability of the element; the element in animal
and human nutrition; the sources of the element in the environment; and an
extensive listing of references. As with the first edition, the book contains
many tables and figures.
Price: USD 198.00; GBP 161.50;
SFR 403.39.
Orders
to: see below.
Treatment
of Contaminated Soil. Fundamentals,
Analysis, Applications. R.
Stegmann, G. Brunner, W. Calmano and G. Matz, editors.
Anthropogenic activities have
resulted in contaminated soils covering significant areas of land. In the 1980s
people recognized the size and the consequences of this problem. The developed
treatment and remediation processes were
often very pragmatic. There was a lack of a scientific basis and a need for
further development. There are four main alternatives for the treatment of
contaminated soils: (1) leave the contamination as it is, but restrict the
utilization of the land; (2) complete or partial encapsulation of the
contamination; (3) excavation of the contaminated soil and land filling; and
(4) treatment of the contaminated soil in-situ, either at an onsite or central
plan. In the long term, the only alternative that makes sense is the
decontamination of the polluted soil. Only by this means the problem can be
solved without transferring it to the future; the soil needs to be used without
any restrictions. This optimum solution cannot always be achieved, and
compromises have to be made. In the actual remediation, mechanical, thermal and
biological processes are usually practices. The state of the art is
characterized by a multitude of procedures. This situation has been achieved by
intensive worldwide research where processes have been optimized and further
developed. It was essential to adapt and further develop the chemical
analytical methods and the monitoring processes for contaminated soil. In
addition, the treatment goals have been elaborated and defined, as
toxicological and ecotoxicological target values are now available on a
scientific basis. Technical soil protection has been developed into a newly
acknowledged scientific discipline, where an integrated cooperation among scientists
from different disciplines of engineering, chemistry, biology, soils, geology
and environmental planning is essential. The book contains the following main
parts: (1) fundamental aspects (3 papers); (2) chemical analysis of
contaminated soils (6 papers); (3) ecotoxicological assessment of soils (2
papers); (4) bioremediation (14 papers); (5) physical treatment (8 papers); and
(6) natural attenuation (3 papers). The appendix offers a survey of materials,
test methods and apparatus, as well as a description of analytical directions
and processes.
Price: EUR 125.19; GBP 86.50;
USD 129.00.
Orders
to: see below.
Understanding
the Earth System. Compartments,
Processes and Interactions. E.
Ehlers and T. Krafft, editors, in collaboration with C. Moss.
This volume includes revised
versions of most of the presentations made at an international conference under
the same title as this book, which was held in
There is no doubt that “Global
Change” and its scientific analysis and interpretation are on the forefront of
international research efforts. Since the detection of global warming, first
signs of world-wide melting of ice-masses and glaciers, indications of
sea-level rises and/or depletion of the atmospheric ozone-layers, increasing
number of scientists have devoted their research to the solution of these and
related problems. Global change research and its development over the last 20
or 30 years are testimony not only to the almost unbelievable broadening and
deepening of themes, but also to a shift of scientific disciplines. As a matter
of fact: the title of the conference and the publication of its proceedings are
part of this development. The book has four parts: (1) Panorama: the Earth
system: analysis from science and the humanities (5 papers); (2) Focus: Water
in the Earth system: availability, quality and allocation in cross-disciplinary
perspectives (3 papers); (3) Perspective: advancing our understanding:
reductionist and/or integrationist approaches to Earth system analysis (5
papers), and (4) Appendix: Working Group reports (6 papers).
Price: EUR 106.95; GBP 68.50;
USD 99.00.
Orders
to: see below.
Plant
Nutrient Acquisition. New
Perspectives. N. Ae, J. Arihara, K. Okada and A. Srinivasan,
editors. Springer-Verlag,
This book is a compilation of
research papers presented at an international workshop, held in
Price: EUR 164.00.
Orders
to: see below.
Food
Security for
Between 1970 and 1999 nearly 30
conferences devoted to food production or human nutrition in Papua New Guinea
(PNG) were held. An important meeting took place in June 2000, of which the
proceedings are recorded in this publication. Part 1: Food Security and
Nutrition, has six sections: Food Security, Policy Issues (7 papers) Food
Security, General (12 papers), Food Shortages and the 1997 Drought and Frosts
(17 papers), Renewable Resource Management (14 papers), Human Nutrition (7
papers), Information and Extension (9 papers). Part 2: Food Production in PNG,
has five sections: Food Production, General (13 papers), Animal Production (10
papers), Crop Production, Sweet Potato (9 Papers), Crop Production, Other Root
Crops (9 papers), and Crop Production, Non-root Crops (8 papers). The last part
of the book has a conference summary and recommendations for policy and programs.
The book is available online at:
www.aciar.gov.au/publications/proceedings/99/index.html.
Price of hard copy: AUD 52.00.
Orders
to: CSIRO Publications,
Soils
Magic. Geotechnical
Special Publication 114. D.J. Elton. American Society of Civil
Engineers, 2001, 60 p. ISBN 0-7844-0568-9. Softcover. With CD-ROM.
This book consists of a
fascinating collection of simple and inexpensive experiments focusing on the
principles of soil mechanics. The experiments are suitable for students from
elementary school to college, while teaching them about science and the
behavior of soil. From turning soil into fluid to making water flow uphill,
each experiment conveys a principle of science through a mysterious and captivating
“magic trick”. The CD-ROM provides video footage of actual experiments and
their results. Very suitable for science teachers, or anyone who wants to make
science and engineering fun and easily accessible.
Price: GBP 29.00, EUR 50.75.
Orders
to: American Technical Publishers, 27-29 Knowl Piece,
Strunz Mineralogical Tables,
Chemical Structural Mineralogical Classification System, 9th
edition. H. Strunz and E.H. Nickel. E. Schweitzerbart’sche Verlagsbuchhandlung
(Nägele u. Obermiller),
This book was first published in
Price: EUR 148.00, USD 142.00.
Orders
to: E. Schweizerbart’sche Verlagsbuchhandlung, Johannesstrasse 3A, D-70176
Humic Substances: Chemistry
and Function. Special issue of Soil Science, volume 166, number 11,
November 2001, pages 721 to 871.
This special issue of the
journal Soil Science contains 10 papers on several issues related to humic
substances. It is the primary objective of this collection of papers to provide
the readers of Soil Science with a current analysis of the status of the
research and with a foundation for future quests into the nuances of the
structure and function of a keystone in the function of our environment – soil
humic acid. According to the editor-in-chief of Soil Science, Robert L. Tate
III, it is the hope of all involved in the production of this issue that the
data presented, the theories postulated, and the debate revealed herein will
stimulate renewed quests into the complexities of the enigmatic, elusive humic
acid molecule and the importance of this complex organic substance to ecosystem
function, behavior of toxicants, and sustainability and resilience of
land-based systems in general.
Price: USD 30.00.
Orders
to: Customer Service, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins,
Soil Science Simplified. Fourth
edition. M.I. Harpstead, Th.J. Sauer and W.F. Benneth. Illustrated by M.C.
Bratz. Iowa State University Press,
The third edition of this book
appeared in 1997. As with the former editions, this book explains soil science
in an easily understandable manner for persons wishing to have a working
knowledge of the many aspects of soil science and be able to apply the
information to their endeavors. It covers soil formation, soil components,
chemistry, fertility, classification and conservation. At one time, soil
science was largely directed toward agriculture. Farming remains at the
forefront of food production and is, more than ever, concerned with soils; but
the properties of soils affect everyone who works with soils. Horticulturists,
foresters, landscape architects and home gardeners frequently seek an in-depth
understanding of soils, so do persons engaged in waste disposal, and engineers
who need to understand how the physical and chemical properties of soils react
to human installations and manipulations. This fourth edition expands and
updates each topic. New approaches to content have been incorporated to
increase the reader’s ease in understanding explanations. The illustrations
demonstrate the principles described in the text and enhance comprehension. The
book ends with a useful glossary and index.
Price: USD 42.95, GBP 27.50.
Orders
to:
The
Encyclopaedic Dictionary of Environmental Change. J.A. Matthews,
co-ordinating editor, E.M. Bridges, C.J. Caseldine, A.J. Luckman, G. Owen, A.H.
Perry, R.A. Shakesby, R.P.D. Walsh, R.J. Whittaker and K.J. Willis, editors.
Environmental change has become
a subject of major concern and has a wide and rapidly developing terminology.
This comprehensive reference provides definitions and explanations of all the
important environmental terms likely to be encountered in this field of study.
The entries range from concise accounts of basic terms to longer discussions of
the important issues and more complex aspects of environmental change. The
dictionary covers the diverse sources of evidence of environmental change; it’s
local, regional and global effects; and the approaches and techniques used for
reconstructing, dating, monitoring, modeling and predicting change. It
addresses both natural and anthropogenic changes affecting the Earth in the past,
the present and future over geologic, intermediate and short timescales. The
editors have taken an interdisciplinary approach extending from the natural
environmental sciences into relevant areas of the physical, Earth, biological,
archaeological and social sciences. They have striven to provide an up-to-date
synthesis of all aspects of environmental change. This intermediate between
dictionary and encyclopaedia on environmental change contains more than 7000
terms and concepts, defined, exemplified and cross-referenced in over 3450
entries. There are several levels of entries, ranging from a definition alone
(one or two sentences; there are 2200 entries of this type) to short reviews of
about 1000 words (54 entries), and over 1000 entries at intermediate level. The
longest entries cover broad topics or areas of understanding that are
particularly relevant to environmental change. Entries at intermediate level
cover terms that may appear in one or more of the longer entries, but the
importance of which in the context of environmental change is deemed to warrant
separate treatment. Shorter entries include terms likely to be encountered but
not always in an environmental-change context. This excellent book for persons
interested in environmental change in a broad sense is fully illustrated and
referenced to publications in the English language.
Price: GBP 125.00.
Orders
to: Arnold,
Metals
in the Environment. Analysis
by Biodiversity. Books in
Soils, Plants, and the Environment. M.N.V. Prasad, editor. Marcel
This volume spotlights the
potentiality of biodiversity for monitoring and abatement of metal pollution in
the environment, and also explores the emerging issues and initiatives
concerning metals in the environment. Heavy metals are being enriched in all
aspects of the environment, viz., air, water, and soil, by anthropogenic as
well as natural processes. Data on heavy metal accumulation are given, and
contamination, biomonitoring, toxicity and tolerance, and the importance of
biodiversity for environmental monitoring and clean up of metal-contaminated
and polluted ecosystems are discussed in this book. The contributions show the
importance of the use of bacteria, mycorrhizae, freshwater algae, salt marshes,
bryo- and pteridophytes, angiosperms, constructed wetlands, reed beds, and
floating plant systems and tree crops to treat wastewater and industrial effluents
containing heavy metals. The book has also interesting papers on adaptation of
trees to heavy metal stress and the role of trees in remediating heavy metals
in the soil, the impact of heavy metals on microbial and belowground
biodiversity, and gives information on the financial costs of polluted soil
remediation. The volume has more than 1800 references.
Price: USD 185.00.
Orders
to: The
Principles
of Plant Nutrition. 5th edition. K.
Mengel and E.A. Kirkby, with the support of H. Kosegarten and Th. Appel. Kluwer
Academic Publishers,
The fourth edition of this
well-known textbook appeared more than 10 years ago. During this time, the rate
at which relevant literature has appeared has increased exponentially and to
keep pace with this ever-increasing flow has required continuous and tenacious
study. The main objective of this textbook for students and guide for those
interested in plant science and crop production is to explain basic processes
and relationships of relevance to the scientific understanding of Plant
Nutrition. These include diffusion, mass flow and interception of plant
nutrients in soils, nutrient buffer power, cation exchange, anion adsorption in
relation to soil minerals, water potential and redox potentials in soils,
assimilation of nutrients by plants and assimilation and mineralization of
organic matter by soil microorganisms, ion pumps and transporters and related
electrochemical potentials of plant cells, osmosis and plant water potentials.
All are involved in Plant Nutrition and the complex process of growth, and
hence also in crop production and in crop quality. Plant Nutrition is an
essential discipline of Crop Science which is the science of crop production.
In energetic terms crop production is the conversion of solar energy into a
storable energy form of chemical energy. Most living organisms, including
humans, are directly or indirectly dependent on this fundamentally important
process of energy conversion. In the near future the world-wide importance of
crop production will greatly increase bearing in mind too that every year
millions of hectares of fertile land are ruined by desertification,
acidification, erosion and salinization. Energy conversion by cultivation of
efficient crop species and the maintenance of soil fertility are therefore
paramount tasks of agriculture and present a major challenge for agricultural
scientists. To meet his challenge requires the application of relevant
knowledge and its further elaboration. It is the prominent intention of this
book to contribute to this goal. The text refers to about 2000 references. The
well-produced book with many figures also includes a useful list of books and
papers for further general reading.
Price: Hardcover: EUR 350.00;
USD 320.00; GBP 220.00. Softcover: EUR 80.00; USD 75.00; GBP 50.00
Orders
to: North, Central and South America: Kluwer Academic Publishers, P.O. Box 358,
Accord Station,
GeoENV III – Geostatistics
for Environmental Applications. Quantitative Geology and
Geostatistics Volume 11. P.
Monestiez, D. Allard and R. Froidevaux, editors. Kluwer Academic Publishers,
This volume contains the
proceedings of the Third European Conference on Geostatistics for Environmental
Applications, which was held in
Price: Hardcover: EUR 170.00;
USD 156.00; GBP 107.00. Softcover: EUR 70.00; USD 64; GBP 44.00.
Orders
to: North, Central and South America: Kluwer Academic Publishers, P.O. Box 358,
Accord Station,
Soil
Erosion Risk in
This publication has five
chapters. After an introduction and outlining the processes of soil erosion,
mainly by water, the third chapter is the largest. It deals with the assessment
of soil erosion risks, giving information about seven expert-based and
model-based approaches to erosion risk assessment, with their advantages and
limitations. The fourth chapter outlines indicators of soil erosion and
includes some lines about indicators of response. It ends with conclusions and
recommendations, a list of references and a glossary. A useful introduction to
soil erosion risk in
Requests
to: European Soil Bureau, IES, JRC, I-21020 Ispra (VA),
Soil
Analysis. Sampling,
Instrumentation and Quality Control. M. Pansu, J. Gautheyrou and J.-Y. Loyer.
Translated by V.A.K. Sarma. A.A. Balkema, Lisse, Abington, 2001, ix + 489 p.
ISBN 90-5410-716-2. Hardcover.
This is the translation from the
book “l’analyse du sol”, published by Masson, Paris, in 1998, and announced in
the Bulletin. The objective of this book is to provide a better understanding
of soil-analysis tools in order to use them more efficiently. Given the
increasing number of analytical methods and techniques, this book has been
designed as a guide that will enable first the selection of the method
appropriate to the problem and, then, its execution. The first part is
concerned to sampling, which includes selection, taking, drying and
fractionation of samples. Problems related to the actual analysis and to
quality control of the results form the subject of the second part. Principal
physico-chemical methods, especially spectroscopic and chromatographic, are
presented in detail Techniques of laboratory automation and of statistical
quality control of the results are explained at the end of the book. The
appendix contains such items as a bilingual glossary of abbreviations, symbols
and acronyms, the international system of units, statistical tables, and
suppliers of analytical instruments and equipment.
Price: EUR 85.00; USD 85.00; GBP
57.00, plus VAT when applicable.
Orders
to: see below.
Phytoliths: Applications in
Earth Sciences and Human History. J.D. Meunier and F. Colin,
editors. A.A. Balkema, Lisse, Abingdon, 2001, 378 p. ISBN 90-5809-345-X.
Hardcover.
Phytoliths are fossil
micrometric minerals (generally hydrated opal-A) precipitated in plant tissues.
This book presents recent advances in phytolith research and addresses the use
of phytoliths for deciphering fundamental issues in Earth Sciences and Human
History. After a review paper on grass phytolithology, the book contains 29
papers under the following subject areas: (1) phytoliths in paleoclimatology
and paleoecology (3 papers); (2) phytoliths, diet and health (3 papers); (3)
archaeological structures, ancient agricultures and paleoethnobotany (10
papers); (4) methodology, taxonomy and taphonomy (9 papers); and (5) soil-plant
interactions (4 papers). Most of the papers were presented at the Second
International Meeting on Phytolith Research, held in Aix en
Price: EUR 112.50; USD 123.75;
GBP 75.00, plus VAT when applicable.
Orders
to: A.A. Balkema Publishers,
Impact
of Human Activity on Groundwater Dynamics. IAHS
Publication no. 269. H. Gehrels, N.E. Peters, E. Hoehn, K. Jensen, C.
Leibundgut, J. Griffioen, B. Webb and W.J. Zaadnoordijk, editors. International
Association of Hydrological Sciences,
Human activities are intricately
linked to the evolution and dynamics of groundwater quantity and quality. Given
the alarming rate of land use change globally, it is important to understand
the linkages between land use change and groundwater dynamics, as land use
affects the quantity and chemical quality of recharge water. The recharge
directly determines the natural dynamic behaviour of the groundwater system,
and is (hence) often the most important driving force in groundwater systems.
In many areas, groundwater is the major source of surface water, and in others,
surface water infiltration is a major source of recharge. Consequently,
understanding the interaction of groundwater and surface water is important to
the understanding of groundwater dynamics. Geochemical aquifer characteristics
also have to be quantified to enable prediction of both the movement and
contamination of groundwater. In this book with 53 papers presented at the
Sixth IAHS Scientific Assembly, July 2001, the impact of a number of human
activities on groundwater dynamics and resources are presented in five themes:
(1) Quantification of groundwater recharge (13 papers); (2) Urbanization and
land use change (11 papers); (3) Groundwater-surface water interaction (6 papers);
(4) Aquifer characterization and transport modeling (12 papers); and (5)
Groundwater contamination (11 papers).
For details of the papers and
abstracts see the IAHS web page at: www.cig.ensmp.fr/~iahs.
Price: GBP 59.50.
Orders
to: see below.
Soil-Vegetation-Atmosphere
Transfer Schemes and Large-Scale Hydrological Models. IAHS
Publication no
Soil-vegetation-atmosphere
interactions determine, to a large extent, the global climate and the behaviour
of the hydrological cycle. Model predictions thus depend critically on adequate
parameterization of this inter5action. The present volume represents a state of
the art in Soil-Vegetation-Atmosphere Transfer (SVAT) modeling in the
hydrological community. It contains 48 papers presented at the Sixth IAHS
Scientific Assembly,
For details of the papers and
abstracts, see the IAHS web site: www.cig.ensmp.fr/~iahs
Price: GBP 59.50.
Orders
to: Mrs. Jill Gash, IAHS Press, Centre for Ecology and Hydrology,
Role
of Fertilizers in Sustainable Agriculture.
Proceedings 12th International Symposium of the International Scientific Centre
of Fertilizers (CIEC), 21-22 August 2000, Suceava –
The second part of the last
century witnessed countless improvements in crop technology and the yields
increased considerably. By increasing the yield per unit area, nutrient mining
represents an alarming process, particularly when fertilizer consumption is
decreasing. Fertilizers play and will further play a great role in maintaining
and increasing soil fertility, crop productivity and meeting the increasing
demand for food for the growing world population. Fertilizers should be
utilized in accordance with soil fertility status, ecological conditions and
nutrient crop demands. The papers published in these proceedings provide the
latest information and achievements on fertilizer research, development and
application, as tools for sustaining and increasing soil fertility and crop
productivity. The contributions are arranged in the following themes: Session
I, Nutrient management for quantitative and qualitative sustainable crop
production (10 oral presentations and 11 posters); Session II, Fertilizer use
efficiency-methods and techniques of fertilizer application (4 oral
presentations and 8 posters); Session III, Nutrient balance – the future
fertilizers need for ecological sound and economic feasible sustainable crop
production (5 oral presentations and 13 posters); Session IV, Fertilizers
strategies in sustainable agriculture (4 oral presentations and 5 posters).
Price: USD 45.00.
Orders
to: Dr. A. Dorneanu, Bd. Marasti 61, Sector 1,
Conservation
Agriculture. Case studies in Latin
America and
Empirical evidence has been
accumulating that sustainable intensification of crop production is technically
feasible and economically profitable. Added benefits are the improvement of the
quality of the natural resources and the protection of the environment in
currently unimproved or degraded areas, provided farmers participate fully in
all stages of technology development and extension. This has led to what is
called “conservation agriculture”. Three criteria, i.e. no mechanical soil
disturbance, permanent soil cover and crop rotations, distinguish conservation
agriculture from a conventional agriculture system. This publication
demonstrates how conservation agriculture can increase crop production while reducing
erosion and reversing soil fertility decline, thus improving rural livelihoods
and restoring the environment in developing countries. The document is based on
testimonies and experiences of farmers and extensionists in Latin America and
Orders to: National sales agents
of FAO publications. Or: Sales and Marketing Group, Information Division, FAO,
Viale delle
Note: the prices given are without mailing costs.
Prices may vary per country.
Lecture Notes on the Major
Soils of the World. World Soil Resources Reports 94. P. Driessen, J. Deckers, O. Spaargaren and F.
Nachtergaele, editors. FAO,
After adoption of the World
Reference Base for Soil Resources (WRB) as a universal soil correlation tool by
the International Union of Soil Sciences, the Reference Working Group has
endeavoured to promote, test and improve the system further. The publication is
a successor to Lecture Notes on the Major Soils of the World, edited by P.M.
Driessen and R. Dudal and published in 1991. The aim of the publication is to
make the WRB system available to all interested scientists at an affordable
price and the publishers should be congratulated to make this available as a
well-illustrated text with a very useful CD-ROM, containing additional data
about profiles, analytical data and virtual field excursions. After
introductory parts about the World Reference Base for Soil Resources, the 30
Reference Soil Groups, assembled in 10 sets, are treated in detail. Data given
are the major landforms in which the soils occur, their definition, summary
description and characteristics, regional distribution, associated soils, and
some information about their management and use. In the annex are the key to the
Reference Soil Groups; the descriptions of the diagnostic horizons, properties
and material; the formative elements for naming soil units as subdivisions of
the Reference Soil Groups (qualifiers); and how to use them. This publication
is a very useful tool to facilitate the study of soils and the exchange of soil
information, and provides a common language for soil science. The CD-ROM will
become available in the course of this year.
Price: USD 30.00.
Orders to: National sales agents
of FAO publications. Or: Sales and Marketing Group, Information Division, FAO,
Viale delle
Note: the prices given are without mailing costs.
Prices may vary per country.
Land Resources Information
Systems in the
This publication contains the
proceedings of a workshop on Land and Water Resources Information Systems
(LWRIS). The purpose of the meeting was to launch a
Orders to: National sales agents
of FAO publications. Or: Sales and Marketing Group, Information Division, FAO,
Viale delle
Note: the prices given are without mailing costs.
Prices may vary per country.
Global
This assessment (FRA 2000) was
the most comprehensive since FAO first reported on forest resources 50 years
ago. FRA 2000 was based on the bottom-up approach, and supplemented by global
level verification. The backbone of FRA 2000 was the data, information and
knowledge provided by countries. This information was verified and supplemented
with “top-down” studies and remote sensing analysis using the latest
technology. Countries were then invited
to review and comment on the outcome of the combined global analysis. This
publication constitutes the principal report of FRA 2000. Part I presents the
main findings on forest areas and area change, the results of studies on wood
volume and biomass, plantations and other key parameters studied in FRA 2000. Part
II presents findings organized by geographic (sub) region. Part III describes
the methodologies and processes underpinning the assessment and the mapping
processes used to obtain the global maps of forest cover and ecological zones.
Also described is the development of a comprehensive Forestry Information
System (FORIS). Part IV summarizes the conclusions of the assessment, reviews
the process and presents recommendations for future efforts. More detailed data
by country are posted in the country profiles on the FAO Forestry website: www.fao.org/forestry.
Price: USD 40.00.
Orders to: National sales agents
of FAO publications. Or: Sales and Marketing Group, Information Division, FAO,
Viale delle
Note: the prices given are without mailing costs.
Prices may vary per country.
Reiseführer – Zu den Böden Deutschlands.
Böden
sehen – Böden begreifen.
(Guide to Soils in
Umweltbundesamt,
Berlin, Germany, 2001, 164 S., 52 Abb., 72 Fotos. (in German language).
Ziel
der vorliegenden Veröffentlichung ist es, einer breiteren Öffentlichkeit in der
Bundesrepublik Deutschland bodenwissenschaftliches Anschauungsmaterial nahezu
bringen. Es wird versucht, die Böden einzelner Landschaften in ihrer
Entstehung, ihrer Nutzung und ihrer Schutzwürdigkeit auch Nicht-Fachwissenschaftlern
in einer im Freiland anschaubaren und „anfassbaren“ Form nahe zu bringen und
damit zu einer Erweiterung des allgemeinen „Boden-Bewusstseins“ beizutragen.
In übersichtlicher Form, gegliedert nach den
einzelnen Bundesländern, werden insgesamt 49 Standorte geschildert. Bei ihnen
handelt es sich insbesondere um Bodenprofil-Lehrpfade (18 Standorte), um
Bodenprofil-Einzelaufschlüsse (19 Standorte) sowie um Bodenprofil-Sammlungen,
Bodenmuseen, Bodendenkmäler u.a. Neben den notwendigen Hinweisen auf die
topographische Lage der einzelnen Standorte, auf die Anreisemöglichkeit mit
Bus, Bahn oder Auto und auf die Kontaktadressen der jeweiligen Betreuer werden
im Text vor allem die einzelnen Boden-Objekte selbst kurz dargestellt und die
Zusammenhänge zwischen den betreffenden Böden und dem jeweiligen
Landschaftsraum ausführlich behandelt. Bei den gezeigten Objekten handelt es
sich nicht nur um naturnahe, ursprüngliche Bodenbildungen, deren Genese und
Eigenschaften erläutert werden, sondern auch um künstliche Böden (etwa an
Industriestandorten, in Städten, usw.), deren Problematik erörtert und sichtbar
gemacht werden soll, und um Archivböden, die archäologisch interessante
Merkmale aufweisen, sowie um Bodenschäden (etwa durch Erosion). Auf einige grenznahe
Objekte im benachbarten Staaten wird gesondert verwiesen (Niederlande,
Schweiz), ferner auf Wanderausstellungen, die teilweise auch ausgeliehen werden
können. Ein ausführliches Glossar sowie ein (gewiss noch erweiterungsfähiges)
Literaturverzeichnis runden die Publikation ab. In zukünftigen Auflagen wären
eine Liste mit einschlägigen Internet-Adressen wie auch Hinweise auf Film- und
Video-Material sicher sehr nützlich. Der Text soll dazu dienen, geplante
Besuche dieser Standorte durch Einzelpersonen oder durch Gruppen (etwa
Schulklassen) vorzubereiten und nicht zuletzt auch Lehrpersonen ein geeignetes
Informationsmaterial an die Hand zu geben. Es ist bekannt, wie rasch
bodenkundliche Aufschlüsse (ebenso wie viele geologische Aufschlüsse) dem
Verfall, dem Zuwachsen durch Pflanzen und der mutwilligen Zerstörung anheim
fallen. Den Betreuern der Lehrpfade ist deshalb insbesondere zu wünschen, dass
ihre Bemühungen um Offenhaltung und ständige, fachkundige Pflege der Anlagen
und der Erläuterungs-Einrichtungen im Gelände von Erfolg gekrönt bleiben. Dies
erfordert neben persönlichem Engagement auch finanzielle Mittel, die oft nur
durch mühsame Aufklärungsarbeit bei politischen Entscheidungsträgern
bereitgestellt werden können. Dieser zukunftsweisenden Publikation ist nicht
nur ein nachhaltiger Erfolg zu wünschen, sondern auch eine nützliche
Vorreiter-Rolle, die zu ähnlichen Versuchen in anderen Staaten führen kann.
___________________________________________
This publication aims at spreading knowledge of soils
on a visual basis to a broader public in the Federal Republic of Germany. Soils
of particular regions in Germany are presented – most of them accessible in the
field – with emphasis on their genesis, utilization and need of protection. It
is hoped that even non-scientists might become aware of soils as an important
natural body. A detailed glossary and a list of literature on soils are
included. Altogether 49 sites in various federal states of Germany are listed,
covering teaching paths (soil pit sequences in the field) (18 sites), single
soil pits (19 sites) and profile collections, soil museums and other items.
Besides information on the topographic situation, the itinerary by road or rail
and contact addresses of supervisors, the soil objects are briefly characterized,
and their context with landscape and environment is dealt with in more detail.
The soil objects do not cover only natural soils and their genesis, but also
man-made soils such as influenced by industrial and urban activities. Also
sites of archaeological interest and soil erosion phenomena are dealt
with. The publication is meant to assist
in planning visits by single visitors as well as by groups (e.g. school
classes). Teaching staff might find useful information. It is well known that
open soil pits (as well as geological exposures) tend to become destroyed by
nature as well as by vandalism rather rapidly. Hence it is hoped that the
caretakers of the sites remain successful in their continuous attempt to keep
the pits and the accompanying information not only open and accessible, but in
a good condition. Besides personal commitment, financial support will be
required, and this of course needs laborious educational work among political
decision makers. It is hoped that this publication not only helps to increase
general knowledge of soils in Germany but might serve as a stimulus towards
similar endeavours in other countries.
Preis / Price: kostenfrei /
free of charge.
Bezug/Requests to: Umweltbundesamt,
Abt. II 5 Boden, Postfach 330022, D-14191 Berlin, Germany. Fax: +49-30-89032912.
Bodenschutz in der Bauleitplanung - Vorsorgeorientierte Bewertung
herausgegeben
vom Bundesverband Boden e. V. (BVB), vom Fachausschuss 3.1 "Bewertung von
Böden in der Bauleitplanung" – Reihe BVB-Materialien, Band 6, 102 S,
kartoniert, ISBN 3 503 09995 4, 2001.
Bautätigkeit
ist eine der größten Einschränkungen natürlicher Bodenfunktionen und unterliegt
daher, dem Geltungsbereich des Deutschen Bodenschutzgesetzes. Für einen
nachhaltigen Bodenschutz ist daher eine umfassende Bodenbewertung im Rahmen
einer qualifizierten Abwägung im Planungsverfahren notwendig. Die hierbei
entwickelten Leitlinien sind Empfehlungen und Vorschläge auf der Grundlage des
vorsorgenden Bodenschutzes. Auf ihrer Basis können verantwortliche Fachleute
aus Ingenieurbüros, Verbänden und staatlichen Institutionen die Bauleitplanung
unter Berücksichtigung von Bodenschutzaspekten gestalten.
Zu beziehen bei: Erich Schmidt Verlag, Berlin,
Bielefeld, München
Preis: 20,35 Euro
Verwertung von Abfällen in und auf Böden III - Konkretisierung von
Regelwerken im Bodenschutz- und Abfallrecht
von
Dr Claus G. Bannick, Dr. Heinz-Ulrich Bertram, Dr. Peter Dreher und Dr. Wilhelm
König. Reihe BVB-Materialien, Band 7, 212 S., kartoniert, ISBN 3 505 06003 0,
2001.
Auf-
und Einbringen von Materialien auf und in den Boden werden im Bodenschutzrecht,
im Abfallrecht, im Düngemittel- und im Bergrecht sowie in weiteren Vorgaben
behandelt. In den vergangenen Jahren wurden von verschiedenen Arbeitsgruppen
Regelungen entwickelt, die die entsprechenden Rechtsvorschriften erläutern und
die ihrerseits wieder Bundesgesetzregelungen beeinflusst haben. Dieser Band
versucht den durch die neuen gesetzlichen Regelungen ausgelösten Informationsbedarf
zu decken und stellt eine wertvolle Ergänzung im Sinne einer praktikablen
Umsetzung bestehender Regelwerke dar.
Zu
beziehen bei: Erich Schmidt Verlag, Berlin, Bielefeld, München.
Preis: 36,80 Euro
Praxiserfahrungen zur Anwendung des Bodenschutzrechts - Abgrenzungsfragen,
ergänzende Regelungen, Fallbeispiele
Herausgegeben
von Dr. Wilhelm König, Redaktion: Jörg Leisner-Saaber in der Reihe
BVB-Materialien, Band 8, 220 S., kartoniert, 2001, ISBN 3 503 06047 2
Diese
Veröffentlichung enthält Vorträge einer Veranstaltung im September 2000 über
"Altlasten – Bodenschutz" und umfasst das gesamte Spannungsfeld vom
vorsorgenden Bodenschutz bis hin zu technischen Fragen der Altlastensanierung.
Hierbei wurden durch namhafte Referenten ergänzende Regelungen zum
Bodenschutzrecht, Bodenschutz und Altlasten im Bauplanungs- und
Bauordnungsrecht, Umgang mit schädlichen Bodenveränderungen sowie Sanierung von
Altlasten ausführlich behandelt. Die Publikation ist daher ein wesentlicher
Beitrag zur Abklärung von rechtlichen und fachlichen Fragen in den oben
genannten Anwendungsbereichen.
Zu
beziehen bei: Erich Schmidt Verlag, Berlin, Bielefeld, München
Preis: Euro 36,80
Nachweis von Umweltchemikalien - Auswerte- und Interpretationsmethoden für
Toxizitätsdaten aus einer ökotoxikologischen Testkombination
von Helga Neumann-Hensel, Dr. Fintelmann, Dr.
Meyer, Wolfgang Ahlf und Volker Wachendörfer. Reihe: Initiativen zum
Umweltschutz, Band 29, 111 S., kartoniert, 2001, ISBN 3 503 06019 7
Umweltchemikalien
gelangen durch menschliche Aktivitäten in die Umwelt, wobei sie in
Konzentrationen auftreten können, die umwelt- sowie humantoxikologisch
bedenklich sind. - Vorliegendes Buch befasst sich vor allem mit biologischen
Nachweismethoden zum Nachweis toxischer Wirkungen von Bodenverunreinigungen.
Ökotoxikologische Verfahren können jedoch komplexe Bodenbelastungen nur
vollständig diagnostizieren, wenn sie zu einem Testset kombiniert werden. Die
Ergebnisse müssen in ihren Wechselbeziehungen interpretiert werden und bilden
somit die Bewertungsgrundlage für ökotoxikologische Risiken. Vorliegende
Veröffentlichung stellt erstmalig Auswerte- und Interpretationsmethoden der so
gewonnenen komplexen Daten vor und ist daher ein wesentlicher Schritt vorwärts
im Nachweis von bodenbelastenden Umweltchemikalien.
Zu
beziehen bei: Erich Schmidt Verlag, Berlin, Bielefeld, München.
Preis: 24,00 Euro
Verwertung von Abfällen in und auf Böden II. Anforderungen aus rechtlicher
und technischer Sicht.
Bearbeitet von Dr. Claus Gerhard Bannick, Dr. Heinz-Ulrich Bertram, Dr. Peter
Dreher und Dr. Wilhelm König. Reihe: BVB-Materialien, Band 5,
2000,
233 Seiten, 14,4x21 cm, kartoniert.
Im
vorliegenden Werk wird die Verwertung von Abfällen in und auf Böden in der
Bundesrepublik Deutschland behandelt, wobei § 6 des Bundesbodenschutzgesetzes
sowie § 12 der Bundesbodenschutzverordnung die materiellen Anforderungen beim
Auf- und Einbringen von Materialien in und auf Böden regeln. Dies gilt
insbesondere für die Anwendung im Garten- und Landschaftsbau, sowie bei der
Rekultivierung. Für andere Bereiche, wie z.B. Landwirtschaft sieht § 3 des
Bundesbodenschutzgesetzes vor, dass Spezialregelungen konkurrierender
Vorschriften Vorrang gegenüber den Regelungen des Bodenschutzrechtes haben. Die
Bundesbodenschutzverordnung wird bereits in vielen Bereichen erfolgreich
angewandt, wie ein Beispiel in den Regelwerken der Länderarbeitsgemeinschaften
Bodenschutz (LABO) und Abfall (LAGA) sowie des Länderausschusses Bergbau (LAB)
bei der Festlegung von Obergrenzen für Schadstoffgehalte bei dem Auf und
Einbringen von Materialien gemäß den Vorsorgewerten zeigt. Die Veröffentlichung
wurde von Fachleuten aus Verwaltung, Arbeitsgemeinschaften und
Forschungseinrichtungen zusammengestellt und enthält relevante Konzepte sowie
aktuelle Forschungsergebnisse.
Preis:
DM 78 / _ 39,88 / ATS 569 / SFr 70,50
zu beziehen von: Erich Schmidt Verlag GmbH & Co,
Viktoriastr.
Fundamentals
of Environmental Chemistry, Second edition. S.E.
Manahan. Lewis Publishers, Boca Raton, London, 2001, xvi + 1006 p. ISBN
1-56670-491-X. Hardcover.
This book is written with two major objectives in
mind. The first is to provide a reader having little or no background in
chemistry with the fundamentals of chemistry needed for a trade, profession, or
curriculum of study that requires a basic knowledge of these topics. The second
objective is to provide a basic coverage of modern environmental chemistry.
This is done within a framework of industrial ecology and an emerging approach
to chemistry that has come to be known as ”green chemistry” - the practice of
chemistry that minimizes the use of raw materials and producing little or no
waste. This book gives the reader a basic coverage in the following subjects:
matter and the basis of its physical nature and behavior; organic and
biological chemistry; chemistry of water, air and soil; industrial chemistry;
toxicological chemistry as it pertains to occupational health and human
exposure to pollutants and toxicants; energy, nuclear energy, and nuclear
waste; environmental and xenobiotics analysis for monitoring pollutants and
toxic substances in the environment and living organisms.
Price: GBP 30.00.
Orders to: see below.
Environmental
Restoration of Metals-Contaminated Soils. I.K.
Iskander, editor. Lewis Publishers, Boca Raton, London, 2001, vii + 304 p. ISBN
0-56670-457-X. Hardcover.
During the last decades, phenomenal progress has been
made in several areas of biology, ecology, health, and environmental
geochemistry of heavy metals in soils. Prior to the 1960s, research was focused
on enhancing the plant uptake or availability of selected heavy metals or minor
elements from the soil. More recently, concerns regarding heavy metals
contamination in their environment affecting all ecosystem components,
including aquatic and terrestrial systems, have been identified with increasing
efforts on limiting their bioavailability in the vadose zone. Many sites have
been identified as hazardous waste sites because of the presence of elevated
concentrations of heavy metals. Unlike organic contaminants that can be
destroyed through treatment technologies, metal contaminants cannot. They will
remain a threat to the environment until they are removed or immobilized.
Because of the concerns regarding the role of heavy metals in the environment,
a series of conferences was held to explore the emerging issues of the
biogeochemistry of trace elements in the environment. In June 1997, the Fourth International
Conference on the Biogeochemistry of Trace Elements was held in Berkeley. The
contributions in this book were presented at this conference. The book has 14
chapters, the first eight deal with the physical and chemical methods and
processes for soil remediation, the other six focus on selected biological
methods and processes for remediation.
Price: GBP 47.00.
Orders to: In Americas, Asia, India, Australasia: CRC
Press LLC, 2000 N.W. Corporate Blvd, Boca Raton, FL 33431-9867, USA. Fax:
+1-561-989-8732. E-mail: orders@crcpress.com. Homepage: www.crcpress.com. In
Europe, Africa, Middle East: CRC Press, Turpin Distribution Services,
Blackhorse Road, Letchworth, Herts. SG6 1HN, UK. Fax: +44-1462-483011. E-mail: custservturpin@rsc.org
A
Course in Mathematical and Statistical Ecology. Theory
and Decisions Library, series B, Mathematical and Statistical Methods, volume
42. A. Gore and S. Paranjpe. Kluwer
Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, Boston, 2001, xi + 286 p. ISBN 0-7923-6715-4.
Hardcover.
As the world enters the new millennium, mankind faces
a series of new problems, many of them created by man himself. These include
overpopulation, air and water pollution, global warming, accumulation of
greenhouse gases, damage to the ozone layer and loss of biodiversity. One of
the consequences is an enhanced interest in sciences connected with these
problems. Ecology is a field that is useful in understanding many of these
problems. The primary audience of this book is graduate or senior undergraduate
students in mathematics and statistics. They will be able to see how basic
tools in their disciplines can be employed to elucidate seemingly intricate
issues in ecology. Ecological aspects are discussed just enough to motivate the
particular quantitative technique. The book touches upon all major areas in the
field of ecology. Beginning with classical mathematical models for population
dynamics and their use in population management and harvesting, it covers the
traditional as well as the most recent nonstandard methods of abundance
estimation. The study of biodiversity is discussed at length. The last chapter
is on models for animal and plant behaviour.
Price: EUR 127.00, USD 138.00, GBP 87.00.
Orders to: see below.
Geostatistics
for Environmental Scientists. R. Webster and M.A. Oliver. John Wiley & Sons,
Chichester, New York, 2001, xi + 271 p. ISBN 0-471-96553-7. Hardcover.
This book is published in the series Statistics in
Practice, edited by V. Barnett. It is a series of texts, which provide detailed
coverage of statistical concepts, methods and worked case studies in specific
fields of investigation and study. The present book is a completely rewritten
successor to the book Statistical Methods in Soil and Land Resource Surveys,
written by the same authors and published in 1990. Most of the material that
has been included in this new book is straightforward linear geostatistics
using least-squares estimation. The theory and techniques have been around in
mineral exploration and petroleum engineering for some three decades. For most
of that time environmental scientists could not see the merits of the subject
or appreciate how to apply it to their own problems, because of the context,
the jargon and the mathematical presentation of the subject by many authors.
This has changed in the last few years as soil scientists, hydrologists,
ecologists, geographers and environmental engineers see that the technology is
for them, if only they knew how to apply it. The authors have tried to satisfy
that need. The book starts with sampling, followed by data screening, summary
and display. It considers some of the empirical methods that have been used for
mapping, and then it introduces the theory of random processes, spatial
covariances, and the variogram, which is central to practical geostatistics.
Practicioners will learn how to estimate the variogram, what models they may
use legitimately to describe it mathematically, and how to fit them. There is a
brief excursion into the frequency domain to show the equivalence of covariance
and spectral analysis. The book then returns to the principal reason for
geostatistics, local estimation by kriging. Coregionalization is introduced as
a means of improving estimates of a primary variable when data on one or more
other variables are to hand or can be readily obtained, and the final chapter
introduces disjunctive kriging, a non-linear method of prediction for
decision-making.
Price: USD 95.00.
Orders to: John Wiley & Sons, 1 Oldlands Way,
Bognor Regis, West Sussex PO22 9SA, England. Fax: +44-1243-820250. E-mail:
cs-books@wiley.co.uk. Homepage: www.wiley.co.uk. Or: John Wiley & Sons, 605
Third Avenue, New York, NY 10158-0012, USA. Homepage: www.wiley.com.
Sustainable
Management of Soil Organic Matter.
R.M. Rees, B.C. Ball, C.D. Campbell and C.A. Watson, editors. CABI Publishing,
Wallingford, 2001, xx + 440 p. ISBN 0-85199-465-2. Hardcover.
The functioning of soils and their ability to supply
nutrients, store water, release greenhouse gases, modify pollutants, resist
physical degradation and produce crops within a sustainable management system
is profoundly influenced by their organic matter content. This volume has been
developed from papers presented at an international conference, held by the
British Society of Soil Science in Edinburgh in September 1999. Around 200
delegates from over 20 countries attended this successful meeting. It contains
papers in the following sections: (1) Organic matter and sustainability (2
papers); (2) modelling soil organic matter dynamics – global challenges (6
papers); (3) Soil organic matter management (15 papers); (4) The role of soil
organic matter and manures in sustainable nutrient cycling (15 papers); (5)
Implications of soil biodiversity for sustainable organic matter management (5
papers); and (6) Soil teeming with life: New frontiers for soil science (1
paper). All sections have an introduction to the issue.
Price: GBP 65.00, USD 120.00.
Orders to: CABI Publishing, Wallingford Oxon OX10 8DE,
UK. Fax: +44-1491-829292. E-mail: orders@cabi.org. Or: CABI Publishing, 10 East
40 Street, Suite 3203, New York, NY 10016, USA. Fax:
+1-212-686-7993. E-mail: cabi-nao@cabi-org. Homepage: www.cabi.org.
The
Rhizosphere. Biochemistry
and Organic Substances at the Soil-Plant Interface. Books in Soils, Plants, and the Environment. R.
Pinton, Z. Varanini and P. Nannopieri, editors. Marcel Dekker, New York and
Basel, 2001, viii + 424 p. ISBN 0- 8247-0427-4. Hardcover.
The research on plant-soil interaction is focused on
the processes that take place in the rhizosphere. Many of these processes can
control plant growth, microbial infections, and nutrient uptake. Organic
compounds released by plant roots and microorganisms dominate the rhizosphere.
Furthermore, stable components or soil organic matter, namely, humic and fulvic
substances, can influence both plant and microorganism metabolism. A variety of
compounds are present in the rhizosphere, and they range from
low-molecular-weight root exudates to high-molecular-weight humic substances.
The biochemistry and biochemistry of these substances are becoming more and
more clear, and their study promises to shed light on the complex interaction
between plant and soil microflora. The aim of this book is to provide a
comprehensive overview of recent advances in this field and suggest further
lines of investigation. As an interdisciplinary approach is necessary to study
such a complex matter, the book presents a good opportunity to summarize
information concerning agronomy, soil science, plant nutrition, plant physiology,
microbiology, and biochemistry. The book is therefore intended for advanced
students, and researchers in agricultural, biological and environmental
sciences interested in deepening their knowledge of the subject and/or
developing new experimental approaches in their specific field of interest.
Price: USD 175.00.
Orders to: see below.
Soil
and Environmental Analysis.
Physical Methods. Second edition, Revised and Expanded. Books in Soils,
Plants, and the Environment. K.A. Smith and Chr. Mullins, editors. Marcel
Dekker, New York and Basel, 2001, viii + 637 p. ISBN 0-8247-0414-2. Hardcover.
This is the second edition of Soil Analysis: Physical
Methods, published in 1991. It retains all of the topics covered in the first
edition. Each chapter has been totally revised, to take into account new
developments, and new material has been added, e.g. on the measurement of
infiltration, the measurement of soil strength and friability, and field
methods of assessment of soil physical conditions. While some topics have
undergone relatively little change in terms of the available methods or
instrumentation, some have changed considerably. The measurement of soil water,
which has such an important role in soil physics and which underwent such a
change when the neutron probe was developed, can now be undertaken with other
sophisticated instruments. For example, time domain reflectometry (TDR) and
frequency domain systems, which share with the neutron method the desirable
feature of allowing nondestructive measurements at the same site to study
temporal variations, now provide a reliable alternative to the neutron probe,
while avoiding the problems of radiation protection. The widespread
availability and use of data loggers has also transformed the approach to many
measurements, particularly water content, matric potential, penetrometry, and
soil thermal properties, and placed a greater emphasis on the instruments which
can be logged. The book is aimed at the researcher or adviser working in
environmental science, soil science, or a related field. It is well illustrated
with figures.
Price: USD 195.00.
Orders to: North, South and Central America: Marcel
Dekker, P.O. Box 5005, Monticillo, NY 12701-5185, USA. Fax: +1-845-796-1772.
E-mail: bookorders@dekker.com. Elsewhere: Marcel Dekker AG, Postfach 812,
CH-4001 Basel, Switzerland. Fax: +41-61-261-8896. E-mail: intlorders@dekker.com. Homepage: www.dekker.com.
Scaling
the Land Use System. A modelling approach with
case studies for Central America. K. Kok. PhD thesis, Wageningen University, 2001, vii
+ 155 p. ISBN 90-5808-355-1. Softcover.
This thesis describes and discusses the application of
a land use change model that quantitatively accounts for various aspects of
‘scale’. The unique aspect of the model is its aim to apply a multi-scale
methodology as opposed to a theoretical elaboration on the existence of the
‘scale-effect’. The overall objective of this project is to analyse the scale
sensitivity of land use modelling. It is also shown how different parts of the
model function, how model results can be interpreted and validation results be
discussed. The thesis applies the land use change model to Central America, in
which main land use change processes are in many ways complementary to
particularly the study areas of Verburg (China and Java), which are presented
in his thesis. (P.H. Verburg. Exploring the spatial and temporal dynamics of
land use, Wageningen University, 2000). The main reaction of land use in
Central America to the fast growing demand for agricultural products is an area
expansion, which results in a continuing deforestation. Past, present and
future developments of land use and its drivers are discussed. The thesis is
intended to add to the general understanding of modelling the land use system,
and will keep alive the discussion about how to model land use best.
Another related thesis is G.H.J. de Koning. Spatially
explicit analysis of land use change: a case study for Ecuador. Wageningen
University, 1999.
Requests to: Dr. K. Kok, International Centre for Integrative
Studies (ICIS), P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands. E-mail: k.kok@icis.unimaas.nl.
GIS
and Remote Sensing Techniques in Land- and Water-management. A. van
Dijk and M.G. Bos, editors. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, Boston, 2001,
ix + 92 p. ISBN 0-7923-6788-X. Hardcover.
Managing land and water is a complex affair and man
has constantly to make decisions to allocate and use these natural resources.
Decision and action in any use of resources often have strong interactions and
side effects on others, and it is therefore important to forecast and monitor
the impacts of the decisions. Compulsory for forecasting and monitoring are
reliable information and clear data manipulation procedures. Remote sending has
considerable potential to provide reliable information, while GIS is an easy
tool to manipulate and analyse the data. This book describes in seven practical
examples how GIS and remote sensing techniques are applied in land- and
water-management successfully.
Price: USD 44.00, GBP 30.00, EUR 50.00.
Orders to: North, Central and South America: Kluwer
Academic Publishers, P.O. Box 358, Accord Station, Hingham, MA 02018-0358, USA.
Fax: +1-781-681-9045. E-mail: kluwer@wkap.com.
Elsewhere: Kluwer Academic Publishers, P.O. Box 322, 3300 AH Dordrecht, The
Netherlands. Fax: +31-78-6546474. E-mail: services@wkap.nl.
Homepage: www.wkap.nl.
Physical and Chemical
Processes of Water and Solute Transport/Retention in Soils. SSSA Special Publication number 56. H.M. Selim and
D.L. Sparks, editors. Soil Science Society of America, Madison, 2001, 280 p.
ISBN 0-89118-835-5. Softcover.
The subject of water and solute transport in porous
media is one of the most fascinating areas of science. Tremendous advances have
been recently made in understanding the soil physical/chemical processes of
water and solute transport/retention in soils. The transport and retention of
water, nutrients, and inorganic and organic contaminants in the environment is
greatly affected by physical and chemical processes and reactions in porous
media such as soils. To understand and model these processes/reactions, it is
important that multiple scales – ranging from the landscape to the molecular –
be investigated. Over the past decade numerous developments at multiple scales,
have occurred in the soil, physical, and environmental sciences. These
developments, which are discussed in this book, include: employment of fractal
and spatial heterogeneity analyses in describing transport phenomena; development
of sophisticated molecular models; use of in situ spectroscopic and microscopic
techniques to elucidate reaction mechanisms and models in soils; and, inclusion
of time-dependent phenomena in predicting solute transport/retention is soils.
This publication presents the state-of-the-art on physicochemical processes of
water/solute transport/retention.
Price: USD 60.00. Advance payment and 10% per book for
postage is required on all orders outside the USA.
Orders to: see below.
Soil
Carbon Sequestration and the Greenhouse Effect. SSSA
Special Publication number 57. R. Lal, editor. Soil Science Society of America,
Madison, 2001, xvii + 236 p. ISBN 0-89118-836-3. Softcover.
There is concern worldwide about increases in
greenhouse gases and their potential effects on global climatic change. Carbon
dioxide is increasing in the atmosphere due to fossil fuel combustion, cement
manufacture, deforestation, land use change, and agricultural activities.
Several attempts at balancing the global C budget have pointed out the
so-called ”missing C”. Some have attributed this ”missing C” to absorption by
the terrestrial ecosystems, primarily in North America. It is apparent,
therefore, that terrestrial ecosystems in general, but world soils in
particular, play an important role in the global C cycle. Depending upon land
use, farming or cropping systems, tillage method, or other soil management
practices, soil can be a major source or sink for the atmospheric CO2. There
are several land uses, farming systems, and management practices that render
soil as a net sink for the atmospheric CO2. Such land uses and management
practices are specific to soils and ecoregions, and need to be validated and
adapted for site-specific situations. Further, the rates of soil C sequestration
with recommended management practices also differ among soil types and
conditions, and need to be determined. The importance of the strategy of soil C
sequestration cannot be overemphasized. At present, it is the most
cost-effective short-term option of reducing the emission of CO2 into the
atmosphere. Further, enhancement of soil organic C has numerous ancillary
benefits, including improvement in soil structure, increase in soil buffering
and water and nutrient retention capabilities, decrease in risks of soil
erosion, and increase in agronomic productivity. Soil C sequestration is a
byproduct of recommended agricultural practices for achieving food security.
This publication delivers research information on soil C sequestration from
croplands, rangelands, and set-aside lands in North America.
Price: USD 60.00. Advance payment and 10% per book for
postage required on all orders outside the USA.
Orders to: see below.
Impacts
of El Niño and Climate Variability on Agriculture. ASA
Special Publication number
This publication is the proceedings of a symposium
held in Beltsville, October 1998. It is evident that seasonal weather at any
specific location is strongly influenced by major climate variability systems
such as the El Niño-Southern Oscillation and the North Atlantic Oscillation.
Predictive models using knowledge of these phenomena have been developed that
permit seasonal weather forecasts for regions of the earth. Can these seasonal
forecasts be used for decision-making by crop producers? Reasonable accurate
climate predictions would allow producers and others to mitigate the negative
impacts of El Niño events while attempting to maximize the crop production
potential of seasons having favorable rainfall and temperature regimes. This
publication contains papers that evaluate the impacts of climate variability on
crop production and the potential of using climate forecasts for enhancing
agricultural production.
Price: USD 36.00. Advance payment and 10% per book for
postage is required on all orders outside the USA.
Orders to: ASA, CSSA, SSSA Headquarters Office, Attn.
Book Order Department, 677 South Segoe Road, Madison, Wisconsin 53711-1086,
USA. Fax: +1-608-273-2021. E-mail: books@agronomy.org.
Homepage: www.agronomy.org.
Shifting
Ground. The changing agricultural
soils of China and Indonesia. P.H. Lindert. The MIT Press, Cambridge and
London, 2001, xii + 351 p. ISBN 0-262-12227-8. Hardcover.
In this book the environmental concerns are evaluated
about soil degradation in two very large countries, where anecdotal evidence
has suggested serious problems. Using new archival data sets, changes in soil
productivity are shown in China and Indonesia over long enough periods to
reveal the influence of human activity. These countries are good test case
because of their geography and history. China has been at the centre of global
concerns about desertification and water erosion, which it may have accelerated
through intenseve agriculture. Most of Indonesia’s lands were created by
volcanoes and erosion, and its rapid deforestation and shifting slash-and-burn
agriculture have been singled out for international censure. The author’s
investigation suggests that human mismanagement is not on average worsening the
soil quality in these countries. Human cultivation lowers soil nitrogen and
organic matter, but has offsetting positive effects. Beyond the importance of
the immediate findings contained in this book, it opens a new area of study –
quantitative soil history – and raises the standard for debating soil trends.
Price: GBP 30.95.
Orders to: The MIT Press, Fitzroy House, 11 Chenies
Street, London WC1E 7EY, England, or: The MIT Press, Five Cambridge Center,
Cambridge, MA 02142-1493, USA. Fax: +1-617-625-6660. E-mail: mitpress-order-inq@mit.edu. Homepage: mitpress.mit.edu.
Cover
Crops in Smallholder Agriculture.
Lessons from
In the last chapter of this publication, the authors
arrive at the following purpose-oriented definition of cover crops: ”A cover
crop is the live soil-surface cover used as a temporal or spatial component in
annual or perennial cropping and agroforestry systems for fulfilling one, or
several, purposes including weed management, soil productivity restoration and
maintenance, the provision of livestock feed and/or human food, and
diversification of income options.”
Cover crops have the potential to be an important
component in complex, diverse, risk-prone and resource-poor farming situations
Lessons learned in Latin America about the use and dissemination of these crops
in different agroecosystems deserve to be made widely available to those
involved in rural development projects and applied research in English-speaking
as well as Spanish-speaking regions. This publication features case studies
from four countries in Latin America, which address key issues regarding cover
crop integration in smallholder agricultural systems. A wide range of
agroecosystems is covered, enabling the information to be adapted for use in
other regions. Each chapter addresses a different theme, including: the value
of cover crops as food, feed and forage; land husbandry with cover crops;
farmer experimentation and diffusion of cover crop innovations; and research
strategies for cover crop innovations. The different facets of cover crops
cannot be treated separately from each other. The book discusses the
crosscutting nature of the various aspects of cover crops and concludes with a
discussion of future strategies regarding cover crop integration into
smallholder agricultural systems.
Price: GBP 12.95, USD 22.50.
Orders to: ITDG Publishing, 103-105 Southampton Row,
London WC1B 4HL, UK. Fax: +44-20-7436-2013.
E-mail: orders@itpubs.org.uk. Homepage: www.developmentbookshop.com.
Wageningen University began interdisciplinary research
in the Sahel in 1975 following alarming signs of drought and the subsequent
famine. Results of a biotic study on Primary Production in the Sahel (PPS)
carried out in Mali showed that rainfed production of silvo-pastoral areas with
more than
Price: DEM 198.00, USD 141.
Orders to: see below.
Subsoil Compaction. Distribution, Processes and Consequences. Advances in Geoecology 32. R. Horn, J.H. van den
Akker and J. Arvidsson, editors. Catena Verlag, Reiskirchen, 2001, vii + 462 p.
ISBN 3-923381-44-1. Hardcover.
Subsoil compaction induced by compression and shearing
is characterized as one of the most harmful and persisting degradation
phenomena. During the last 3 tot 4 decades not only the mass of the
agricultural and forestry machinery has been enlarged 3-4 fold, but also the
frequency of wheeling has increased by the same proportion. It is often reported
that more than 30 Mha of farmland in Europe are irreversibly degraded by
subsoil compaction, while worldwide more than 80 Mha are deformed as a result
of such non site and time adjusted agricultural and/or perhaps also forest
management strategies. Although many of
the effects, which cause e.g. a reduced pentration of roots, infiltration of
water, aeration and delayed nutrient adsorption and desorption phenomena, are
already well known, often described and partly explained monocausaly, there is
still an urgent need to get a more complete insight in the processes and the
restrictions to the applied prediction models. Processes inside unsaturated
aggregated soils and their pore systems during soil compaction and shearing
have to be more completely understood, defined and also related as coupled
processes to the changes in physical, chemical and biological properties in the
three phase soil systems in order to get more complete process-oriented
knowledge and information for defining prevention strategies and recommendation
for a site-adjusted and sustainable land use. Especially the discussions about
vulnerability, economics, and even climatic (global) change aspects require not
only more specific research under defined laboratory and field conditions, but
also the intense discussion amongst scientists from various disciplines. These
issues were discussed during three workshops in March 1999, and the present
book contains a section of the papers and posters presented. These cover the
topics: Theory (10 papers); Modeling (11 papers); Properties (17 papers);
Distribution (7 papers); and Methods (6 papers). All chapters have a preface.
Price: DEM 198.00, USD 141.00.
Orders to: Catena Verlag, Ärmelgasse 11, D-35447
Reiskirchen, Germany. Fax: +49-6408-64978. E-mail: catenaverl@aol.com.
Homepage: members.aol.com/catenaverl. In the USA: Catena Verlag, HSU Bookstore,
Humboldt State University, Arcata, CA 95521, USA. Fax: +1-707-826-5835.
Homepage: www.humboldt.org/bookstore.
Biological Soil Crusts:
Structure, Function, and Management. Ecological Studies 150. J.
Belnap and O.L. Lange, editors. Springer-Verlag, Berlin, Heidelberg, 2001,
xviii + 503 p., with 141 figures,
In arid and semiarid lands throughout
the world, where the cover of vegetation is sparse or absent, the open spaces
between the higher plants are generally not bare of anthropic life, but covered
by a community of highly specialized organisms. This soil-surface community
consists of cyan bacteria, algae, lichens, mosses, micro fungi, and other
bacteria in differing proportions. Cyanobacterial and micro fungal filaments,
rhizome and rhizomorphs of lichens, and the rhizinae and protonemata of
bryophytes weave throughout the top few millimeters of soil, gluing loose soil
particles together. This forms a crust to a few centimeters thick that
stabilizes and protects soil surface from erosive forces. These crusts occur in
all hot, cool, and cold-arid and semiarid regions of the world, and may
constitute up to more than 70 percent of the living cover. Biological soil
crusts have only recently been recognized as having a major influence on
terrestrial ecosystems. This well-illustrated book has the following parts: (I)
Taxonomic composition, Ecology and biogeography of soil-crust communities (12
papers); (!!) Heterotrophic components of soil crusts (2 papers); (III)
Structure of biological soil crusts: microscale to landscape (3 papers); (IV)
Biological soil crusts as an ecosystem component: carbon and nitrogen
acquisition and interaction with vascular plants (4 papers); (V) Soil stability
and hydrology as influence by soil crusts (5 papers); (VI) Disturbance to
biological soil crusts: resistance, resilience and restoration (2 papers);
(VII) Monitoring and management of biological soil crusts (4 papers); and
(VIII) Conclusions.
The book contains a subject
index and a taxonomic index.
Price: EUR 129.00, plus VAT.
Orders
to: see below.
The
Next Green Revolution. Essential
Steps to a Healthy, Sustainable Agriculture. J.E.
Horne and M. McDermott. Food Products Press, Binghamton, 2001, xix + 312 p.
ISBN 1-56022-886-5. Softcover.
This is a practical introduction
to sustainable agriculture from an American perspective. What does it mean and
why is it needed? It synthesizes the goals of sustainable agriculture into
eight steps – soil health and erosion; water quality and use; organic waste
management; crop and livestock adaptation; biodiversity; pest management;
energy use; farm diversification; and profitability. It presents a convincing
critique or the current agricultural system and an introduction to an
alternative system, which gives more consideration to future generations.
Interwoven are the authors’ reflections on social justice, quality of life, and
how farmers and rural communities are inextricably linked.
For a complete list of contents,
see the homepage www.haworthpress.com.
Price: USD 34.95; GBP 24.11.
Orders
to: see below.
Allelopathy
in Agroecosystems. R.K. Kohli, H.P. Singh and D.R.
Batish, editors. Food Products Press, Binghamton, 2001, xvii + 447 p. ISBN
1-56022-091-0, softcover; 1-56022-090-2, hardcover.
Biochemical interactions between
plants (allelopathy) and from plants to other organisms influence growth and
development in communities. Scientists worldwide have recognized these
biochemical activities because they offer alternative uses in agriculture,
including decreased reliance on synthetic herbicides, insecticides, and
nematocides. More than thirty different classes of secondary and natural
products have been identified as allopathic compounds. These compounds either
individually or combined in an array of compounds such as are founds in natural
circumstances mediate these growth effects.
Allelopathy is a component of
most natural communities and agroecosystems, but frequently it is unrecognized.
The adverse effects may reduce production in agricultural fields and managed
forest systems. There is a need for evaluating these allelochemical effects of
prior plants, residues, associated plants, and autotoxicity that may occur in
cropping systems. Allelopathic interactions in agricultural fields also
influence soil microbial ecology, nutrient dynamics and various biotic and
abiotic factors. Although several papers, reviews, compendia and books on the
theme of allelopathy have already been written, its comprehensive status
especially in relation to agroecosystems, has remained neglected. Further, the
progress in this field has been so much that it requires regular update
inviting thoughts on current issues of improving cropping pattern, tillage,
crop protection and preservation of genetic diversity. The present book, also
published as a special issue of the Journal of Crop Production, includes 20 chapters
presenting a comprehensive treatise on the topic.
Price: softcover USD 54.95;
hardcover USD 74.95.
Orders
to: Food Products Press, 10 Alice Street, Binghamton, NY 13904-1580, USA. Fax:
+1-607-771-0012. E-mail: getinfo@haworthpressinc.com.
Homepage: www.haworthpress.com.
Managing
Organic Matter in Tropical Soils: Scope and Limitations.
Developments in Plant and Soil Sciences, volume 93. Proceedings of a Workshop
organized by the Center for Development Research at the University of Bonn (ZEF
Bonn) – Germany, 7-10 June,
Soil Organic matter is a
reservoir for plant nutrients, provides water-holding capacity, stabilizes soil
structure against compaction and erosion, and thus determines soil productivity.
All agriculture to some degree depends on soil organic matter. It has long been
known that soil organic matter declines when land is taken into cultivation,
and that the productivity of new agricultural land is governed by fertility
contributions from decomposing natural organic matter. The expansion of
agriculture to ever new and more fragile lands, particularly in the tropical
regions, causes environmental degradation with local effects on soil quality,
regional effects on landscape integrity and water quality, and global effects
on carbon cycles and the atmosphere. This book summarizes current knowledge of
the properties and dynamics of soil organic matter in the tropics, its role in
determining soil quality, its stability and turnover, and the options for
management in the context of tropical landuse systems. Maintenance of organic
matter is critical for preventing land degradation. Case studies and practical
applications are therefore an important part of the book, as are the
exploration of future directions in research and management.
Price: EUR 125; USD 116.00; GBP
78.00.
Orders
to: The Americas: Kluwer Academic Publishers, P.O.Box 358, Hingham, Accord
Station, MA 02018-0358, USA. Fax: +1-781-681-9045. Elsewhere: Kluwer Academic
Publishers, P.O. Box 322, 3300 AH Dordrecht, The Netherlands. Fax:
+31-78-6576474. Homepage: www.wkap.nl.
Landscape Ecology Applied in
Land Evaluation, Development and Conservation. Some worldwide
selected examples. Papers for the IALE: invited,
selected and edited by D. van der Zee and I.S. Zonneveld. ITC Publication no.
81, IALE publication MM-1. ITC, Enschede, 2001, x + 412 p. ISBN 90-6164-197-7. Softcover.
The idea for this book was born
at the third world congress in 1993 of the International Association of
Landscape Ecology (IALE), where it was proposed to compose a book with papers
about applied landscape ecology from countries other than that from North
America and Europe, from where so far most of these studies had come. The
papers should deal with land(scape) as a four-dimensional entity (not a study
of soil or water or vegetation alone). Practical problems of use of the land(scape) should be dealt with, be it for production,
conservation or habitation, linked to how the ecological (systems-) approach is
appropriate to solve such problems. Common to all chapters in this book is the
description of environmental problems related to change, degradation and the
development of certain types of land(scape) use. In all
papers the land is approached as a system, a complex of factors that cannot be
studied in isolation. They differ, however, in the weight the authors have
given to one or more special land attributes in which they are particularly
interested, be it climate, water, soil or human action, etc. The first group of
ten papers is a kaleidoscope of various land uses, their four-dimensional
aspects and their influence on the landscape. In the second group, seven papers
are gathered together that deal with landscape ecological study, especially in
relation to a general policy such as development or conservation. In the third
group one finds five writings that focus specifically on modeling methodology,
in both the narrow as well as the wider applications in inventory, evaluation,
management and policy.
Price: EUR 36.50, plus mailing
costs.
Orders
to: Mrs. J. Bunk, ITC. P.O. Box 6, 7500 AA Enschede, The Netherlands. Fax:
+31-53-4874400. E-mail: bunk@itc.nl. Homepage:
www.itc.nl.
People,
Plants and Protected Areas.
A guide to in-situ management. J.
Tuxill and G.P. Nabhan. Earthscan Publications, London and Sterling, 2001, xiv
+ 248 p. ISBN 1-85383-782-2. Softcover.
Conservation of plant resources
is often focused solely on seed banks and botanical gardens. This book presents
a comprehensive conservation strategy that complements this ex situ approach
with practical guidance on in situ management and conservation of plant
resources. Drawing on concepts from forestry, agricultural sciences,
anthropology, ecology and ethnobiology, this practical and multidisciplinary
book facilitates better management of protected areas and illustrates new
approaches to conservation of plants within their natural habitats. It
highlights the collaboration necessary between the conservation professionals
and local communities involved, and focuses on how to set priorities and plan
for monitoring and evaluation of plant resource management.
Price: GBP 24.95.
Orders
to: Earthscan Publications, 120 Pentonville Road, London N1 9JN, UK. Fax:
+44-20-7278-1142. E-mail: earthinfo@earthscan.co.uk.
Homepage: www.earthscan.co.uk.
Global
Agro-ecological Assessment for Agriculture in the 21st Century. G. Fischer, M. Shah, H.van Velthuizen and F.O.
Nachtergaele. IIASA, Laxenburg, 2001, 39 p. Softcover.
This report presents a summary
of the methodology and results of a comprehensive global assessment of the
world’s agricultural ecology. The national-level information with global
coverage enables knowledge-based decisions for sustainable agricultural
development. The Agro-Ecological Zones (AEZ) approach is a GIS-based modeling
framework that combines land evaluation methods with socioeconomic and
multi-criteria analysis to evaluate spatial and dynamic aspects of agriculture.
The results of the global AEZ assessment are estimated by grid cell and
aggregated to national, regional and global levels. They include identification
of areas with specific climate, soil and terrain constraints to crop
production; estimates of the extent and productivity of rain fed and irrigated
cultivable land and potential for expansion; quantification of cultivation
potential of land currently in forest ecosystems; and impacts of climatic
change on food production, geographical shifts of cultivable land, and
implications for food security.
A complete description of the
methodology can be found in the next publication, as well as at the FAO/IIASA CD-ROM,
also announced below.
Orders to:
IIASA, Schlossplatz 1, A-2361
Laxenburg, Austria. Fax: +43-2236-71313. Homepage: www.iiasa.ac.at.
Proceedings
of the Third International Conference on Land Degradation and Meeting of the
IUSS Subcommission C – Soil and Water Conservation (ICLD3) – Rio de Janeiro, 17-21
September,
Land degradation is an important issue to all countries
owing to its adverse impacts on land productivity, food security, climate
change, environmental sustainability, and eventually the quality of life. The
ICLD3 Conference provided a forum for discussions on factors and causes of land
degradation and its impacts and consequences on land use and society. Exchange
of ideas on new solutions using currently available knowledge and technology,
and possibilities of national and international legal systems also took place
during the meetings. The discussions were organized into eight symposia, which
structure was adopted on the CD-ROM as well: Conceptual Framework, The Land
Resource Base, Land Degradation Assessment, Case Studies of Land Degradation:
Lessons Learned, Monitoring Land Quality and Global Climate Change, Conserving
the Land, Rehabilitating Degraded Land, Regulating Sustainable Land Use.
Price:
R$15.00 (Brazilian Reais)/USD$8.00 + postage, free to ICLD3 participants.
Limited number of copies are available.
Orders to: Embrapa Solos, Rua Jardim Botânico 1024,
222460-000 Rio de Janeiro – RJ, Brazil. Fax:
+55 21 2274-5291. E-mail: sac@cnps.embrapa.br or the Brazilian Soil Science Society (SBCS),
Caixa Postal 231, 36571-000 Viçosa – MG,
Rio de Janeiro, 10-4-2002
Dr.Antonio Ramalho-Filho, Embrapa Solos; Chairman of
ICLD3
Dr.Beáta Madari, Embrapa Solos, Scientific Secretary
of ICLD3
Soil
Liquid Phase Composition. V.V. Snakin, A.A. Prisyazhnaya
and E. Kovácz-Láng. Elsevier, Amsterdam, London, 2001, 316 p. ISBN 0-444-50675-6.
Hardcover.
The liquid phase of soil (soil
solution) is a very thin, penetrating and all-embracing water layer. It has the
most extensive surface among the biosphere components and interacts with all
these components. Investigation of the soil liquid phase can be of great
significance in environmental research. According to the authors, the soil
liquid phase investigations have not become an efficient instrument in ecology
or applied soil science, despite extensive soil solution data. This is due to
the difficulties in studying soil solutions in unchanged state, spatial
heterogeneity of soil properties and dynamic composition of soil solutions
responding to environmental changes. The present study is devoted to search and
back-up of new approaches to soil liquid phase analysis and aims to find out
the role of soil liquid phase in the functioning of natural and agricultural
ecosystems in recent soil formation, formation of primary biological
production, and in bio-geochemical turnover of elements. Direct investigation
of soil liquid phase is the determination of the concentration (activity) of
ions and redox potential in situ, while the analysis of soil solution implies
that the solution is extracted from the soil. The authors have limited
themselves mainly to the development of ideas and theories as well as certain
results of Russian schools of soil science and ecology on problems of studying
the soil liquid phase. The references contain mainly articles in Russian.
Price: EUR 125.00; USD 125.00.
Orders to: Elsevier Science,
P.O. Box 211, 1000 AE Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Fax: +31-20-4853432. E-mail: nlinfo@elsevier.nl. Homepage: www.elsevier.nl. Or: Elsevier Science, P.O.
Box 945, New York, NY 10159-0945, USA. Fax: +1-212-633-3680. E-mail: usinfo@elsevier.com. Homepage: www.elsevier.com.
Plant
Nutrition. Food
Security and Sustainability of agro-ecosystems through basic and applied Research.
Developments in Plant and Soil Sciences volume 92. Proceedings XIV
International Plant Nutrition Colloquium, Hannover, 2001. W.J. Horst, M.K.
Schenk, A. Bürkert, et.al, editors. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht,
Boston, 2002, xxxviii + 1043 p. ISBN 0-7923-7105-4. Hardcover.
The International Plant
Nutrition Colloquium in Hannover was the 14th in a series that
started in 1954. This volume is a compilation of extended abstracts of all
papers presented. These include two plenary lectures which address the role of
plant nutrition in the sustainability of agro-ecosystems and production of
enough high quality food to feed the growing world population. Papers are given
in the following symposia: Genetics and molecular biology and plant nutrition
(44 papers); Nutrient functions (40 papers); Nutrient uptake and translocation
(28 papers); The role of apoplast in plant mineral nutrition (21 papers);
Mineral nutrition: plant quality and plant health (42 papers); salinity and
plant-soil-water relations (35 papers); mineral element toxicity and resistance
(42 papers); Nutrient acquisition: mechanisms and modeling (43 papers); soil
organisms/plant interactions (37 papers); Fertilizer use with regard to optimum
yield and environment (99 papers); Nutrient dynamics in natural and
agricultural ecosystems – processes and modeling (36 papers); and: Plant
nutrition and sustainable development (32 papers). The more than 500
contributions in these proceedings provide an excellent current
state-of-the-art in plant nutrition research and its contribution to food
security and agro-ecosystem sustainability while maintaining and enhancing
environmental quality.
Price: EUR 370.00; USD 320.00; GBP 225.00.
Orders to: North, Central and South
America: Kluwer Academic Publishers, Order Department, P.O. Box 358, Accord
Station, Hingham, MA 02013-0358, USA. Fax: +1-781-681-9045. E-mail:
kluwer@wkap.com. Elsewhere: Kluwer Academic Publishers, P.O. Box 322, 3300 AH
Dordrecht, The Netherlands. Fax: +31-78-6576474. E-mail: orderdept@wkap.nl. Homepage: www.wkap.nl.
Potassium and Chloride in
Crops and Soils: The Role of Potassium Chloride Fertilizer in Crop Production. IPI
Research Topics No. 22. U. Kafkafi, G. Xu, P. Imas, H. Magen and J. Tarchitzky.
A.E. Johnston, editor. International Potash Institute, Basel, 2001, 220 p.
Softcover.
This Bulletin is a
comprehensive compilation of information covering the scientific and applied
aspects of the use of potassium chloride (muriate of potash, MOP) in
agriculture. The bulletin is primarily concerned with potassium chloride,
because it accounts for some 92% of world potassium consumption in agriculture.
The vast majority of crops are fertilized with potassium chloride, including
field, horticultural and plantation crops. Nevertheless, there are combinations
of soil and climate where the use of the chloride salt can exacerbate the
damaging effects of salinity. There are crops, like tobacco, where chloride is
known to impair quality. There is an increasing amount of evidence that the use
of potassium sulphate improves the quality of some crops. On the other hand,
there are crops like coconut and oil palm, where chloride additions are an
important part of nutrient management, as also for a wide range of crops in
areas where atmospheric deposition does not supply sufficient chloride.
This bulletin discusses the
considerations in deciding which potassium fertilizer to use.
Orders to: International Potash Institute,
P.O. Box 1609, CH-4001 Basel, Switzerland. Fax: +41-61-261-29-25. E-mail: ipi@iprolink.ch Homepage: www.ipipotash.org
75 Jahre Deutsche Bodenkundliche Gesellschaft, 1926 – 2001. DBG Mitteilungen, Band 97, 2001. H.-P. Blume. Schriftleitung
P. Hugenroth. Deutsche Bodenkundliche Gesellschaft, Oldenburg, 2001, 382 S.
ISSN 0343-1071.
This is an excellent
publication, in German, on the history of the German Soil Science Society
(DBG), written by Prof. Hans-Peter Blume, who also played an important role in
the IUSS. The DBG was established in Berlin in 1926, when 41 soil scientists
became member. It was two years after the founding of the International Society
of Soil Science, where it was decided that national societies could only be
established in countries where more than 15 soil scientists were active. As was
customary in other European countries, these persons were regarded as members
of the national section of the ISSS. In
the early years of the DBG only professors, directors of institutes and top
scientists were participating in the meetings, many of whom were with the
participation of well-known soil scientists from other countries. The ISSS
apparently played a large role, also because of its journal Mitteilungen der
Internationalen Bodenkundlichen Gesellschaft/ Proceedings of the International
Society of Soil Science, and its supplement Bodenkundliche Forschungen/Soil
Research, both edited and published in Berlin until 1944.
The publication gives
comprehensive information about the development of soil science and its
applications in Germany before WW II, in West and East Germany until 1989, and
Germany until 2001. It illustrates the great influence of German soil
scientists on global activities and developments in our science. Much attention
is given to the activities of the Commissions and Working groups of the DBG. An
interesting chapter presents bibliographies of important, mostly German soil
scientists, including honorary members of the IUSS, corresponding members of
the DBG and persons who have received the Fritz-Scheffer-Preis. The book is
well-illustrated with many photographs, and forms a welcome contribution to the
history of our science.
Price: EUR 10.00, including mailing charges. (only few copies
are left!)
Orders to: Prof. Dr. H.-P. Blume,
Schlieffenstrasse 28, D-24105 Kiel, Germany. E-mail: hblume@soils.uni-kiel.de.
Identifying and Classifying
Local Indicators of Soil Quality. E. Barrios, M. Bekunda, R.
Delve, A. Esilaba and J. Mowo. Centro Internacional de Agricultura (CIAT),
2001. ISBN 958-694-013-6.
The increasing interest in local soil knowledge is
largely due to the realization that farmer communities that have been
interacting with their soils for a long time can provide many insights into the
sustainable management of tropical soils. A participatory approach, in the form
of a methodological guide, has been developed and used in Latin America and
Africa to identify and classify local indicators of soil quality related to
permanent and modifiable soil properties. This methodological tool aims to
empower local communities to better manage their soil resources through
improved decision making and monitoring of their environment. It is also
designed to steer soil management towards developing practical solutions to
identified soil constraints and monitoring the impact of the management
strategies implemented to address such constraints. The methodological approach
presented here constitutes one tool to capture local demands and perceptions of
soil constraints as an essential guide to relevant research and development
activities. A significant component of this approach is the collaboration
between technical officers and farmers to build an effective communication
channel with each other. The participatory process also places considerable
emphasis on consensus building among farmers to determine those soil-related
constraints that should be tackled first. Such consensus is an important step
toward collective action by farming communities if improved soil management
strategies are to be adopted at a landscape scale. Keywords: Soil fertility; Quality;
Monitoring; Methods; Soil chemicophysical properties; Soil genesis; Decision
making; Soil management; Natural resources; Resource management; Africa;
Participatory research.
For scientific enquiries, please
contact Dr. Edmundo Barrios at <e.barrios@cgiar.org>
The
publication can be downloaded from the internet www.ciat.cgiar.org/downloads/pdf/isq_contents.pdf
Soil
Carbon Sequestration for Improved Land Management. World
Soil Resources Report
In the framework of the Kyoto
Protocol, carbon sequestration to mitigate the greenhouse effect in the
terrestrial ecosystem has been an important subject of discussion in numerous
international meetings and reports. The present synthesis focuses on the
specific role that soils of tropical and dryland areas can play in carbon
sequestration and on the land management strategies involved. A review is made
of carbon dynamics and the fundamental role of organic matter in the soils. To
increase carbon sequestration in soils in the dryland and tropical regions, as
a contribution to global atmospheric CO2 mitigation, new strategies and new
practices in agriculture, pasture use and forestry, including conservation
agriculture and agroforestry, are essential. Such practices should be
facilitated particularly by the application of article 3.4 of the Kyoto
Protocol or a similar provision in the post-Kyoto treaty covering the
additional activities in agriculture and forestry in the developing countries
and by appropriate policies, and should be widely promoted. Some proposals are
made concerning good land management practices for croplands, pastures and
agroforestry in order to promote carbon sequestration – a priority being their
application to degraded lands. A method for monitoring and verifying the
changes both in carbon sequestration and in the degree of degradation is
proposed based on a soil-monitoring network.
Price: USD 12.00. Price varies
per country.
Orders
to: national sales agents of FAO publications. Or: Sales and Marketing Group,
Information Division, FAO, Viale delle Terme di Caracalla, 00100 Rome, Italy.
Fax: +39-6-5705-3360. E-mail: publications-sales@fao.org.
Homepage: www.fao.org.
Knowledge
of the Land. Land
resource information and its use in rural development. B. Dalal-Clayton and D.
Dent. Oxford University Press, Oxford, New York, 2001, xviii + 428 p. ISBN
0-19-829601-0. Hardcover.
Planners and decision-makers
today need to be in command of a broader range of tools and information then
ever before. This book aims to show what is available in the way of natural
resources information, and how it has been used (or not used) in planning and
policymaking. For both methods and applications, the authors provide ample
details for the reader to judge what data, skills, and procedures are required
to meet their particular needs, and the references give guidance on where to
find further information.There has been a notable shift in planning and rural
development over the past decade. Technocratic, top-down approaches are still
very much in evidence, but there has been an explosion of participatory
initiatives. Although many institutions still cling to sectoral thinking, there
is growing recognition that sustainable development involves a balance of
environmental, social and economic considerations. This balance requires an
interdisciplinary approach to the survey of natural resources, and to the use
of the information acquired, in land evaluation, planning, environmental impact
assessment, and the preparation of coherent strategies and policies for
development. Both the old ways and the new bring insights crucial to meeting
these challenges. Both provide invaluable methods of work. By bringing together
the standard methods of resource assessment and planning, and new thinking and
emerging techniques, this book will help all practitioners to bridge the gap
between the two. A sample of 9 pages is available in PDF at
www.oup.co.uk/pdf/0-19-829601-0.pdf.
Price: GBP 65.00.
Orders to: In Europe: Oxford
University Press, Saxon Way West, Northants NN18 9ES, UK. Fax: +44-1536-746337.
E-mail: oup.co.uk/bookorders/order.html. Homepage: www.oup.co.uk
In North America: Oxford University Press,