Books published in 2002
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Handbook for the Assessment of Soil Erosion and Sedimention Using
Environmental Radionuclides. F.
Zapata, editor. Kluwer Academic Publishers,
This handbook deals with soil erosion and sedimentation.
Soil erosion and associated sediment deposition are natural landscape-forming
processes that can be greatly accelerated by human intervention through
deforestation, overgrazing, and non-sustainable farming practices. Soil erosion
and sedimentation may not only cause on-site degradation of the natural
resource base, but also off-site problems, e.g. downstream sediment deposition
in fields, floodplains and water bodies, water pollution, eutrophication, and
reservoir siltation. There is an urgent need for accurate information to
quantify the problem and to underpin the selection of effective
soil-conservation technologies and sedimentation-remediation strategies,
including assessment of environmental and economic impacts. Existing classical
techniques to document soil erosion are capable of meeting some of the needs,
but they all possess important limitations. The quest for alternative techniques
for assessing soil erosion, to complement existing methods, directed attention
to the use of environmental radionuclides, in particular fallout 137Cs, as
traces to quantify rates and establish patterns of soil redistribution within
the landscape. This handbook contains the
developments made in the refinement and standardization of the technique,
developed by 25 research groups worldwide, and featuring the contributions of a
team of leading experts in the field. It provides a comprehensive coverage of
the methodologies for using radionuclides, primarily 137Cs and 210Pb to
establish rates and spatial patterns of soil redistribution and determine the
geochronology of sediment deposits. The book also aims to give advice on
matters relating to the selection of suitable coring sites, the sampling
strategy, and on methods for retrieving cores and subsampling. It is stated
that these first steps should be well planned and executed with careful
attention to detail. The book is illustrated with many figures and photographs.
Price: EUR 79.00; USD 76.00; GBP 51.00. Orders to:
In North America, Mexico and Latin America: Kluwer Academic Publishes, P.O. Box
358, Accord Station, Hingham, MA 02013-0358, USA. Fax: +1-781-681-9045. E-mail:
kluwer@wkap.com. Homepage: www.wkap.com. Elsewhere: Kluwer Academic
Publishers, Customer Service,
Rocks for Crops. Agrominerals of sub-Saharan
Soils
of large parts of
This
text and inventory is an excellent starting point for soil and agricultural
scientists and (agro)geologists to work together to help increase crop yields
in a sustainable way.
Requests to: ICRAF,
Soil and Environmental Science Dictionary. Edited
by E.G. Gregorich, L.W. Turchenek, M.R. Carter and D.A. Angers for the Canadian
Society of Soil Science. CRC Press LLC,
The terminology of soil science
is a language in itself. Soil scientists collaborate increasingly with
colleagues from many fields, and a basic working knowledge of the vocabularies
of those fields improves understanding and enhances the flow of information.
This dictionary brings together the conventional vocabulary of soil science
with that of many overlapping disciplines. It includes definitions from a range
of disciplines such as agronomy, botany, geology, geography, plant science,
forestry, biochemistry, applied ecology, microbiology and remote sensing. It
has over 4000 terms, which are presented in traditional dictionary format, with
equivalent French terms following each definition. The terms are extensively
cross-referenced, giving a deeper understanding of the interdisciplinary nature
of soil science. Indexes group the terms according to discipline and subject
area in English and French. Appendices include SI units, tables on the Canadian
soil classification and diagrams of soil structure and texture. The Canadian
Society of Soil Science should be complimented with the initiative to prepare
this practical dictionary!
Price: USD 69.95; GBP 46.99.
Orders
to: see below.
Land Use and Sustainability: FAM Research Network on Agroecosystems. P.
Schröder, J.C. Munch and B. Huber, editors. Special Issue of Geoderma, volume
105, nos. 3-4, February 2002, pp 155-386.
Elsevier,
Improving information about
agroecosystems, developing future strategies for environmentally compatible
land use, and achieving agricultural productivity and sustainability under one
umbrella are the main goals of the FAM Research Network on Agroecosystems.
Scientists of various disciplines study these topics on a
Orders
to: Customer Support Department at the Regional Sales Office in
Sustainable Water and Soil Management S.
Kunst, T. Kruse and A. Burmester, editors.
This book looks at the pressing problems
of water and soil management, presenting state-of-the-art knowledge and
exploring future projects. Special consideration is given to the perspective of
developing countries, based on experience gained at the International Women’s
University (ifu), held in
Price: EUR 84.95.
Orders
to: Springer Auslieferungs Gesellschaft, Haberstrasse 7, D-69126
Organo-Clay Complexes and Interactions. S. Yariv
and H. Cross, editors. Marcel
Organo-clay complexes occur
everywhere in nature, and the interaction between organic matter and clay
minerals was one of the most important reactions in determining the history of
our planet. The systematic scientific study of clay-organic interactions
started at the beginning of the twentieth century. In the past 60 years various
advanced studies have been carried out and published. This book summarizes the
progress made and examines various ideas and advanced techniques and their
contributions to our knowledge of organo-clay. The book contains 11 chapters.
After a general description of clay minerals and their surface activity, Ch. 2
presents an introduction to organo-clay complexes and describes the different
types of complexes. Ch. 3 deals with organo-vermiculite complexes. Ch. 4 and 5
discuss the physical chemistry of two specific surface phenomena of organo-clay
complexes: organophilicity and hydrophobicity of these complexes and
ion-exchange equilibria in these systems. Four chapters are devoted to advanced
investigative methods commonly used in the study of organo-clay complexes:
nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR),
differential thermal analysis (DTA), thermogravimetry (TG), infrared (IR) and
thermo-IR spectroscopy, and visible absorption spectroscopy. Ch. 10 deals with
the catalytic activity of clay minerals and their contribution to organic
chemical reactions in nature and in the laboratory. The last chapter reviews
the various ideas that relate clay minerals to the origin of life. Many
important subjects in clay-organic systems have not been included in this
volume. These might be covered in a second volume. Information on clay-organic
interactions and organo-clay complexes is important to workers in many
disciplines, including agricultural chemists, earth and soil scientists,
geochemists, environmental scientists, and engineers in industries in which
both clays and organic matter are essential ingredients. All chapters have many
clear figures and carry extensive lists of references. The book also contains a
mineral index, an organic compound index, and author and subject indexes.
Price: USD 195.00.
Orders
to: The
German Environmental Law. Máire
Mulloy/Eike Albrecht/Tanja Häntsch, Eds. Erich
Schmidt Verlag,
The English-language version of the legislation for
the protection of the environment currently in force in Gemany aims at making
this body of law accessible to non-German speakers, students and professionals
alike. The book addresses the principle laws aiming at the protection of air,
soil, and water, of national landscapes and habitats, including flora and
fauna, as well as laws of a more general scope, e.g. those regulating liability
in cases of harmful impacts on the environment. Moreover, laws with particular
relevance for potential investors, such as the Evironmental Impact Assessment
Act and others are included in this compilation.
The publication also contains translations of the
respective German language original versions of the laws in force by October
2001.
Price: EURO 29.80/ SFR 51.-
Soil Mineralogy with Environmental Applications. Soil
Science Society of America Book Series number 7. J. Dixon and D.G. Schulze,
editors. Soil Science Society of
The first five chapters of this
new volume in the SSSA Book Series present principles and illustrations of
mineral properties and crystallography, surface chemistry, mineral–solution
equilibria, soil
organic matter, and methods of soil mineral analysis. The
following seventeen chapters present soil mineralogy in a uniform chapter
outline devoted to various mineral groups based on their chemical composition
and structural properties. The final six chapters are devoted to applications
of soil mineralogy to our understanding of soil taxonomy, soil tectonics
(movement), radionuclides in soils, and pesticides in soils.
The chapters in this book
present the essence of important concepts and in linking scientific theory to
real environmental problems, and synthesize and summarize important concepts
rather than providing comprehensive reviews of the literature. Preference has
been given to citing recent reviews and original studies that provide
additional links to the older literature. The book has numerous visuals from
soils, sediments, and models of synthetic and natural minerals. Color visuals
are used throughout the book to make mineral structures, mineral color, and the
natural environment of occurrence as vivid as possible. Problems, exercises,
and case studies are included in most chapters to link the theory to real
environmental problems, enzymes in soils, and an introduction to charcoal in
soils. The authors contributed from their experiences with soils in countries
all over the world.
Price: USD 90.00 (SSSA members
first copy USD 75.00). Item No. 60905.
Orders
to: SSSA Headquarters Office, Attn: Book Marketing,
Publications of the SOVEUR Project.
The Mapping of Soil and Terrain
Vulnerability in Eastern and Central Europe (SOVEUR) project calls for the
development of an environmental information system for this region. Using this
system and auxiliary information on climate, land use and the type of soil
pollution, the status of human-induced soil degradation and the areas
considered vulnerable to defined pollution scenarios have been mapped at a
scale of 1:2.5 million. The SOVEUR project is a joint FAO-ISRIC activity,
coordinated at ISRIC by N.H. Batjes. It is carried out in close cooperation
with the countries involved:
For
further information, contact N.H. Batjes, ISRIC,
Soil Degradation Status and Vulnerability Assessment for Central and
The main
aim of the concluding workshop was to present preliminary results of the SOVEUR
project, to reach agreement on issues of border correlation, to set deadlines
for delivering the final revisions and products, and to formulate
recommendations for future activities. An important achievement of the project
has been to help strengthening cooperation between national, environmental
organizations throughout the region. This publication contains the report of
the workshop, the introductory papers and the contributions of the workshop participants
from the countries involved.
Soil Data Derived from SOTER for Environmental Studies in Central and
A uniform
set of derived soil data is required for the “vulnerability” component of the
SOVEUR project. To this avail, data from 662 soil profile descriptions held in
the Soil and Terrain Database (SOTER) compiled for the SOVEUR project area,
were clustered first according to their classification in the revised FAO
legend. Twenty-two major soil groups occur, corresponding with 83 different
soil units. This set was expanded with 1271 profiles, and following a screening
on database integrity and consistency, the resulting 1933 profile descriptions
were submitted to a statistical analysis that included an outlier
rejection-schema. Derived statistics for 17 soil attributes, commonly required
for studies of environmental change, are presented by soil unit and depth zone.
Simple taxo-transfer rules are introduced to fill some of the gaps that
remained in the derived data. The results are presented digitally, as summary
files of derived soil data.
Soil Vulnerability to Diffuse Pollution in Central and
This
report presents a procedure for assessing the relative vulnerability of soils
to diffuse pollution, using the ‘vulnerability to heavy metal mobilization, inducible
by acid deposition' as an example. The resulting maps should be seen as first
approximations, as no field-validation was possible within the framework of the
SOVEUR project. Additional maps of soil vulnerability can easily be generated,
using the available ‘parametric overviews of derived soil properties’, in
combination with specialist knowledge of contaminant behaviour. In a GIS, the
vulnerability maps can be overlain onto a map of current or anticipated
(accumulated) loadings to show where so-called Chemical Time Bombs are prone to
occur. Exploratory analyses of soil vulnerability at the (sub)continental
level, as adopted for the 1:2.5 million scale SOVEUR project, can provide the
basis for identifying areas considered at risk from diffuse pollution once
auxiliary databases on heavy metal loadings and acid deposition become freely
accessible.
SOTER Summary file for Central and
This
summary file has been compiled to aid end-users with limited programming
experience. It has been derived from the full-scale Soil and Terrain (SOTER)
database and a set of “derived soil properties” for the SOVEUR region. The file
can serve as input for a wide range of environmental studies, at an
observational scale.
Soil Degradation in Central and
As part
of the SOVEUR Project, the assessment of soil degradation in the region at a
scale of 1:2.5 million aims to produce a geographical overview of the current
status of soil degradation, with emphasis on soil pollution. The current report
presents the results of this assessment. At the scale of this assessment it is
difficult to provide quantative criteria, in particular for soil pollution,
considering the enormous variety in pollution types and impacts, but also in
the criteria in so far they exist. The criteria for the assessment of pollution
applied here follows as much as possible the standards used previously for the
other types of degradation, but separate classes and descriptions have been
defined for the degree and the impact of pollution. The assessment serves as a
means to increase awareness on soil degradation status in general and on the
status of pollution in particular. In view of the scale and the available data,
the inventory is based on experts’ estimates, giving an overall impression of
the status of soil degradation in the region. This information may help to
increase awareness of the problem and to facilitate the identification of
specific areas considered at risk from soil pollution.
Soil and Terrain Database, Land Degradation Status and Soil
Vulnerability Assessment for Central and
This CD-ROM contains the spatial
and attribute databases and the technical reports produced during the execution
of the SOVEUR project between 1997 and 2000. The databases compiled contain:
(1) a harmonized soil and terrain database for 13 countries in the SOVEUR
region at 1:2.5 million scale, compiled following the SOTER principles,
including georeferenced soil profile data; (2) a database ands associated maps
on the status of soil degradation in the region, including an evaluation of the
extent, type, severity, causes and trends; and (3) a database and associated
maps on the vulnerability to pollution, in particular by 11 metals: Cd, Mn, Ni,
Co, Zn, Cu, Cr, Pb, Hg, Fe and Al. All the coverages are in geographical
position (latitude/longitude). The technical reports included cover the various
technical documentation and guidelines prepared for the compilation of the
various spatial databases. They also contain proceedings of two workshops. A
“Shareware” directory contains subdirectories with executable files that permit
downloading of shareware versions of Acrobat 4.0 and the ACDSee graphics
viewer, needed to consult the technical reports and the image files that show
selected map outputs of the SOVEUR project.
Orders for the CD-ROM to: Sales and Marketing Group, FAO, Viale delle Terme di Caracalla, I-00100 Rome, Italy. Fax: +39-06-57053360. E-mail: publications-sales@fao.org.
Interactions between Soil Particles and Microorganisms. Impact on the Terrestrial Ecosystem. IUPAC
Series on Analytical and Physical Chemistry of Environmental Systems volume 8.
P.M. Huang, J.-M. Bollag and
The main purpose of the IUPAC
series is to make chemists and other scientists aware of the most important
bio-physicochemical conditions and processes that define the behavior of
environmental systems. Thus the volumes emphasize the fundamental theoretical
concepts of environmental and bioenvironmental processes, taking into account
their specific aspects such as physical and chemical heterogeneity. Another goal
of the series is to discuss the analytical tools, which exits or should be
developed to study these processes.
The present volume focuses in 12
chapters on major elements of the analytical and physical chemistry of soil
particles in their interaction with microorganisms and organic components in
the medium, at the molecular and microscopic levels and the impact on the
terrestrial ecosystem. The book covers an overview on interactions of soil
particles and microorganisms, a fractal approach for studying interactions
between soil particles and microorganisms, microbial mobilization of metals
from minerals, fine-grained mineral development and bioremediation, and the
impact of the various interactions on formation of metal oxides, development of
aggregates, ion cycling and organic pollutant transformation, rhizosphere
chemistry and biology, and anaerobic and transport processes in the terrestrial
environment. The contributions in this book, which is co-sponsored by IUSS, are
well illustrated, have good introductions to the chapters, conclusions and
recommendations, and all have extensive lists of references. It provides the
scientific community with a critical evaluation of state-of-the-art research on
the subject matter, with the goal of advancing the understanding of reactions
and processes at the interface between chemistry and biology of soil and
related environments.
Price: GBP 150.00; EUR 240.00;
USD 247.50.
Orders
to: North and Latin America: John Wiley & Sons,
State of the World
This 19th edition of
the well-known State of the World series is made in preparation for the World
Summit on Sustainable Development in September
Price: USD 15.95, plus USD 4.00
handling and postage in the
Orders:
Worldwatch Institute,
Soil Mechanics Laboratory Manual. Sixth
edition. B.M. Das.
Proper laboratory
testing of soils to determine their physical properties is an integral part in
the design and construction of structural foundations, the placement and
improvement of soil properties, and the specification and quality control of
soil compaction works. Learning to perform laboratory tests of soils plays an
important role in the geotechnical engineering profession.
The present book includes eighteen
laboratory procedures that cover the essential properties of soils and their
behavior under stress and strain, as well as explanations, procedures, sample
calculations, and completed and blank data sheets. The manual provides a
detailed discussion of the American Association of State Highway and
Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Classification System and the Unified Soil
Classification System updated to conform to recent American Society for Testing
and Materials (ASTM) specifications. To improve ease and accessibility of use,
this new edition includes not only the stand-alone version of the Soil
Mechanics Laboratory Test software, but also the ready-made Microsoft Excel
templates designed to perform the same calculations. With the convenience of point
and click data entry, these interactive programs can be sued to collect,
organize, and evaluate data for each of the book’s eighteen labs. The resulting
tables can be printed with their corresponding graphs, creating easily
generated reports that display and analyze data obtained from the manual’s
laboratory tests.
Price: GBP 15.99; USD 39.95.
Orders
to: In Europe:
Land under Pressure. The Impact of Water Erosion on
Food Production in
The natural conditions of the
Ethiopian Highlands generally offer a favourable environment for agricultural
development and human settlement. However, its population densities and herd
sizes are now the highest in
Price: Euro 36.00.
Orders
to: Shaker Publishing,
Soil Physics Companion. A.W. Warrick, editor. CRC
Press,
This well-written and produced
book includes the descriptions of the physical aspects of the soil system and
of transport processes. The usual physical setting is at or just below the soil
surface, but most of concepts and descriptions are valid to all depths and for
all similar geological materials. This book contains nine chapters addressing
the most significant topics of contemporary soil physics.
Chapters 1, 2 and 7 emphasize
the soil solids. Included are descriptions of the matrix as well necessary definitions
to describe both static and dynamic aspects of the soils. At the start, the
soil is considered as static to facilitate quantification of mass, particle
size and surface areas. Later the dynamics of tillage and temporal variations
due the natural and human actions are examined. Soil water is the primary theme
of Chapters 3 and
Price: USD 74.95.
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,
Soil Pattern as a Key Controlling Factor of Water Erosion. Special
issue of CATENA, vol. 46, issues 2-3,
The 16th World
Congress of Soil Science, held in
Orders to: Elsevier Science,
Essential Soil Science. A clear and concise introduction to soil science. M.R.
Ashman and G. Puri. Blackwell Science, 2002, viii + 198 p. ISBN 0-632-04885-9.
Softcover.
This textbook is aimed at
students who need to acquire a clear and concise overview of soil science
quickly. Many soil science textbooks still cater for a traditional student
market where students embark on a three years of study in a narrow discipline.
However, the growth in modular degree schemes has meant that soil science is
now often taught as a self-standing unit as part of a broad-based degree
course. This informative guide will be particularly useful for students who do
not possess a traditional scientific background, such as those studying
geography, environmental science, ecology and agriculture, who want to quickly understand
both the underlying principles and practical management aspects of soil
science.
Price: GBP 19.99.
Orders
to: Marston Book Services,
Bridging Wallace’s Line: The Environmental and Cultural History and
Dynamics of the SE-Asian-Australian Region. Advances in Geoecology 34. P. Kershaw, B. David, N.
Tapper, D. Penny and J. Brown, editors. Catena Verlag, Reiskirchen, 2002, viii + 360 p. ISBN
3-923381-47-6. Hardcover.
The book starts with an
introductory chapter providing the context for examination of the various
linkages within the SE Asian-Australian region from the physical, biological
and social sciences point of view. The main body of the book is divided in
three parts. Part 1 includes contributions that explore present-day processes
or long-term geological frameworks, providing contextual information for the
later contributions that concentrate on the dynamics of the environment and
people during the Quaternary. It includes background reviews on geology and
plant biogeography, and also on the climate dynamics of the Maritime Continent,
an area of increasing importance in understanding global climate change. Part 2
focuses on physical and biological changes in SE Asia-Australia during the
Quaternary period, a time when modern humans and their ancestors have been
present in the region. It provides a partial framework for understanding human
occupation, but also reveals something about the nature, timing, and degree of
human occupation. Pollen records offer evidence of transformations in
vegetation patterning in relation to climate change, sea level fluctuations,
biomass burning and the effects of mountain glaciers. These environmental
dynamics provide a framework for the colonization and adaptation of Homo
erectus and H. sapiens across the region explored in Part 3. This volume
challenges long-held assumptions of essential difference across the SE
Asia-Australia divide, bridging Wallace’s Line with a fuller exploration of
regional dynamics with global implications.
Price: EUR 109.00, USD 109.00.
Orders
to: Catena Verlag, Ärmelgasse 11, D-35447
Management of Tropical Plantation-Forests and their Soil-Litter System. Litter, Biota and Soil-Nutrient Dynamics. M.V.
Reddy, editor. Science Publishers,
There is a global recognition of
the need to promote and expand sustainable plantation forestry and farm
forestry in the tropics. While areas under native forests are diminishing,
those under planted forests are increasing. In a broad sense, the latter
include industrial plantations for pulp or timber, farm forests and
agro-forests, woodlots for fuel, and plantations established for environmental
benefits such as land rehabilitation, biodiversity rejuvenation, catchment
protection, and, more recently, for sequestering carbon. There is good basis to
state that planted forests, if judiciously managed, offer great opportunities
for sustainable land use from which people can receive multiple benefits.
The soil-litter biota system and
the processes that govern nutrient dynamics have been a popular area of
research in all ecosystems. Because planted forests are expanding in the
tropics and they are subject to a myriad of operations – small and large – it
is important that the best use is being made of existing knowledge, recognizing
the critical importance of soil and litter to sustained productivity and
ecosystem functions. This book has brought together information about the
interplay between soil, litter and biota that drives fundamental processes.
Results from a wide range of plantations representing various biophysical
environments are discussed. The volume will be a source of information for
environmental biologists, soil scientists, soil ecologists en forestry experts with
an interest in the tropics.
Orders to: Science Publishers,
Homepage:
www.scipub.net. Or: Plymbridge Distributors,
Estover,
Integrated Plant Nutrient Management in Sub-Saharan
Integrated nutrient management
is currently a major area of interest for the agricultural research community
in Africa. As the search for options to arrest soil fertility degradation in
Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) gathers speed, strategies need to be developed to
increase agricultural production, while safeguarding the environment for future
generations. An in-depth diagnosis and re-definition of the problems associated
with the ever-increasing nutrient depletion in SSA formed the basis of the
Balanced Nutrient Management Systems (BNMS) project, a collaborative effort
between IITA, Ibadan, Nigeria and the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium.
Previous collaboration had focused on soil organic matter as a key parameter in
soil fertility in tropical regions. Without challenging this, evidence shows
that only a combination of organic and inorganic fertilizers will lead to
acceptable and sustainable solutions in the long run. The ongoing collaboration
therefore aims at developing and testing management practices that maintain or
improve soil nutrient balances by promoting the use of locally available sources
of plant nutrients, maximizing their use efficiency and optimizing their
combination with inorganic fertilizers.
This book contains a compilation
of peer-reviewed papers presented at the International Symposium on Balanced
Nutrient Management Systems, held in Cotonou, October
Price: GBP 55.00, plus packing
and postage.
Orders
to: CABI Publishing, Wallingford, Oxon OX10 8DE, UK. Fax: +44-1491-829292.
E-0mail: orders@cabi.org. Homepage: www.cabi-publishing.org/bookshop.
In North and Central America: Oxford University Press, 2001 Evans Road, Cary,
NC 27513, USA. Fax: +1-919-677-1303. E-mail: orders@oup-usa.org.
10% discount when reference AWM is quoted when ordering.
Agroecological Innovations. Increasing Food Production with Participatory
Development. N. Uphoff, editor. Earthscan Publications, London
and Sterling, 2002, xviii + 306 p. ISBN 1-85383-857-8 (softcover); 1-85383-856-X (hardcover).
By the middle of the 21st
century, world food production will need to be at least twice what it is now if
we are to meet both economic demand and human needs. Everyone has a stake in
the continued expansion of food production around the world – in ways that do
not (further) degrade our natural resource base. While having adequate food
supply is not a sufficient condition to ensure food security and economic prosperity,
it is a necessary one. With a growing shortage of land per capita and a serious
shortage of water for agriculture, doubling food production will be a
formidable task. At a meeting in 1997, professional from half a dozen
disciplines were not convinced that expanding production along the present
technological trajectory would ensure food security in ways that are
environmentally acceptable and socially desirable, or maybe even economically
sustainable. Proponents of agroecological approaches argued that these could
contribute significantly to meeting world food needs. In April 1999, an
international conference was held in Bellagio, Italy, to discuss the
above-mentioned issues. Since only a tiny fraction of the resources put into
mainstream agricultural development have thus far been invested in
agroecological approaches, it is difficult to draw firm conclusions. But the
case studies presented at the conference provided evidence of impressive
possibilities for increasing production using mostly local resources and
knowledge. Most case studies focused on African experiences. If agroecological
approaches can raise food production under such adverse soil and water
conditions, they will accomplish gains where conventional modern agricultural
methods have largely failed over the past 40 years. The case studies from Latin
America and Asia were different from, but consistent with, what is being
learned from Africa.
Price: GBP 18.95 for the softcover edition; GBP
50.00 for the hardcover edition.
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.
Plant Roots. The Hidden Half. Third
edition. Books in Soils, Plants, and the Environment. Y. Waisel, A. Eshel and
U. Kafkafi, editors. Marcel Dekker, New York and Basel, 2002, xx + 1120 p. ISBN
0-8247-0631-5. Hardcover. Ordering code: PA030217.
Roots, the “hidden half” of plants, serve a multitude of
functions. They are responsible for anchorage, supply the plants with water and
nutrients, and exchange various growth substances with the shoots. The
root-soil interface is the site where most interactions between the plant and
their environment occur. Roots constitute a major source of organic material
for the soil and thus affect its structure, aeration, and biological
activities. The interest of the editors in the development and function of
plant roots stems from the academic desire to understand their role in plant
life, as well as from the important aspects they have. Most agricultural
investment is spent to provide conducive conditions
for the growth of roots of crop plants. Functional and healthy plant roots are
essential for production of many of the resources on which human properity
depends. The objectives of the present monograph are multiple: to review the
recent contributions to the knowledge of the structure and function of roots,
to outline the frontiers of root sciences, to point out the areas where gaps in
knowledge exist, and to indicate the direction toward which basic and applied
root research should proceed in the future. The book serves as a major source
of information for root scientists, botanists, plant physiologists,
microbiologists, soil scientists, and those engaged in related professions. It
presents a multidisciplinary view of the filed of plant roots and its state of
the art. It covers various aspects of root origin, root structure, development and
behavior, the interactions between roots and their environment, and the various
uses of roots. The book contains 59 chapters, in which the following themes are
covered: (I) The origin and characteristics of roots (2 papers); The root
system: structure and development 11 papers); Root genetics (4 papers); (IV)
Research techniques for root studies ((5 papers); (V) The regulation of root
growth (9 papers); (VI) Physiological aspects of root systems (9 papers); (VII)
Root growth under stress (6 papers); (VIII) Root-rhizosphere interactions (6
papers); (IX) Roots of various ecological groups (4 papers); and (X) Roots of
economic value (3 papers).
Price: USD 250.00.
Orders
to: USA, Canada and Latin America:
Marcel Dekker, P.O. Box 5005, Monticello, NY 12701-5185, USA. Fax:
1-845-796-1772. E-mail: bookorders@dekker.com.
Elsewhere: Marcel Dekker, Postfach 812, CH-4001 Basel, Switzerland. Fax:
+41-61-2606333. E-mail: intlorders@dekker.com.
Homepage: www.dekker.com.
Encyclopedia of Global Change -
Environmental Change and Human Society. A.S. Goudie, editor-in-chief.
D.J. Cuff, associate editor. Oxford University Press, 2002. Volume 1,
710 p.; volume 2, 669 p. ISBN: 0-19-510825-6 (set); 0-19-514518-6 (vol. 1);
0-19-514519-4 (vol. 2). Hardcover.
These
two massive volumes, each well over 650 pages thick, present a comprehensive
and interdisciplinary guide to the Earth's environment, set in the context of
global environmental change. The Encyclopaedia includes over 300 entries,
organized in alphabetical order. In
order to facilitate access to this wealth of information, volume 2 contains a
synoptic outline of contents, which define broad conceptual categories, as well
as an extensive index. The main conceptual categories are: (a) Front Matter;
(b) Concepts of Global Change; (c) Earth and Earth Systems, including
‘Principal Articles’, ‘Geological Processes’, ‘Atmosphere’, ‘Ocean’ and ‘Biosphere’;
(d) Human Factors, which include ‘Human Populations’, ‘Agriculture and
Fishing’, ‘Industrial Activity’, ‘Social, Cultural and Ideological Factors’,
and ‘Hazards and Human Health’; (e) Resources, which starts with a principal
article followed by ‘Water and Air’, Land and land Use’, Mineral and Energy
resources’; (f) Responses to Global Change, including ‘Scientific and
Technological Tools’, and ‘Economic and Social Policies’; (g) Agreements,
Associations, and Institutions; (h) selected Biographies (e.g., Svante
Arrhenius); and, 20 case studies such as Deforestation of Amazonia and
Desiccation of the Aral Sea. In view of the variety and quality of the
information presented, the readership of the Encyclopaedia of Global Change
will certainly include academic researchers, high school and university
students, policy makers in government and industry, as well as general readers
interested in the subject of global environmental change.
Price: GBP 185.00 (hardback).
Orders to: From Eire, Europe, and the rest of the
world: CWO Department , Oxford University Press, Saxon Way West, Corby,
Northants NN18 9ES, UK; From the UK: CWO Department, Oxford University Press,
FREEPOST NH 4051, Corby, Northants NN18 9BR (no stamp required).
N.H. Batjes, The
Procedures for Soil Analysis. Sixth
edition. ISRIC Technical Paper 9. Compiled and edited by L.P. van Reeuwijk.
ISRIC and FAO. International Soil Reference and Information Centre, Wageningen,
2002. ISBN 90-6672-044-044-1. ISSN 0923-3792: no. 9. Softcover.
This laboratory manual presents
the procedures for soil analysis as they were in use at ISRIC. The present
sixth edition replaces the fifth, which was published in 1995. It is expanded
with two procedures sued in soil characterization: the optical density of the
oxalate extract (ODOE) for the characterization of Podzols, and the
determination of the Melanic Index, used in Andisols.
Price: EUR 17.00 or USD 17.00, including postal charges.
Orders to: ISRIC, P.O. Box 353, 6700 AJ
Wageningen, The Netherlands. Fax: +31-317-471700. E-mail: sales@isric.nl. Homepage: www.isric.org
Geoecology of Antarctic Ice-Free Coastal Landscapes. L. Beyer,
M. Bölter, University of Kiel (Eds.). 2002. xxiv, 424 pp., 54 figs., 59 tabs.
(Ecological Studies Analysis and Synthesis, Vol. 154). Hardcover. ISBN
3-540-42268-4.
Research in Antarctica in the past two decades has
fundamentally changed our perceptions of the southern continent. This volume
describes typical terrestrial environments of the maritime and continental
Antarctic. Life and chemical processes are restricted to small ranges of
ambient temperature, availability of water and nutrients. This is reflected not
only in life processes, but also in those of weathering and pedogenesis. The
volume focuses on interactions between plants, animals and soils. It includes
aspects of climate change, soil development and biology, as well as above-and
below-ground results of interdisciplinary research projects combining data from
botany, zoology, microbiology, pedology, and soil ecology.
Price: Euro 109,--; Pounds 76,50; SFr 180,50
Orders
to: Springer, Customer Service,
Haberstr. 7, 69126
Participation of Non-Governmental Organisations in International
Environmental Co-operation. Legal Basis and Practical Experience. Sebastian Oberthür, Matthias Buck, Sebastian Müller,
Dr. Stephanie Pfahl, Richard G. Tarasofsky, Dr. Jacob Werksmann, Alice Palmer.
Ecologic Centre for International & European Environmental Research,
Berlin. Reihe: Berichte des Umweltbundesamtes, Band 11/02. 2003. XIII. 287
Seiten,
The importance of non-governmental organisations
(NGOs) in international environmental co-operation has increased tremendously
over the last decades. Accordingly, the participation of non-governmental
actors has become a prominent subject for research, especially in the legal and
social sciences. However, limited effort has been spent at systematically
analysing the relationship between the legal basis and the practical influence
of NGOs in different areas of international environmental co-operation. This
study first laid a conceptual basis by reviewing existing definitions of NGOs
and developing an own working definition, elaborating the functions NGOs
perform in international environmental policy-making and examining various
criteria that can serve to distinguish different types of NGOs.
Pice: Euro (D) 39,80
Orders to: Erich Schmidt Verlag GmbH&Co, POB
102451, Viktoriastraße 44A, 33602 Bielefeld.
Dictionnaire de Science du Sol, 4ème edition. J. Lozet et C. Mathieu. Editions TEC & DOC, Lavoisier,
Londres, Paris, 2002, 584 p. ISBN 2-7430-0538-6. Hardcover.