Michael Higgins

Soil Science: A Comprehensive Approach Michael Higgins

Soil science is a field concerned with the study of the soil, its classification, formation and mapping. The analysis of the fertility of the soil as well as its biological, physical and chemical properties is also encompassed in this field. Pedology and edaphology are the two branches of soil science. Pedology studies soil in its natural setting while edaphology studies the interactions of soil. Empirical soil data is obtained from soil surveys that are acquired through field sampling and remote sensing. In the current scenario, due to the prospects of a crucial water crisis, escalating population growth, increased land degradation and high per capita food consumption, soil science is an important field of study. Current direction of soil research is therefore aimed at the study of soil in relation to carbon sequestration, climate change and greenhouse gases. This book is a compilation of chapters that discuss the most vital concepts and emerging trends in the field of soil science. Such selected concepts that redefine this field have been presented in this book. The readers would gain knowledge that would broaden their perspective about soil science.