Ecology and Management of Forest Soils (ePub)

Forest soils are the foundation of the entire forest ecosystem
and complex, long-term interactions between trees, soil animals,
and the microbial community shape soils in was that are very
distinct from agricultural soils. The
composition, structure, and processes in forest soils at any given
time reflect current conditions, as well as the legacies of decades
(and even millennia) of interactions that shape each forest
soil. Reciprocal interactions are fundamental; vegetation
alters soil physical properties, which influence soil biology and
chemistry, which in turn influence the growth and success of
plants. These dynamic systems may be strongly influenced by
intentional and unintentional management, ranging from fire to
fertilization. Sustaining the long-term fertility of forest
soils depends on insights about a diverse array of soil features
and changes over space and time.

Since the third edition of this successful book many new
interests in forest soils and their management have arisen,
including the role of forest soils in sequestering carbon, and how
management influences rates of carbon accumulation. This
edition also expands the consideration of how soils are sampled and
characterized, and how tree species differ in their influence on
soil development.

Clearly structured throughout, the book opens with the origins
of forest soil science and ends with the application of soil
science principles to land management. This new edition
provides:

* A completely revised and updated Fourth Edition of this classic
textbook in the field

* A coherent overview of the major issues surrounding the ecology
and management of forest soils

* Global in scope with coverage of soil types ranging from the
tropical rainforest soils of Latin America to the boreal forest
soils of Siberia

* New chapters on Management: Carbon sequestration;
Evidence-based approaches and applications of geostatistics,
GIS and taxonomies

* A clear overview of each topic, informative examples/case
studies, and an overall context for helping readers think clearly
about forest soils

* An introduction to the literature of forest soil science and to
the philosophy of forest soil science research

This coherent overview of the major issues surrounding the
ecology and management of forest soils will be particularly useful
to students taking courses in soil science, forestry, agronomy,
ecology, natural resource management, environmental management and
conservation, as well as professionals in forestry dealing with the
productivity of forests and functioning of watersheds.