Structure and Organic Matter Storage in Agricultural Soils

M. R Carter Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Charlottetown, Canada
Bobby A Stewart University of West Texas A&M University, Texas, USA

Series: Advances in Soil Science Volume: 8

List Price: $169.95
Our Price: $154.95

Cat. #: L1033 ISBN: 1566700337 Publication Date: 10/23/1995 Number of Pages: 496

Soils comprise the largest pool of terrestrial carbon and therefore are an important component of carbon storage in the biosphere-atmosphere system. Structure and Organic Matter Storage in Agricultural Soils explores the mechanisms and processes involved in the storage and sequestration of carbon in soils. Focusing on agricultural soils - from tropical to semi-arid types - this new book provides an in-depth look at structure, aggregation, and organic matter retention in world soils.

The first two sections of the book introduce readers to the basic issues and scientific concepts, including soil structure, underlying mechanisms and processes, and the importance of agroecosystems as carbon regulators. The third section provides detailed discussions of soil aggregation and organic matter storage under various climates, soil types, and soil management practices. The fourth section addresses current strategies for enhancing organic matter storage in soil, modelling techniques, and measurement methods.

Throughout the book, the importance of the soil structure-organic matter storage relationship is emphasized. Anyone involved in soil science, agriculture, agronomy, plant science, or greenhouse gas and global change studies should understand this relationship. Structure and Organic Matter Storage in Agricultural Soils provides an ideal source of information not only on the soil structure-storage relationship itself, but also on key research efforts and direct applications related to the storage of organic matter in agricultural soils.

• Introductory material on soil structure, aggregation, and organic matter storage
• Multi-disciplinary presentation of topics related to soil structure formation that describes the chemical, physical, biological, mineralogical, and ecological processes
• In-depth discussions on the important relationship between soil structure and carbon storage
• Unique coverage of climate and soil type and how these influence both the degree of soil aggregation and the storage of organic matter
• Concise outline of land management practices that can improve soil structure and organic matter