About Book

Dependence on and curiosity about soil, exploring the diversity and dynamics of this resource continues to yield fresh discoveries and insights. Soil science is the study of soil as a natural resource on the surface of the Earth including soil formation, classification and mapping; physical, chemical, biological, and fertility properties of soils; and these properties in relation to the use and management of soils. Soil serves as a universal sink for all types of pollutants, purifies ground water and is a major reserve of carbon in the universe. Maintaining soil ecological balance for the growth of plants and crops is crucial. It encompasses the study of the numerous interactions taking place in the soil. It includes the interactions between organisms as well as that with environmental factors. Soil also plays a crucial role in the decomposition of waste materials that could otherwise enter natural water sources. This book discusses techniques and methods related to soil erosion, semiarid ecosystems, degraded soil, phosphate solubilisation, steppe ecosystem, soil microbiota, tropical soils, bioremediation techniques and agroecosystem. It includes contributions of experts and scientists that will provide innovative insights into this field. The research in this field is constantly guided by the challenges and needs of civilization. It attempts to understand the multiple branches that fall under the discipline of soil management and how such concepts have practical applications. Coherent flow of topics, student-friendly language and extensive use of examples make this book a valuable source of knowledge. Researchers, students and professionals engaged in the field of soil science will find this book extremely useful.

Preface............................................................................................................v

Chapter 1 Control of Soil pH, Its Ecological and Agronomic Assessment in an Agroecosystem.......................................................................................1

Abstract...................................................................................................1

1. Introduction............................................................................................2

2. Description of the experiment............................................................3

3. Management of soil acidity.................................................................7

4. Soil pH and microbial prevalence...................................................12

5. Soil pH effect on organic carbon and water stable aggregate

content...................................................................................................18

6. Soil pH effect on crop productivity and weediness....................23

7. Conclusions..........................................................................................26

Acknowledgements.............................................................................27

Chapter 2 Integrating Ecosystem Services in Historically Polluted Areas: Bioremediation Techniques for Soils Contaminated by Heavy Metals...........................................................................................................32

Abstract.................................................................................................32

1. Introduction..........................................................................................33

2. Soil pollution in industrial and mining areas...............................35

3. Phytoremediation: a green technology to remove heavy metals

from the soil.........................................................................................36

4. Future developments..........................................................................44

5. Conclusions..........................................................................................45

Chapter 3 Multi-Analytical Interactions in Support of Sugarcane

Agroecosystems Sustainability in Tropical Soils.............................56

Abstract.................................................................................................56

1. Introduction..........................................................................................57

2. Nutrient management and soil amendmen-ts..............................59

3. Crop residue and harvest management.........................................68

4. Considerations.....................................................................................74

Acknowledgements.............................................................................75

Chapter 4 Cyanobacterial Toxins Emerging Contaminants in Soils: A Review

of Sources, Fate and Impacts on Ecosystems, Plants and Animal

and Human Health .................................................................................88

Abstract ................................................................................................88

1. Introduction..........................................................................................89

2. Cyanotoxins and their producers....................................................90

3. Sources and occurrence of cyanotoxins in the soil......................91

4. Fate and transport of cyanotoxins in agricultural systems........93

5. Impacts of cyanotoxins on soil organisms.....................................95

6. Bioaccumulation of cyanotoxins in agricultural plants and

consequences on human and animal health.................................99

7. Conclusion and future directions..................................................100

Chapter 5 Functional Redundancy and Ecosystem Function — The Soil

Microbiota as a Case Study.................................................................114

1. Introduction........................................................................................114

2. Microbial diversity and its contribution to ecosystem

function...............................................................................................116

3. Microbial BEF: A world of contradictions...................................117

4. Functional redundancy and diversity...........................................121

5. The additive effect of biodiversity.................................................123

6. Moving forward: Redundancy and adaptive capacity..............129

7. Conclusion..........................................................................................130

Chapter 6 Soil Organic Matter Stability as Affected by Land Management in

Steppe Ecosystems..................................................................................139

1. Introduction........................................................................................139

2. Materials and methods....................................................................145

3. Impact of soil management practices on content of total organic

C and N in soil..................................................................................147

4. Impact of agricultural practices on labile SOM..........................151

5. Characterization of soil organic matter dynamics from different

climatic zones.....................................................................................168

6. Carbon to nitrogen ratio (C to N) of plant residues.................176

7. Conclusions........................................................................................178

Chapter 7 Phosphate Solubilization and Mobilization in Soil Through

Microorganisms Under Arid Ecosystems..........................................189

1. Introduction........................................................................................189

2. Forms of phosphorous in soil .......................................................190

3. Phosphate solubilizing microorganisms.......................................192

4. Mechanisms of phosphate solubilization ....................................193

5. Solubilization of calcium phosphate (Ca-P) ...............................196

6. Solubilization of Iron phosphate/aluminum phosphate

(Fe-P / Al-P) ......................................................................................197

7. Mineralization of organic phosphate ...........................................197

8. Response of phosphate solubilizing microorganisms under arid

ecosystems .......................................................................................198

9. Conclusion .........................................................................................201

Chapter 8 Pyrolysis-Gas Chromatography to Evaluate the Organic Matter

Quality of Different Degraded Soil Ecosystems.............................210

1. Introduction........................................................................................210

2. Methodologies .................................................................................212

3. Case studies .....................................................................................216

4. Statistical considerations ................................................................229

5. Conclusions .......................................................................................233

6. Acknowledgment..............................................................................234

Chapter 9 Soil Erosion and Conservation Measures in Semiarid Ecosystems

Affected by Wildfires ............................................................................238

1. Introduction........................................................................................238

2. Erosion on contrasting soil types affected by fire ....................239

3. Rainfall energy effects on soil erosion and runoff generation in

semi-arid forested lands..................................................................244

4. Fire effects on soil properties under laboratory–controlled

heatings ..............................................................................................246

5. Fire effects on soil water repellency: A laboratory approach with

contrasted soils..................................................................................249

6. Rehabilitation practices in areas affected by wildfires..............251

7. Conclusions .......................................................................................259

8. Acknowledgments ...........................................................................260

Chapter 10 Soil Erosion Aspects in Agricultural Ecosystem ...........................266

1. Introduction........................................................................................266

2. Experimental device ........................................................................269

3. Experimental site .............................................................................272

4. Climatic and pluviometric analysis .............................................275

5. Topographic analysis .....................................................................276

6. Models description .........................................................................277

7. Results ................................................................................................282

8. Conclusion .........................................................................................290

Citation......................................................................................................293

Index...........................................................................................................295

About Author

Andrew Wang pursued his Ph.D. in Soil & Land Resources from Agricultural University, Idaho. His primary areas of scholarly and research interests lie in the fields of soil nutrition, soil chemistry and sustainable soil management. He is a Visiting Professor at Community College, Huelva. He has authored and edited a number of academic periodicals, journal papers, articles and books related to soil and root ecology. He is an active member of several scientific and technical societies, where he shares his expertise and knowledge in the field of soil management.