Geopedology : an integration of geomorphology and pedology for soil and landscape studies

This book offers a proven approach for reliable mapping of soil-landscape relationships to derive information for policy, planning and management at scales ranging from local to regional. It presents the theoretical and conceptual framework of the geopedologic approach and a bulk of applied research showing its application and benefits for knowledge generation relevant to geohazard studies, land use conflict analysis, land use planning, land degradation assessment, and land suitability analysis. Soil is a vital resource for society at large and an important determinant of the economic status of nations. The intensification of natural disasters and the increased land use competition for food and energy have raised awareness of the relevant role the pedosphere plays in natural and anthropogenic environments. Recent papers and global initiatives show a renewed interest in soil research and its applications for improved planning and management of this fragile and finite resource. Front Matter....Pages i-xviii Presentation....Pages 1-4 Front Matter....Pages 5-5 Introduction....Pages 7-9 Relationships Between Geomorphology and Pedology: Brief Review....Pages 11-26 The Geopedologic Approach....Pages 27-59 The Pedologic Landscape: Organization of the Soil Material....Pages 61-76 The Geomorphic Landscape: Criteria for Classifying Geoforms....Pages 77-99 The Geomorphic Landscape: Classification of Geoforms....Pages 101-125 The Geomorphic Landscape: The Attributes of Geoforms....Pages 127-163 Front Matter....Pages 165-165 Linking Ethnopedology and Geopedology: A Synergistic Approach to Soil Mapping. Case Study in an Indigenous Community of Central Mexico....Pages 167-181 Diversity of Soil-Landscape Relationships: State of the Art and Future Challenges....Pages 183-191 A New Soil-Landscape Approach to the Genesis and Distribution of Typic and Vertic Argiudolls in the Rolling Pampa of Argentina....Pages 193-209 Soil-Landform Relationships in the Arid Northern United Arab Emirates....Pages 211-225 Knowledge Is Power: Where Geopedologic Insights Are Necessary for Predictive Digital Soil Mapping....Pages 227-237 Geopedology, a Tool for Soil-Geoform Pattern Analysis....Pages 239-250 Use of Soil Maps and Surveys to Interpret Soil-Landform Assemblages and Soil-Landscape Evolution....Pages 251-264 Applying a Geopedologic Approach for Mapping Tropical Forest Soils and Related Soil Fertility in Northern Thailand....Pages 265-281 Front Matter....Pages 283-283 Soil Mapping Based on Landscape Classification in the Semiarid Chaco, Argentina....Pages 285-303 Updating a Physiography-Based Soil Map Using Digital Soil Mapping Techniques....Pages 305-319 Contribution of Open Access Global SAR Mosaics to Soil Survey Programs at Regional Level: A Case Study in North-Eastern Patagonia....Pages 321-346 Geopedology Promotes Precision and Efficiency in Soil Mapping. Photo-Interpretation Application in the Henares River Valley, Spain....Pages 347-360 Front Matter....Pages 283-283 Geomorphometric Landscape Analysis of Agricultural Areas and Rangelands of Western Australia....Pages 361-376 Digital Elevation Models to Improve Soil Mapping in Mountainous Areas: Case Study in Colombia....Pages 377-388 Neuro-fuzzy Classification of the Landscape for Soil Mapping in the Central Plains of Venezuela....Pages 389-396 Front Matter....Pages 397-397 Gully Erosion Analysis. Why Geopedology Matters?....Pages 399-409 Assessing Soil Susceptibility to Mass Movements: Case Study of the Coello River Basin, Colombia....Pages 411-424 Geomorphic Landscape Approach to Mapping Soil Degradation and Hazard Prediction in Semi-arid Environments: Salinization in the Cochabamba Valleys, Bolivia....Pages 425-439 Geopedology and Land Degradation in North-West Argentina....Pages 441-455 Adequacy of Soil Information Resulting from Geopedology-Based Predictive Soil Mapping for Assessing Land Degradation: Case Studies in Thailand....Pages 457-471 Front Matter....Pages 473-473 Ecological Land Zonation Using Integrated Geopedologic and Vegetation Information: Case Study of the Cabo de Gata-Níjar Natural Park, Almería, Spain....Pages 475-487 Design and Evaluation of an Afforestation Project Based on Geopedologic and Ecological Information in North-Western Patagonia, Argentina....Pages 489-504 Territorial Zoning Based on Geopedologic Information: Case Study in the Caroni River Basin, Venezuela....Pages 505-519 Contribution of Geopedology to Land Use Conflict Analysis and Land Use Planning in the Western Urban Fringe of Caracas, Venezuela....Pages 521-534 Front Matter....Pages 535-535 Synthesis and Conclusions....Pages 537-548 Back Matter....Pages 549-556