Introduction to Environmental Soil Physics : the State and the Transport of Matter and Energy in the Soil-Plant-Atmosphere Continuum

An abridged, student-oriented edition of Hillel's earlier published Environmental Soil Physics, this is a more succinct elucidation of the physical principles and processes governing the behavior of soil and the vital role it plays in both natural and managed ecosystems. The textbook is self-contained and self-explanatory, with numerous illustrations and sample problems. Based on sound fundamental theory, the textbook leads to a practical consideration of soil as a living system in nature and illustrates the influences of human activity upon soil structure and function. Students, as well as other readers, will better understand the importance of soils and the pivotal possition they occupy with respect to careful and knowledgeable conservation. * Written in an engaging and clear style, posing and resolving issues relevant to the terrestrial environment.* Explores the gamut of the interactions among the phases in the soil and the dynamic interconnection of the soil with the subterranean and atmospheric domains.* Reveals the salient ideas, approaches, and methods of environmental soil physics.* Includes numerous illustrative exercises, which are explicitly solved.* Designed to serve for classroom and laboratory instruction, for self-study, and for reference.* Oriented toward practical problems in ecology, field-scale hydrology, agronomy, and civil engineering.* Differs from earlier texts in its wider scope and holistic environmental conception Front Cover......Page 1 INTRODUCTION TO ENVIRONMENTAL SOIL PHYSICS......Page 6 Copyright Page......Page 7 CONTENTS......Page 8 LIST OF TEXT BOXES......Page 12 PREFACE......Page 14 PART I: BASIC RELATIONSHIPS......Page 18 CHAPTER 1. SOIL PHYSICS AND SOIL PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS......Page 20 CHAPTER 2. WATER PROPERTIES IN RELATION TO POROUS MEDIA......Page 36 PART II: THE SOLID PHASE......Page 54 CHAPTER 3. PARTICLE SIZES, SHAPES, AND SPECIFIC SURFACE......Page 56 CHAPTER 4. CLAY, THE COLLOIDAL COMPONENT......Page 70 CHAPTER 5. SOIL STRUCTURE AND AGGREGATION......Page 90 PART III: THE LIQUID PHASE......Page 108 CHAPTER 6. WATER CONTENT AND POTENTIAL......Page 110 CHAPTER 7. WATER FLOW IN SATURATED SOIL......Page 144 CHAPTER 8. WATER FLOW IN UNSATURATED SOIL......Page 166 CHAPTER 9. SOLUTE MOVEMENT AND SOIL SALINITY......Page 184 PART IV: THE GASEOUS PHASE......Page 204 CHAPTER 10. GAS CONTENT AND COMPOSITION......Page 206 CHAPTER 11. GAS MOVEMENT AND EXCHANGE......Page 218 PART V: COMPOSITE PHENOMENA......Page 230 CHAPTER 12. SOIL TEMPERATURE AND HEAT FLOW......Page 232 CHAPTER 13. STRESS, STRAIN, AND STRENGTH OF SOIL BODIES......Page 252 PART VI: THE FIELD WATER CYCLE......Page 274 CHAPTER 14. WATER ENTRY INTO SOIL......Page 276 CHAPTER 15. SURFACE RUNOFF AND WATER EROSION......Page 300 CHAPTER 16. REDISTRIBUTION AND RETENTION OF SOIL MOISTURE......Page 314 CHAPTER 17. GROUNDWATER DRAINAGE AND POLLUTION......Page 332 CHAPTER 18. EVAPORATION FROM BARE SOIL AND WIND EROSION......Page 354 PART VII: SOIL–PLANT–WATER RELATIONS......Page 380 CHAPTER 19. PLANT UPTAKE OF SOIL MOISTURE......Page 382 CHAPTER 20. WATER BALANCE AND ENERGY BALANCE IN THE FIELD......Page 402 CHAPTER 21. IRRIGATION AND WATER-USE EFFICIENCY......Page 424 GLOSSARY......Page 444 BIBLIOGRAPHY......Page 460 INDEX......Page 502 An abridged, student-oriented edition of Hillel's earlier published Environmental Soil Physics , Introduction to Environmental Soil Physics is a more succinct elucidation of the physical principles and processes governing the behavior of soil and the vital role it plays in both natural and managed ecosystems. The textbook is self-contained and self-explanatory, with numerous illustrations and sample problems. Based on sound fundamental theory, the textbook leads to a practical consideration of soil as a living system in nature and illustrates the influences of human activity upon soil structure and function. Students, as well as other readers, will better understand the importance of soils and the pivotal possition they occupy with respect to careful and knowledgeable conservation. Written in an engaging and clear style, posing and resolving issues relevant to the terrestrial environment Explores the gamut of the interactions among the phases in the soil and the dynamic interconnection of the soil with the subterranean and atmospheric domains Reveals the salient ideas, approaches, and methods of environmental soil physics Includes numerous illustrative exercises, which are explicitly solved Designed to serve for classroom and laboratory instruction, for self-study, and for reference Oriented toward practical problems in ecology, field-scale hydrology, agronomy, and civil engineering Differs from earlier texts in its wider scope and holistic environmental conception An abridged, student-oriented edition of Hillel's earlier published Environmental Soil Physics, this is a more succinct elucidation of the physical principles and processes governing the behavior of soil and the vital role it plays in both natural and managed ecosystems. The textbook is self-contained and self-explanatory, with numerous illustrations and sample problems. Based on sound fundamental theory, the textbook leads to a practical consideration of soil as a living system in nature and illustrates the influences of human activity upon soil structure and function. Students, as well as other readers, will better understand the importance of soils and the pivotal possition they occupy with respect to careful and knowledgeable conservation.

* Written in an engaging and clear style, posing and resolving issues relevant to the terrestrial environment.
* Explores the gamut of the interactions among the phases in the soil and the dynamic interconnection of the soil with the subterranean and atmospheric domains.
* Reveals the salient ideas, approaches, and methods of environmental soil physics.
* Includes numerous illustrative exercises, which are explicitly solved.
* Designed to serve for classroom and laboratory instruction, for self-study, and for reference.
* Oriented toward practical problems in ecology, field-scale hydrology, agronomy, and civil engineering.
* Differs from earlier texts in its wider scope and holistic environmental conception Offers an elucidation of the physical principles and processes governing the behavior of soil and the vital role it plays in both natural and managed ecosystems. This title illustrates the influences of human activity upon soil structure and function. It includes numerous illustrations and sample problems.