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 , 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 Written by an eminent scientist known for his seminal contributions to the field and for his definitive publications, Environmental Soil Physics is a comprehensive, fundamental, and accessible guide to the physical principles and processes governing the behavior of soil and its vital role in both natural and managed ecosystems. Based on sound theory and practical field experience, the book describes the soil as a central link in the continuous chain that constitutes the terrestrial environment; a medium that generates and sustains life, while serving to recycle waste products. It reveals how the functioning of the soil can be affected-for better or worse-by human action. Environmental Soi Physics defines and describes the dynamic cycles of energy, water, solids, solutes, mineral, gases, and living organisms in the soil. It is self-contained and self-explanatory, with numerous illustrations and sample problems, up-to-date references, and relevance to real-world conditions. 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.