Tropical Soils: Properties and Management for Sustainable Agriculture (Topics in Sustainable Agronomy)

Agricultural ecology, or agroecology, deals in general with the structure and function of agroecosystems at different levels of resolution. In this text/reference, the authors describe in terms of agroecology the tropical environments of sub-Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia, and Latin and Central America, focusing on production and management systems unique to each region. Part I. Basic Considerations: 1. The Tropical Environment. 1.1 Climate and vegetation. 1.2 Agro-climatic zones. 1.3 Farming systems. 1.4 Historical lessons. 1.5 Summary. 2. Mineralogy. 2.1 Rocks and minerals. 2.2 Primary minerals. 2.3 Secondary minerals. 2.4 Summary. 3. Soil Chemistry. 3.1 Surface and charge properties of soil colloids. 3.2 Retention of ions on colloid surfaces. 3.3 Soil acidity and toxicity. 3.4 Alkalinity, salinity, and sodicity. 3.5 Summary. 4. Soil Physics. 4.1 Soil texture. 4.2 Soil structure and soil aggregation. 4.3 Bulk density, porosity, and pore-size distribution. 4.4 Soil-water retention characteristics. 4.5 Infiltration and permeability. 4.6 Water movement. 4.7 Soil solution. 4.8 Solute movement. 4.9 Soil aeration. 4.10 Soil temperature. 4.11 Summary. 5. Soil Biology and Microbiology. 5.1 Soil microflora. 5.2 Soil fauna. 5.3 Summary. 6. Soil Fertility. 6.1 Soil chemical fertility. 6.2 Soil physical fertility. 6.3 Soil biological fertility. 6.4 Summary. 7. Soil Formation and Classification. 7.1 Soil formation. 7.2 Pedological classification of soils. 7.3 Technical soil classification schemes. 7.4 Summary. 8. Major Arable Soils of the Tropics: A Descriptive Grouping Based on Clay Mineralogy. 8.1 Kaolinitic soils. 8.2 Oxidic soils. 8.3 Allophanic soils. 8.4 Smectitic soils. 8.5 Production potential and limitations. 8.6 Summary. Part II. Properties and Management. 9. Soil Management: An Overview. 9.1 Tillage and seedbed preparation. 9.2 Replenishing soil nutrients. 9.3 Soil moisture management. 9.4 Maintenance of soil organic matter. 9.5 Landscape approach to soil and water management. 9.6 Summary. 10. Properties and Management of Kaolinitic Soils. 10.1 Properties and use of kaolinitic soils. 10.2 Traditional and modern land-use systems. 10.3 Soil physical constraints and management. 10.4 Soil chemical constraints and management. 11. Properties and Management of Oxidic Soils. 11.1 High-base-status and low-base-status oxidic soils. 11.2 Physical and chemical properties. 11.3 Use and management. 11.4 Soil erosion. 11.5 Effect of continuous cultivation on soil properties. 11.6 Alternative land-use systems. 11.7 Summary. 12. Properties and Management of Smectitic Soils. 12.1 Properties of smectitic soils. 12.2 Use and management of smectitic soils in wetter regions. 12.3 Use of acid sulfate soils. 12.4 Use and management of smectitic soils in drier regions. 12.5 Summary. 13. Properties and Management of Allophanic Soils. 13.1 Properties of allophanic soils. 13.2 Use and management of allophanic soils. 13.3 Summary. 14. Soils and. Sustainable Agriculture: Ecological Considerations. 14.1 The ecosystem concept. 14.2 Agroecosystems. 14.3 Summary. Appendix. Physical and Chemical Properties of Selected Soil Profiles The Tropical Environment -- Climate And Vegetation -- Agro-climatic Zones -- Farming Systems -- Historical Lessons -- Mineralogy -- Rocks And Minerals -- Primary Minerals -- Secondary Minerals -- Soil Chemistry -- Surface And Charge Properties Of Soil Colloids -- Retention Of Ions On Colloid Surfaces -- Soil Acidity And Toxicity -- Alkalinity, Salinity, And Sodicity -- Soil Physics -- Soil Texture -- Soil Structure And Soil Aggregation -- Bulk Density, Porosity, And Pore-size Distribution -- Soil-water Retention Characteristics -- Infiltration And Permeability -- Water Movement -- Soil Solution -- Solute Movement -- Soil Aeration -- Soil Temperature -- Soil Biology And Microbiology -- Soil Microflora -- Soil Fauna -- Soil Fertility -- Soil Chemical Fertility -- Soil Physical Fertility -- Soil Biological Fertility -- Soil Formation And Classification -- Soil Formation -- Pedological Classification Of Soils -- Technical Soil Classification Schemes -- Major Arable Soils Of The Tropics: A Descriptive Grouping Based On Clay Mineralogy -- Kaolinitic Soils -- Oxidic Soils -- Allophanic Soils -- Smectitic Soils -- Production Potential And Limitations -- Properties And Management -- Tillage And Seedbed Preparation -- Replenishing Soil Nutrients -- Soil Moisture Management -- Maintenance Of Soil Organic Matter -- Landscape Approach To Soil And Water Management -- Properties And Management Of Kaolinitic Soils -- Properties And Use Of Kaolinitic Soils -- Traditional And Modern Land-use Systems. Soil Physical Constraints And Management -- Soil Chemical Constraints And Management -- Properties And Management Of Oxidic Soils -- High-base-status And Low-base-status Oxidic Soils -- Physical And Chemical Properties -- Use And Management -- Soil Erosion -- Effect Of Continuous Cultivation On Soil Properties -- Alternative Land-use Systems -- Properties And Management Of Smectitic Soils -- Use And Management Of Smectitic Soils In Wetter Regions -- Use Of Acid Sulfate Soils -- Use And Management Of Smectitic Soils In Drier Regions -- Properties And Management Of Allophanic Soils -- Use And Management Of Allophanic Soils -- Soils And Sustainable Agriculture: Ecological Considerations -- The Ecosystem Concept -- Agroecosystems -- Physical And Chemical Properties Of Selected Soil Profiles. Anthony S.r. Juo, Kathrin Franzluebbers. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 267-273) And Index. 1. Introduction. 2. Mineralogy. 3. Soil Chemistry. 4. Soil Physics. 5. Soil Biology and Microbiology. 6. Soil Fertility. 7. Soil Formation and Classification. 8. Major Soils of the Tropics: A Descriptive Classification Based on Clay Mineralogy. 9. Soil Management: An Overview. 10. Properties and Management of Kaolinitic Soils. 11. Properties and Management of Oxidic Soils. 12. Properties and Management of Smectitic Soils. 13. Properties and Management of Allophanic Soils. 14. Soils and Sustainable Agriculture The term "tropics" refers to the continuously warm and frost-free zone of the world that lies approximately between the Tropic of Cancer (or latitude 23.5 north of the equator) and the Tropic of Capricorn (or latitude 23.5 south of the equator).