Footprints in the Soil : People and Ideas in Soil History.
Title:
Footprints in the Soil : People and Ideas in Soil History.
Author:
Warkentin, Benno P.
ISBN:
9780080477879
Personal Author:
Physical Description:
1 online resource (573 pages)
Contents:
Front Cover -- Footprints in the Soil: People and Ideas in Soil History -- Copyright Page -- Table of Contents -- List of Contributors -- Preface -- Acknowledgments -- Special Acknowledgment and Appreciation to Dan Yaalon -- Section I: Early Understanding of Soils -- Chapter 1. Soil Scientists in Ancient Rome -- Introduction -- Soil Terminology and Soil Concepts -- Methods for Testing Soils -- Suitability Descriptions -- Concluding Remarks -- Sources: Editions and Abbreviations -- References -- Chapter 2. Aztec Soil Knowledge: Classes, Management, and Ecology -- Sources -- Aztec Soil Descriptions: Texts and Glyphs -- Aztec Agricultural Soil Classes -- Control of the Soil Environment -- Non-agricultural Application of Aztec Soil Knowledge -- Retrospect -- References -- Chapter 3. The Heritage of Soil Knowledge Among the World's Cultures -- Introduction -- Significance of Indigenous Knowledge -- Approaches to Indigenous Knowledge Documentation and Evaluation -- Case Studies to Illustrate the Scope of Indigenous Knowledge of Soil -- Soil Knowledge Among Cultures in Humid Tropical Lowlands -- Soil Knowledge Among Cultures in Arid and Semiarid Lands -- Soil Knowledge Among Cultures in Mountain Regions -- Conclusions -- Acknowledgments -- References -- Chapter 4. Some Major Scientists (Palissy, Buffon, Thaer, Darwin and Müller) Have Described Soil Profiles and Developed Soil Survey Techniques Before 1883 -- Abstract -- Introduction -- 1563,1580: The Auger and Its Use Described by Bernard Palissy -- 1734: Description of Soil Horizons, Erosion and Geochemical Cycles by Georges-Louis Ledere de Buffon -- 1791: William Bartram, Traveller and Observer of Soils of the United States -- 1812: Mapping and Agricultural Soils Analysis by Daniel Albrecht Thaer -- 1837: Pedological Profile Drawings by Charles Darwin -- 1870-1877: A. Orth.
1879,1884: The Natural Forms of Humus and the Birth of Pedology with the Danish Forester P.E. Müller -- Conclusion -- Acknowledgement -- References -- Chapter 5. Souls and Soils: A Survey of Worldviews -- Introduction -- Summary -- References -- Section II: Soil as a Natural Body -- Chapter 6. The Roots of Dokuchaev's Scientific Contributions: Cadastral Soil Mapping and Agro-Environmental Issues -- Introduction -- The Scientific Societies -- Maps and Cadasters -- Grain Yields and Ecological Issues -- Conclusion -- References -- Chapter 7. Philosophical Developments in Pedology in the United States: Eugene Hilgard and Milton Whitney -- Introduction -- The Calm Before the Storm -- Stormy Skies -- A Deluge Begins -- "There is More to Come" -- Acknowledgments -- Appendix -- References -- Inset -- Chapter 8. Development of the Soil Cover Pattern and Soil Catena Concepts -- Introduction -- Early Soil Surveys and Initial Accumulation of Soil Cover Pattern Data -- Soil Catena Concept as a Component of a Soil Geography Paradigm -- Soil Landscape Models and the Soil Cover Pattern Concept -- Summary -- References Cited -- Chapter 9. A History of Soil Geomorphology in the United States -- Introduction -- 19th Century to the 1930s -- 1930s to 1941 -- The War Years -- 1945-1974 -- 1974-2004 -- Summary and Conclusions -- Notes -- Acknowledgments -- References Cited -- Section III: Soil Properties and Processes -- Chapter 10. Soils In Ecology and Ecology In Soils -- Integration Before the Disciplines Emerged: Darwin and Pasteur -- Early Themes in the Development of Ecology and Soil Science -- Soils and Ecosystem Ecology -- Views on Ecology and Soil Science in the 21st Century -- Acknowledgements -- References -- Chapter 11. History of Soil Biology -- The Dawn and Lag Phase of Soil Biology -- The True Beginning of Soil Biology.
Development and Expansion of Soil Microbiology -- Soil Fauna (Meso and Macrobiota) in the Development and Study of Soil Biology and Soil Ecology -- Contribution of Micro morphology and Microscopy in the Study of Soil Biology -- Illustration of the Contributions of Microscopic and Submicroscopic Studies in Soil Biology -- "Modern" Soil Biology -- References -- Chapter 12. Historical Aspects of Soil Chemistry -- The Origins of Agricultural Chemistry: The Forerunner of Soil Chemistry -- Major Themes in Soil Chemistry -- The Road in Soil Chemistry, Summary -- References -- Chapter 13. The Changing Understanding of Physica l Properties of Soils: Water Flow, Soil Architecture -- PHYSICS OF WATER MOVEMENT IN PARTLY SATURATED SOILS -- Introduction -- Infiltration from Green and Ampt to Philip -- Concluding Remarks -- References for Physics of Water Movement in Partly Saturated Soils -- SOIL ARCHITECTURE: FROM TILTH TO HABITAT -- Introduction -- Thinking About Soil Architecture in Different Periods -- Architecture for Soil Functions -- Summary -- References for Soil Architecture -- Section IV: Soil Utilization and Conservation -- Chapter 14 Soil Erosion and Conservation: An International History anda Cautionary Tale -- Introduction -- Techniques Affecting Soil Movement Before the Era of Soil Conservation Professionals -- Evolution of the Soil Conservation Profession -- National Soil Conservation Programs: 20th C USA and Southern Africa -- Summary and Conclusions -- Suggested Further Reading -- References -- Chapter 15. Stewardship and Soil Health -- Introduction -- Early Views of Soils and Soil Health and Quality -- Maintaining Soil Health -- Urbanization and Demands on Soils -- Recent Trends in Stewardship and Soil Health -- Future Prospects -- Literature Cited -- References for Further Reading -- Chapter 16. Soil Nutrient Management for Plant Growth.
Introduction -- Plant Growth without Soil Management -- Empirical Soil Management -- Scientific Soil Nutrient Management -- Special Aspects of Soil Nutrient Management -- Summary -- References -- Chapter 17. Soils and Environmental Issues -- Introduction -- Historical Background -- Fertilizers: 1843-1900 -- Fertilizers: 1900-2000 -- Leaching Experiments: 1870-1980 -- 1980-2004 -- Issues That Emerged in the Late 20th Century -- Heavy Metals -- Phosphate Leaching -- Soils and Carbon Sequestration -- Concluding Remarks -- References -- Chapter 18. Ancient Agricultural Terraces and Soils -- Introduction -- Terracing Geography and History -- Forms and Functions of Terracing -- Landscape Use and Modification -- Soil Use and Alteration -- Cases of Soil Conservation and Degradation -- Indigenous Knowledge Expressed in Terracing -- Conclusions -- Acknowledgments -- References -- Colour Plate Section -- Author Index -- Subject Index.
Abstract:
The history of science discipline is contributing valuable knowledge of the culture of soil understanding, of the conditions in society that fostered the ideas, and of why they developed in certain ways. This book is about the progressive "footprints made by scientists in the soil. It contains chapters chosen from important topics in the development of soil science, and tells the story of the people and the exciting ideas that contributed to our present understanding of soils. Initiated by discussions within the Soil Science Society of America and the International Union of Soil Sciences, this book uniquely illustrates the significance of soils to our society. It is planned for soils students, for various scientific disciplines, and for members of the public who show an increasing interest in soil. This book allows us to answer the questions: "How do we know what we know about soils? and "How did one step or idea lead to the next one? The chapters are written by an international group of authors, each with special interests, bound together by the central theme of soils and how we came to our present understanding of soils. Each concentrate on soil knowledge in the western world and draw primarily on written accounts available in English and European languages. Academics, graduate students, researchers and practitioners will gain new insights from these studies of how ideas in soil science and understanding of uses of soils developed. * Discusses tracing soils knowledge accumulated from Roman times, first by soil users and after 1800s by scientists * Offers ideas about how soils knowledge was influenced by the social context and by human needs * Combines the history of ideas with scientific knowledge of soils * Written by chapter authors who combine subject matter expertise with knowledge of practical soil uses, and provide numerous references
for further study of the relevant literature.
Local Note:
Electronic reproduction. Ann Arbor, Michigan : ProQuest Ebook Central, 2017. Available via World Wide Web. Access may be limited to ProQuest Ebook Central affiliated libraries.
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