Ecology and Management of Forest Soils

by Binkley, Dan; Fisher, Richard

• ISBN13: 9780470979464
• ISBN10: 0470979461
• Edition: 4th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2013-01-22
• Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

Summary

This book is about the soil that supports the world's forests. Forests can be viewed from a range of perspectives all of which are based on soils. Forest productivity is a story that centers on photosynthesis and plant growth, but plant biochemistry is supported by nutrient cycles that are essentially a soil story. Within a region, patterns of forest productivity result from spatial variations in the soils. The diversity of plant species in forests is intrinsically linked with the soil as well; across landscapes, the patterns in vegetation are typically modified- or even controlled- by patterns in soils. More than 99% of the diversity of life in forest ecosystems resides in soils, where small, numerous and important organisms make the rest of the ecosystem possible. Clearly structured throughout, the book opens with the origins of forest soil science and ends with the application of soil science principles to land management. It also provides an introduction to the literature of forest soil science and to the philosophy of forest soil science research.

Table of Contents

Preface, ix

Acknowledgments, xi

In Memoriam, xiii

PART I INTRODUCTION TO FOREST SOILS, 1

1 History of Forest Soil Science and Management, 3

2 Global Patterns in Forest Soils, 8

PART II COMPOSITION OF FOREST SOILS, 21

3 Soil Formation and Minerals, 23

4 Soil Organic Matter, 39

5 Water, Pore Space, and Soil Structure, 58

PART III LIFE AND CHEMISTRY IN FOREST SOILS, 75

6 Life in Forest Soils, 77

7 Forest Biogeochemistry, 99

8 Chemistry of Soil Surfaces and Solutions, 138

PART IV MEASURING FOREST SOILS, 157

9 Sampling Soils Across Space and Time, 159

10 Common Approaches to Measuring Soils, 175

PART V DYNAMICS OF FOREST SOILS, 189

11 Influence of Tree Species, 191

12 Soil Management – Harvesting, Site Preparation, Conversion, and Drainage, 213

13 Fire Influences, 235

14 Nutrition Management, 254

15 Managing Forest Soils for Carbon Sequestration, 276

PART VI THINKING PRODUCTIVELY ABOUT FOREST SOILS, 289

16 Evidence-Based Approaches, 291

References, 305

Index, 343