Contributors ................................................. viii
Preface ......................................................... x
1 The historical development of studies on soil-plant
interactions ................................................. 1
Stephen Nortcliff and Peter J. Gregory
1.1 Introduction ............................................ 1
1.2 The search for the 'principle' of vegetation,
1630-1750 ............................................... 2
1.3 The search for plant nutrients .......................... 4
1.4 The beginnings of soil microbiology .................... 10
1.5 The development and application of modern knowledge
of soils ............................................... 13
References .................................................. 20
2 Plant and crop science ...................................... 22
Sayed Azam-Ali
2.1 Introductory principles of resource capture by crops ... 22
2.2 Growth and development ................................. 23
2.3 Solar radiation ........................................ 27
2.4 Water .................................................. 32
2.5 Integrating principles of resource capture by crops .... 42
2.6 Conclusion ............................................. 45
References .................................................. 46
3 Soil fertility .............................................. 49
Elizabeth A. Stockdale, Keith W.T. Goulding, Timothy
S. George, and Daniel V. Murphy
3.1 Introduction ........................................... 49
3.2 Concepts of soil fertility ............................. 50
3.3 Plant-soil interactions determining soil fertility ..... 57
3.4 Assessing soil fertility ............................... 62
3.5 Managing soil fertility ................................ 72
References .................................................. 79
4 Soil organic matter ......................................... 86
David Powlson, Pete Smith, and Maria De Nobili
4.1 Introduction ........................................... 86
4.2 Factors influencing SOM content ........................ 88
4.3 Modelling SOM dynamics ................................. 93
4.4 Chemical structure of SOM as elucidated using new
forms of spectroscopy - advances and pitfalls ......... 100
4.5 Organo-mineral interactions ........................... 108
4.6 Fractionation methods for studying SOM ................ 111
4.7 The living part of SOM - the soil microbial biomass ... 115
4.8 SOM and soil physical conditions and implications
for plant growth ...................................... 116
4.9 Soil С and climate change ............................. 120
References ................................................. 126
5 Nitrogen and phosphorus cycles and their management ........ 132
Phil M. Haygarth, Richard D. Bardgett, and Leo M. Condron
5.1 Introduction .......................................... 132
5.2 Sources of nitrogen and phosphorus to soil-plant
systems ............................................... 134
5.3 Chemical and biological processes of nutrient
cycling, transformations and bioavailability .......... 137
5.4 Processes of nitrogen and phosphorus losses from
soils ................................................. 145
5.5 Nitrogen and phosphorus use in agricultural systems ... 149
5.6 Future soil nutrient cycles and environmental change .. 153
References ................................................. 155
6 Properties and management of cationic elements for crop
growth ..................................................... 160
Philip J. White and Duncan J. Greenwood
6.1 The movement of essential cationic elements to the
root surface .......................................... 160
6.2 Cationic elements in plants ........................... 163
6.3 The uptake of essential cationic elements from the
rhizosphere ........................................... 169
6.4 Cationic elements in the soil solution ................ 173
6.5 Management practices increasing the acquisition of
essential mineral cations ............................. 180
6.6 Genetic strategies to improve the efficiency of
acquisition and physiological use of essential
cationic elements ..................................... 183
6.7 Concluding remarks .................................... 186
References ................................................. 187
7 Managing adverse soil chemical environments ................ 195
Mark E. Hodson and Erica Donner
7.1 Potentially toxic metals (PTMs) ....................... 195
7.2 Salt-affected soils (saline, sodic and saline-sodic
soils) ................................................ 206
7.3 Acid and alkaline soils ............................... 218
References ................................................. 228
8 Managing the soil physical environment for plants .......... 238
Paul D. Hallett and A. Glyn Bengough
8.1 Introduction .......................................... 238
8.2 Basic physical properties of soil ..................... 238
8.3 Soil structure ........................................ 241
8.4 Soil tilth and seedbeds ............................... 249
8.5 Critical soil physical conditions for plant growth .... 257
References ................................................. 261
9 Soil water and its management .............................. 269
Anne Verhoef and Gregorio Egea
9.1 Soil water management - a general overview ............ 269
9.2 Key concepts related to water in soil ................. 270
9.3 Soil water and plants ................................. 281
9.4 Determination of soil water balance and related
variables ............................................. 288
9.5 Water management to alleviate soil water shortage ..... 298
9.6 Water management to alleviate excess water ............ 308
References ................................................. 312
10 Plant-induced changes in soil processes and properties ..... 323
Philippe Hinsinger
10.1 Introduction .......................................... 323
10.2 Roles of plants in carbon cycling: deposition,
burial and emission ................................... 324
10.3 Roles of plants in soil acidification ................. 335
10.4 Roles of plants in the weathering of soil minerals .... 342
10.5 Conclusion ............................................ 353
References ................................................. 355
11 Sustainable management of soil and plant health by
optimising soil biological function ........................ 366
Dominic Standing and Ken Killham
11.1 Introduction .......................................... 366
11.2 Managing soil and plant health ........................ 368
11.3 Conclusion ............................................ 386
References ................................................. 386
12 Managing the soil-plant system for the delivery of
ecosystem services ......................................... 390
David W. Hopkins and Edward G. Gregorich
12.1 Introduction .......................................... 390
12.2 Roles of soils ........................................ 394
12.3 Sustainable soil use and soil quality ................. 409
12.4 Concluding remarks .................................... 413
References ................................................. 414
13 The new challenge - sustainable production in a changing
environment ................................................ 417
Peter J. Gregory and Stephen Nortcliff
13.1 Introduction .......................................... 417
13.2 Human-induced environmental change .................... 418
13.3 Food security and food production ..................... 426
13.4 Routes to sustainable intensification ................. 434
References ................................................. 442
Index ......................................................... 449
A colour plate section falls between pages 214 and 215
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