Soil Organic Matter and Biological Activity (=Developments in Plant and Soil Sciences (16)).

Vaughan, D. and R.E. Malcolm:

ISBN 10: 9024731542 / ISBN 13: 9789024731541

Published by Nijhoff / Junk, 1985

About this Item

484 p. Well preserved copy from a company library with labels, stamps to front endpaper. ISBN: 9789024731541 Sprache: Englisch Gewicht in Gramm: 851 15,6 x 2,9 x 23,4 cm, hardcover with dustjacket.

Seller Inventory # 60163

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Soil Organic Matter and Biological Activity (=Developments in Plant and Soil Sciences (16)).
• Publisher: Nijhoff / Junk
• Publication Date: 1985
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 9024731542
• ISBN 13: 9789024731541
• Binding: Hardcover
• Condition: Gut
• Weight: 851 grams
• Seller catalogs:
  • Ökologie

About this title

Synopsis

It has long been recognized that soil organic matter is the key to soil fertility. As a nutrient store it gradually provides essential elements which the soil cannot retain for long in inorganic form. It buffers growing plants against sudden changes in their chemical environment and preserves moisture in times of drought. It keeps the soil in a friable, easily penetrated physical condition, well-aerated and free draining, providing young seedlings with an excellent medium for growth. But it has another property, the nature and extent of which have been the subject of argu­ ment and controversy ever since scientists began to study the soil, and that is its ability to affect growth directly, other than by providing nutrient elements. Any­ one wishing to learn about these effects has been faced with a daunting mass of literature, some confusing, often contradictory, and spread through a multitude of journals. Individual aspects have been covered from time to time in reviews but there has obviously been a need for a modern authoritative text book dealing with the many facets of this subject, so the publication of this volume is timely. The editors and authors are all specialists in their fields, fully familiar with the com­ plex nature of soil organic matter and with the particular difficulties arising in any study of its properties. Where controversies exist they have presented all sides of the argument and have highlighted areas where further work is badly needed.