Ecology and Management of Forest Soils

Forest soils are the foundation of the entire forest ecosystem and complex, long-term interactions between trees, soil animals, and the microbial community shape soils in was that are very distinct from agricultural soils. The composition, structure, and processes in forest soils at any given time reflect current conditions, as well as the legacies of decades (and even millennia) of interactions that shape each forest soil. Reciprocal interactions are fundamental; vegetation alters soil physical properties, which influence soil biology and chemistry, which in turn influence the growth and success of plants. These dynamic systems may be strongly influenced by intentional and unintentional management, ranging from fire to fertilization. Sustaining the long-term fertility of forest soils depends on insights about a diverse array of soil features and changes over space and time. Since the third edition of this successful book many new interests in forest soils and their management have arisen, including the role of forest soils in sequestering carbon, and how management influences rates of carbon accumulation. This edition also expands the consideration of how soils are sampled and characterized, and how tree species differ in their influence on soil development. 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. This new edition provides: A completely revised and updated Fourth Edition of this classic textbook in the field A coherent overview of the major issues surrounding the ecology and management of forest soils Global in scope with coverage of soil types ranging from the tropical rainforest soils of Latin America to the boreal forest soils of Siberia New chapters on Management: Carbon sequestration; Evidence-based approaches and applications of geostatistics, GIS and taxonomies A clear overview of each topic, informative examples/case studies, and an overall context for helping readers think clearly about forest soils An introduction to the literature of forest soil science and to the philosophy of forest soil science research This coherent overview of the major issues surrounding the ecology and management of forest soils will be particularly useful to students taking courses in soil science, forestry, agronomy, ecology, natural resource management, environmental management and conservation, as well as professionals in forestry dealing with the productivity of forests and functioning of watersheds.

Forest soils are the foundation of the entire forest ecosystemand complex, long-term interactions between trees, soil animalsand the microbial community shape soils in was that are verydistinct from agricultural soils. Thecomposition, structure, and processes in forest soils at any giventime reflect current conditions, as well as the legacies of decades(and even millennia) of interactions that shape each forestsoil. Reciprocal interactions are fundamental; vegetationalters soil physical properties, which influence soil biology andchemistry, which in turn influence the growth and success ofplants. These dynamic systems may be strongly influenced byintentional and unintentional management, ranging from fire tofertilization. Sustaining the long-term fertility of forestsoils depends on insights about a diverse array of soil featuresand changes over space and time.Since the third edition of this successful book many newinterests in forest soils and their management have arisenincluding the role of forest soils in sequestering carbon, and howmanagement influences rates of carbon accumulation. Thisedition also expands the consideration of how soils are sampled andcharacterized, and how tree species differ in their influence onsoil development.Clearly structured throughout, the book opens with the originsof forest soil science and ends with the application of soilscience principles to land management. This new editionprovides:* A completely revised and updated Fourth Edition of this classictextbook in the field* A coherent overview of the major issues surrounding the ecologyand management of forest soils* Global in scope with coverage of soil types ranging from thetropical rainforest soils of Latin America to the boreal forestsoils of Siberia* New chapters on Management: Carbon sequestration;Evidence-based approaches and applications of geostatisticsGIS and taxonomies* A clear overview of each topic, informative examples/casestudies, and an overall context for helping readers think clearlyabout forest soils* An introduction to the literature of forest soil science and tothe philosophy of forest soil science researchThis coherent overview of the major issues surrounding theecology and management of forest soils will be particularly usefulto students taking courses in soil science, forestry, agronomyecology, natural resource management, environmental management andconservation, as well as professionals in forestry dealing with theproductivity of forests and functioning of watersheds.

Preface, ixAcknowledgments, xiIn Memoriam, xiiiPART I INTRODUCTION TO FOREST SOILS, 11 History of Forest Soil Science and Management, 32 Global Patterns in Forest Soils, 8PART II COMPOSITION OF FOREST SOILS, 213 Soil Formation and Minerals, 234 Soil Organic Matter, 395 Water, Pore Space, and Soil Structure, 58PART III LIFE AND CHEMISTRY IN FOREST SOILS, 756 Life in Forest Soils, 777 Forest Biogeochemistry, 998 Chemistry of Soil Surfaces and Solutions, 138PART IV MEASURING FOREST SOILS, 1579 Sampling Soils Across Space and Time, 15910 Common Approaches to Measuring Soils, 175PART V DYNAMICS OF FOREST SOILS, 18911 Influence of Tree Species, 19112 Soil Management - Harvesting, Site PreparationConversion, and Drainage, 21313 Fire Influences, 23514 Nutrition Management, 25415 Managing Forest Soils for Carbon Sequestration, 276PART VI THINKING PRODUCTIVELY ABOUT FOREST SOILS, 28916 Evidence-Based Approaches, 291References, 305Index, 343