The two-volume Handbook of Soil Sciences is dedicated to the memory of Professor Pan Ming Huang, Editor-in-Chief, who sadly passed away before publication of this completely revised and rewritten second edition. Inspired by his vision and enthusiasm, several world-renowned soil scientists have contributed to the publication.
Given the breadth and depth of the subject matter, the Handbook has been split between two volumes. Volume I: Properties and Processes (1442 pages); and volume II: Resource Management and Environmental Impacts (830 pages). Volume I comprises five parts: Soil Physics (10 chapters); Soil Chemistry (9 chapters); Soil Mineralogy (4 chapters); Soil Biology and Biochemistry (5 chapters) and Pedology (11 chapters). These themes cover the fundamental and applied nature of soil properties (and their variability), and associated processes. Acknowledging the trans- and multi-disciplinary nature of soil science, volume II is divided into four parts: Soil Physical, Biological and Chemical Interfacial Interactions (10 chapters); Soil Fertility and Plant Nutrition (6 chapters); Interdisciplinary Aspects of Soils Science (10 chapters) and Soil Databases (7 chapters). The more integrative and applied nature of volume II follows on very well from the principles covered in volume I.
The Handbooks aim to deliver ‘a thorough understanding of soil science principles and practices based on a rigorous, complete and up to date treatment of the subject’. Relatively new concepts to soil science are included, such as ecosystem resilience, food security, precision agriculture and the role of nanotechnology. Although each volume can be considered as a ‘stand alone’ textbook, there are common threads between the two volumes, which integrate them very well.
The content is impressive. Chapter topics range from the very broad (e.g. ‘Soil structure’) to the very specific (e.g. ‘Role of abiotic catalysis in the transformation of organics, metals, metalloids and other inorganics’). The text covers first principles; definitions; concepts and theories; methodologies used to measure soil properties; and the availability, variability and interpretation of soil data. Basic ideas are clearly explained, but complex scientific advancements are presented too. As well as dealing with the enormous range of spatial scales encountered in soil science (from the molecular to the landscape), there are historical references too – covering classic models of soil formation through to recent advances in ‘state of the art’ techniques such as scanning electron microscopy, infrared absorption analysis, molecular techniques, DNA extraction, geostatistical approaches, digital soil mapping and the modelling of pedotransfer functions.
The text is well written throughout and complemented by clear and useful figures, plates, equations and data tables. Long sections of text are made readable and accessible by sensible sectioning (albeit to five levels of sub-heading in places!). Navigation is aided by helpful introductions and overviews of each section. The extensive references at the end of each chapter are extremely useful for further reading.
The Handbooks will attract a broad readership – the relevance of soil science to a range of disciplines, including agriculture, engineering, ecology, biology, hydrology, geography, geology and archaeology, is often mentioned. They will be accessible and valuable to different levels of readership, including undergraduate and postgraduate students, and professional practitioners interested in the theoretical and applied aspects of soil science. This is an expensive purchase, but the Handbooks do offer comprehensive, state-of-the-art and accessible knowledge on soil science, which is universal and will stand the test of time. As such, the volumes represent a worthwhile investment for anyone with a long-term interest in soil science.
