Now in its third edition, Soil Physics gives a comprehensive account of soil physics with emphasis on field applications for students and research workers engaged in water resources studies, soil sciences, and plant sciences. The authors have added chapters on soil erosion, conservation, and the role of soil in affecting water quality to this new edition. Soil Physics gives an account of how water influences the structure and strength of soil; how plants absorb water from soils; how water from rain and irrigation enters the soil and flows through it to contribute to stream flow and flow in artificial drains; how soluble salts and chemical pollutants are transported; how soils are eroded by water and wind; and how the evaporation rate from the land surface is influenced by soil water supply, the nature of the plant cover and the evaporative power of the atmosphere. Soil Physics will be useful to students and research workers in environmental sciences, hydrology, agriculture, soil science, and civil engineering.
1. Composition of soil
2. Interaction of soil and water
3. Measurement of water content and potential
4. Principles of water movement in soil
5. Distribution of water in soil
6. Groundwater in soils and aquifers
7. The use of isotopes and other tracers in soil water and groundwater
8. Soil structure
9. Deformation of soil
10. Management of soil water
11. Soil erosion and conservation
12. Chemical transport in soil
13. The physical environment of roots
14. Plants and soil water
"This attractive book should be welcomed [...] the authors make a point of drawing the attention of the reader to exciting new areas of research in soil physics, which should be stimulating to students and young researchers."
- American Scientist
"This is an excellent book, of interest to students of soil physics and related subjects and to those workers in other fields who need an up-to-date but perceptive account.' Journal of Soil Science ' [...] this book represents a major reference work on advanced topics [...] strongly recommended."
- R. Lal, World Meteorological Organization Bulletin
"The material is readable and attractively presented [...] a very good book, which should become widely adopted."