Sedimentology and pedology Books

Book SynopsisThis open access atlas is an up-to-date visual resource on the features and structures observed in soil thin sections, i.e. soil micromorphology. The book addresses the growing interest in soil micromorphology in the fields of soil science, earth science, archaeology and forensic science, and serves as a reference tool for researchers and students for fast learning and intuitive feature and structure recognition. The book is divided into six parts and contains hundreds of images and photomicrographs. Part one is devoted to the way to sample properly soils, the method of preparation of thin sections, the main tool of soil micromorphology (the microscope), and the approach of soil micromorphology as a scientific method. Part two focuses on the organisation of soil fragments and presents the concept of fabric. Part three addresses the basic components, e.g. rocks, minerals, organic compounds and anthropogenic features. Part four lists all the various types of pedogenic features observed in a soil, i.e. the imprint of pedogenesis. Part five gives interpretations of features associated with the main processes at work in soils and paleosols. Part six presents a view of what the future of soil micromorphology could be. Finally, the last part consists of the index and annexes, including the list of mineral formulas. This atlas will be of interest to researchers, academics, and students, who will find it a convenient tool for the self-teaching of soil micromorphology by using comparative photographs.Table of ContentsChapter 1. The multiscalar nature of soils.- Chapter 2. History of micromorphology.- Chapter 3. Observation and sampling of soils.- Chapter 4. How to make thin sections.- Chapter 5.The polarised light microscope.- Chapter 6. Other techniques of observation.- Chapter 7. Electron and energy imaging.- Chapter 8. Colours of minerals.- Chapter 9. The micromorphological approach.- Chapter 10. Concept of fabric.- Chapter 11. Multiscalar approach to fabric.- Chapter 12. Basic distribution patterns.- Chapter 13. c/f related distributions I.- Chapter 14. c/f related distributions II.- Chapter 15. Aggregates and aggregation.- Chapter 16. Degree of separation and accommodation of aggregates.- Chapter 17. The nature of voids.- Chapter 18. Morphology of voids I.- Chapter 19. The morphology of voids II.- Chapter 20. Microstructure I.- Chapter 21. Microstructure II.- Chapter 22. Mineral and organic constituents.- Chapter 23. Particle size and sorting.- Chapter 24. Shape of grains: equidimensionality.- Chapter 25. Shape of grains: roundness and sphericity.- Chapter 26. Basalt, granite, and gabbro.- Chapter 27. Schist, gneiss, and amphibolite.- Chapter 28. Quartzite and marble.- Chapter 29. Calcium-bearing sedimentary rocks.- Chapter 30. Sand and sandstone.- Chapter 31. Mineral grains in the soil I: quartz and chalcedony.- Chapter 32. Mineral grains in the soil II: feldspar and mica.- Chapter 33. Mineral grains in the soil III: inosilicates and nesosilicates.- Chapter 34. Mineral grains in the soil IV: carbonates.- Chapter 35. Mineral grains in the soil V: chlorides and sulfates.- Chapter 36. Biominerals I.- Chapter 37. Biominerals II.- Chapter 38. Biominerals III.- Chapter 39. Anthropogenic features I.- Chapter 40. Anthropogenic features II.- Chapter 41. Organic matter I.- Chapter 42. Organic matter II.- Chapter 43. Humus.- Chapter 44. Micromass.- Chapter 45. B-fabric I.- Chapter 46. B-fabric II.- Chapter 47. Imprints of pedogenesis.- Chapter 48. Iron- and manganese-bearing nodules.- Chapter 49. Carbonate nodules.- Chapter 50. Polygenetic nodules.- Chapter 51. Nodules: morphology and border shape.- Chapter 52. Nodules: orthic, anorthic, disorthic.- Chapter 53. Crystals and crystal intergrowths.- Chapter 54. Impregnations.- Chapter 55. Depletions.- Chapter 56. Coatings with clays I.- Chapter 57. Coatings with clays II.- Chapter 58. Micropans, coarse coatings, cappings, and crusts.- Chapter 59. Hypocoatings and quasicoatings: amorphous.- Chapter 60. Coatings and hypocoatings: crystalline.- Chapter 61. Mineral infillings.- Chapter 62. Mineral infillings of biological origin.- Chapter 63. Pedoturbations.- Chapter 64. Faecal pellets.- Chapter 65. Dung and vertebrate excrements.- Chapter 66. Composite pedogenic features.- Chapter 67. Uncommon features.- Chapter 68. Pedofeatures and soil processes.- Chapter 69. Clay dynamics I - Translocation.- Chapter 70. Clay dynamics II - Swelling.- Chapter 71. Water dynamics..- Chapter 72. Carbonate and gypsum dynamics.- Chapter 73. Processes involving iron oxyhydroxides.- Chapter 74. Biogeochemical processes I.- Chapter 75. Biogeochemical processes II.- Chapter 76. The future of soil micromorphology.- Chapter 77. Beyond the two dimensions.- Chapter 78. The prospect of chemical imaging

Read more less

Book SynopsisChapter 1. Introduction.- Chapter 2. Hydrodynamic Principles.- Chapter 3. Turbulence in Open-Channel Flows.- Chapter 4. Sediment Threshold.- Chapter 5. Bedload Transport.- Chapter 6. Suspended-Load Transport.- Chapter 7. Total-Load Transport.- Chapter 8. Bedforms.- Chapter 9. River Processes: Meandering and Braiding.- Chapter 10. Scour.- Chapter 11. Dimensional Analysis and Similitude.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe push-pull test is a powerful site characterization technique that has been applied to a wide range of problems in contaminant hydrogeology. The theoretical and practical apsects of push-pull testing were initially developed to characterize groundwater acquifers but the method has now been extended to saturated and unsaturated soils and sediments as well as to surface water bodies. Dr. Istok and his collaborators have been instrumental in the development of these techniques and he is widely recognized as the world's leading expert push-pull testing. This is the only reference book available on this powerful method.Table of ContentsPush-pull tests.- Setting up a site.- Evaluation of site.- Improvement of site.- Long-term prognosis.- The shape of things to come.- Analysis.

Read more less

Book SynopsisOffers an integrated presentation of the microbial, agronomic and recycling aspects of soil faunal potentials, emphasizing agricultural ecosystems and furnishing methods for modelling food webs. The text covers morphology, reproduction, abundances, basic requirements, competition, predation, parasitism, nutrient cycling and phytopathological interactions, soil physics and agricultural management, plus methods to quantify soil faunal groups.Table of ContentsOrganic inputs and soil metabolism; protozoa - recyclers and indicators of agroecosystem quality; nematodes - harmful and beneficial organisms; enchytraeids; earthworms (lumbricidae - oligochaeta) - important promoters of soil development and soil fertility; springtails and mites - important knots in the food web of soils; gastropods, isopods, diplopods and chilopods - neglected groups of the decomposer food web; spiders, carabids and staphylinids - the ecological potential of predatory macroarthropods; soil-food web interactions and their modelling.

Read more less

Book SynopsisWhile organic soils have the potential to contribute greatly to agricultural production, the irreversible processes that occur from draining organic soils need to be managed with caution. The wise use of peatlands must include the avoidance of unacceptable ecological effects on the contiguous and global environment. Organic Soils and Peat Materials for Sustainable Agriculture provides detailed information from a worldwide perspective on the degradation process of fragile peat resources used for agriculture. It documents the best management practices and defines and quantifies soil quality indicators and pedo-transfer functions for organic soils and peat materials.Co-published with the International Peat Society, this reference is the first to integrate the physical, chemical, and biological aspects of organic soils and peat materials for sustainable agriculture and horticulture. It details the principles and indicators behind positive action in sustainable management. The book presents a complete analysis of how peat works chemically, physically, and ecologically. It quantifies the moorsh-forming, or peat degradation, process in tables and figures, provides conversion equations among pH determination methods, and supplies a novel diagnosis of N and P release. In addition, the book revisits water, pesticides, phosphorus, and copper sorption characteristics of organic soils.The authors provide up-to-date information in order to define quality indicators for the optimum use of organic soils. With detailed information and a global perspective, Organic Soils and Peat Materials for Sustainable Agriculture aims to promote a shift from the current paradigm of input-based unsustainable use to a new knowledge-based approach.Table of ContentsThe Moorsh or Muck Horizons as Quality Indicators of Reclaimed Organic Soils. Irreversible Loss of Organic Soil Functions after Reclamation. Water-Related Physical Attributes of Organic Soils. Quality of Peat Substrates for Plants Grown in Containers. Soil Acidity Determination Methods for Organic Soils and Peat Materials. Nitrogen and Phosphorus Balance Indicators in Organic Soils. Retention of Copper in Cu-Enriched Organic Soils. Fate of Pesticides in Organic Soils. Quality of Organic Soils for Agriculture Use of Cutover Peatlands in Russia. Agriculture Production Systems for Organic Soil Conservation.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe pneumatic flow mixing method was developed to stabilize dredged soil and surplus soil for promoting their beneficial use in 1999. The pneumatic flow mixing method is a new type of the ex-situ cement stabilization techniques, in which dredged soil and surplus soil is mixed with a relatively small amount of chemical binder without any mixing paddles and blades in a pipeline. When a relatively large amount of compressed air is injected into the pipeline, soil can be separated into small blocks. When binder is injected into the pipeline, the soil block and binder are thoroughly mixed by means of turbulent flow generated in the soil block during transporting. As this method has many benefits - rapid and large scale execution can be conducted with low cost - it has been applied to many land reclamation projects, backfilling behind earth retaining wall projects and shallow stabilization projects using dredged soils and surplus soils.The Pneumatic Flow Mixing Method is a usTable of Contents1. An overview of Admixture Stabilization – Evolution of Pneumatic Flow Mixing and Scope of the Book1 Introduction2 Cement admixture stabilization techniques3 Development, mechanism and applications of the Pneumatic Flow Mixing method 4 Scope of the textbook2. Factors Affecting Strength Increase1 Introduction2 Mechanism of cement stabilization3 Influence of various factors on stabilization effect4 Prediction of strength3. Engineering Properties of Stabilized Soils1 Introduction 2 Properties of stabilized soil mixture before hardening3 Properties of stabilized soil after hardening4 Properties of stabilized soil subjected to disturbance/compaction5 Engineering properties of cement stabilized soil produced in-situ6 Summary 4. Applications1 Introduction2 Improvement purposes and applications3 Selected case histories of the method in Japan 5. Equipment, Construction, and Quality Control and Assurance1 Introduction2 Equipment3 Construction procedure 4 Quality control6. Geotechnical Design of Stabilized Soil Ground1 Introduction2 Design strength 3 Geotechnical designAPPENDIX A Japanese Laboratory Mix Test Procedure1 Introduction2 Testing equipment3 Making and curing of specimens4 Report5 Use of Specimens

Read more less

Book SynopsisSeed conditioning is the final process that establishes the quality of a seed lot and determines its value. It is a complex process involving a significant series of machines, each of which must be used in the proper sequence of the entire process, and each machine must be carefully and properly adjusted and set up for each lot of seed. If the conditioning plant operator does not have sufficient knowledge of how to set up and adjust each of the machines, then an excessive amount of good seed is lost during conditioning and not all undesirable materials are removed. Therefore, the performance of seed conditioning depends entirely on how effectively the operator sets up and adjusts the machines. Much effort has been spent in developing seed technology so as to produce high quality seed, but performance of seed conditioning by maximizing the operatorâs knowledge of getting the best performance from each of his machines has not been carefully and completely developed. Improving Seed Conditioning focuses on teaching the conditioning plant operator details of each machine and how to get maximum performance from it in terms of operating efficiency, maximum removal of undesirable particles, and minimum loss of good seed. Organized in a manner that focuses on the specific machine models installed in each operatorâs specific plant, this manual is set up to be used as text material in training classes or as a guide for operators employed by seed companies. Table of ContentsAcknowledgmentIntroductionChapter 1 What seed conditioning is and doesChapter 2 Seed conditioning plant staff and contract growersChapter 3 Seed conditioning plant locationChapter 4 Seed conditioning plant areaChapter 5 Essential utilitiesChapter 6 Conditioning plant facilitiesChapter 7 Raw (nonconditioned) seedChapter 8 Moving raw seed into conditioningChapter 9 ConditioningChapter 10 Support operationsChapter 11 Seed conditioning principlesChapter 12 Waste productsChapter 13 Sanitation and pest/insect controlChapter 14 Conditioning equipment layoutChapter 15 Receiving pitChapter 16 Bucket elevator characteristicsChapter 17 Bucket elevator operationChapter 18 Vibrating conveyor characteristicsChapter 19 Vibrating conveyor operationChapter 20 Horizontal belt conveyor characteristicsChapter 21 Horizontal belt conveyor operationChapter 22 Inclined belt conveyor characteristicsChapter 23 Inclined belt conveyor operationChapter 24 Drag chain conveyor characteristicsChapter 25 Drag chain conveyor operationChapter 26 Airlift elevator characteristicsChapter 27 Airlift elevator operationChapter 28 Ear corn conveyor characteristicsChapter 29 Ear corn conveyor operationChapter 30 Corn (maize) sheller characteristicsChapter 31 Corn sheller operationChapter 32 Scalper (precleaner) characteristicsChapter 33 Scalper operationChapter 34 Debearder characteristicsChapter 35 Debearder operationChapter 36 Huller-scarifier characteristicsChapter 37 Huller-scarifier operationChapter 38 Air-screen cleaner characteristicsChapter 39 ScreensChapter 40 Screen selectionChapter 41 Air-screen cleaner operationChapter 42 Cylinder separator characteristicsChapter 43 CylindersChapter 44 Cylinder separator operationChapter 45 Disc separator characteristicsChapter 46 DiscsChapter 47 Disc separator operationChapter 48 Gravity separator characteristicsChapter 49 Gravity separator operationChapter 50 Stoner characteristicsChapter 51 Stoner operationChapter 52 Pneumatic separator characteristicsChapter 53 Pneumatic separator operationChapter 54 Aspirator characteristicsChapter 55 Aspirator operationChapter 56 Spiral separator characteristicsChapter 57 Spiral separator operationChapter 58 Width and thickness separator characteristicsChapter 59 Width and thickness separator operationChapter 60 Roll mill characteristicsChapter 61 Roll mill operationChapter 62 Color separator characteristicsChapter 63 Color separator operationChapter 64 Magnetic separator characteristicsChapter 65 Magnetic separator operationChapter 66 Electrostatic separator characteristicsChapter 67 Electrostatic separator operation Chapter 68 Seed treater characteristicsChapter 69 Seed treater operationChapter 70 Bagger-weigher characteristicsChapter 71 Bagger-weigher operationChapter 72 Bag closer characteristicsChapter 73 Bag closer operationChapter 74 Determining seed conditioning requirementsChapter 75 Determining conditioning requirements for a specific separation problemChapter 76 Determining sequence to set up, adjust, and operate conditioning machinesChapter 77 Selected machine adjustment sequenceChapter 78 Special packaging machinesCompletion of the study programCertificate of Master Seed Conditioner

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn this invaluable book, leading agronomic researchers provide in-depth reviews of present conservation tillage practices in a wide variety of temperate agroecosystems. Each chapter characterizes how conservation tillage has been developed and adapted or modified to fit specific environments, with the chapters divided into the following climate regions: Cool Humid, Cool Humid to Warm Humid, Warm Humid, and Sub-Humid to Semi-Arid Continental. Each chapter also discusses important topics such as weed problems, crop rotation, fertilizer requirements, soil properties and processes, soil erosion, soil chemistry, soil physics, and environmental issues. A perfect working reference, this resource provides a synthesis of existing research and practices and shows how soil, climatic, and biological constraints can be overcome or circumvented.Table of ContentsIntroduction. 1.Strategies to Overcome Impediments to Adoption of Conservation Tillage 2. Humid Micro-Thermal Climates 3. Trends in Reduced Tillage Research and Practice in Scandinavia 4. Tillage Requirements for Annual Crop Production in Eastern Canada 5. Conservation Tillage in the Corn Belt of the U.S.A. 6. Humid Micro-Thermal to Humid Meso-Thermal Climates 7. Reduced Cultivation and Direct Drilling for Cereals in Great Britain 8. Approaches Toward Conservation Tillage in Germany 9. Feasibility of Minimum Tillage Practices for Annual Cropping Systems in France 10. Humid Meso-Thermal Climates 11. Overcoming Constraints to Conservation Tillage in New Zealand 12. Role of Conservation Tillage in Sust ainable Agriculture in the Southern 13. Conservation Tillage in the South-Eastern Australian Wheat-Sheep Belt 14. Mainly Sub-Humid to Semi-Arid Continental Climates 15.Conservation Tillage Systems in the Northernmost Central U.S.A. 16. Constraints on Conservation Tillage under Dryland and Irrigated Agriculture in the U.S.A. Pacific Northwest 17. Tillage Systems for Soil and Water Conservation on the Canadian Prairie 19. Conservation Tillage in the Southern U.S.A. Great Plains 20. Conservation Tillage in Eastern Europe Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisRemote Sensing Technology in Forensic Investigations provides a basic understanding of concepts involved in the use of basic geophysical surveying, metal detectors, magnetics, electromagnetics and ground penetrating radar in police and forensic investigations. Such technology can be vital in locating clandestine, buried evidence which is often concealed in the subsurface underground. Crime scene investigation and evidence collection entails locating, identifying, collecting, and cataloging. Such physical evidence searches are time consuming and can often lead to searches that require excavations, which in itself that can destroy evidence. The noninvasive, nondestructive methods outlined in this book can both reduce the time spent on searches and excavations, thereby increasing the probability of locating vital physical evidence. As such, the application of remote sensing methods has gained increased acceptance, and seen increased usage, by investigators.RemotTable of ContentsIntroduction. Overview of Modern Geophysical Methods. Pre-Survey Planning and Post-Survey Reporting Requirements. Magnetic Surveying. Electromagnetic Surveying. Ground Penetrating Radar Surveying. Metal Detector Surveying. Infrared. Marine Geophysical Methods. Airborne Geophysical Methods. Quality Control. Concluding Remarks: The Ideal Survey. Appendix A. Glossary. Appendix B. Selected References.

Read more less