Soil Technology

Contents: Preface. About the authors. About the book. Abbreviations. A. Saline - sodic soils: 1. Introduction and historical development. 2. Nomenclature and geographical distribution. 3. Origin, nature, extent and formation. 4. Diagnosis, monitoring and determination. 5. Classification and properties. 6. Effect of salts on soil. 7. Effect of salts on plants. 8. Physiology of salt tolerance. 9. Salts and plant mineral nutrition. 10. Reclamation. 11. Management. 12. Alternate land uses. 13. Quality of irrigation water. 14. Coastal saline soils and their management. B. Acid soils: 15. Diagnosis of soil acidity. 16. Lime requirement of acid soils. 17. Kinds of liming materials. 18. Liming technology. 19. Chemistry of lime in acid soils. 20. Physiology and biochemistry of acid tolerance in plants. 21. Nutrient behaviour and fertilizer management. 22. Agronomic management of acid soils. 23. Crop response to liming. 24. Diagnosis and improvement of acid sulphate soils. 25. Diagnosis and improvement of subsoil acidity. C. Calcareous soils: 26. Genesis and classification of calcerous soils. 27. Nutrient dynamics. 28. Nutrient management. D. Water logged soils: 29. Introduction, development and categorization of water logged areas. 30. Measures to control water logging. Symbols and abbreviations. Appendix. Subject index.

"India endows an area of 145 million hectares under cultivation which is considerably more than in several countries but the productivity is much lower as compared to those harvested on experimental farms. The per hectare production is much lower as compared to many other countries of the world mainly because a big fraction of our farm land is engulfed with problematic soils which restrict our productivity. There is no possibility of increasing farm productivity by bringing new areas under plough. The only avenue left to improve production is to bring problem soils under production by adopting scientific management of such soils. The soils that are barren due to some or the other problem could be successfully cultivated after overcoming their problems.

While choosing the subject matter and problem soils emphasis has been given to soils spreaded in large areas, which, if managed scientifically could contribute substantially in enhancing the productivity. The present book incorporates four typical soil types whose understanding and management can lead to vast addition to country\'s output. These include management of salt affected soils, acid soils, calcareous soils and waterlogged soils.

This book will prove very useful to students, teachers, researchers, extension workers, planners and administrates. Although every effort has been made to make it errorless yet some mistakes might have been crept in." (jacket)