This book includes description of various forms of soil degradation and the impact on crop productivity. This is a comprehensive volume on soil degradation that addresses the measures for controlling soil degradation and sustainability of management options for soil restoration. Briefly outline the broad scientific techniques that afford land management options and benefit the crop productivity of adverse ecosystems. This book is extremely informative about description, characteristics, control measures and restoration using soil and crop management technologies. Demarcate the recent information regarding the processes and mechanisms responsible for soil degradation and soil conservation methods. Interprets the rehabilitation of agricultural lands depleted by human activity. Assimilation of chapters covering the waterlogged soil, acid soils, acid sulphate soils, salt affected soils, soil erosion, landslides, dry land soils, mine soils, forest soils highlight the measures to be followed for eco-friendly agriculture. Advancement in the studies on soil pollution, Trace elements in soil ecosystem and soil carbon sequestration are outlined.
Dr. R.K. Kaleeswari is working as a Professor(Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry) in Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore. She is involved in teaching, research and extension activities. Her field of interest is soil fertility and plant nutrition. She authored 150 research and popular articles, seven books and 4 international book chapters. She has been awarded 5 international and national awards for her research contributions in soil fertility management. She has developed 3 fertilizer formulations for high value commercial crops to enhance nutrient use efficiency.
Dr. R. Rajeswari is currently working as an Assistant Professor (Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry) in Agricultural College and Research Institute, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU). She has completed his doctorate with specialization in Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry from TNAU, Coimbatore. She is involved in teaching, research and extension activity. Her field of interest is Soil Fertility and Carbon Sequestration. She wrote 18 research articles and 20 popular articles which got published in reputed international and national journals. She has also published four books and ten book chapters in reputed national publications. She has been awarded Dr. K.K. Krishnamoorthy and Dr. G. Selvakumari Award for the best student in Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry for Ph.D program. She completed the externally funded scheme on ‘Development of Sulphur Nano Fertilizer Formulation for Sunflower to enhance productivity, use efficiency and environmental safety’ through Department of Science and Technology.
Dr. K. Sivakumar, Assistant Professor in Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry is working in the Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore in 2010. He has completed his Ph.D.at TNAU, Coimbatore in 2003. He has received the Junior Scientist Award for the year 2005 of the National Environmental Science Academy (NESA), New Delhi. He has also received the Outstanding Scientist Award for the year 2020 from the Society of Tropical Agriculture, New Delhi. He has authored and co-authored 5 books and 40 articles in National and International journals. He is expertise in the field of soil pedology, fertility in forest soils and Remote sensing and GIS. He has guided 3 post-graduate students. He has worked in different schemes like NICRA, IRRI-IPI, AICRP-AF, NADP.
Dr. M.R. Latha, Professor in Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry is working in the Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Tamil Nadu, Agricultural University, Coimbatore since 2004. She has completed her Ph.D.at TNAU, Coimbatore in 2001 and received FAI Award for outstanding Doctoral Research in Fertilizer Usage. She has received the Junior Scientist Award for the year 2005 of the National Environmental Science Academy (NESA), New Delhi. She served as Programme Coordinator in Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Pudukkottai,Tamil Nadu from 2017 to 2020 and organized extension activities for the benefit of farmers. She has authored and co-authored 9 books and 35 articles in National and International journals.
1. Introduction........................................................................................ 1
2. Waterlogged Soil................................................................................ 3
3. Acid Soils .......................................................................................... 15
4. Acid Sulphate Soils ......................................................................... 29
5. Salt Affected Soils ............................................................................ 37
6. Soil Erosion ....................................................................................... 55
7. Landslides ......................................................................................... 71
8. Dry Land Soils ................................................................................. 77
9. Mine Soils .......................................................................................... 85
10. Forest Soils ........................................................................................ 91
11. Glacial Lands .................................................................................... 99
12. Soil Physical Constraints ..............................................................103
13. Shifting Agriculture ......................................................................109
14. Land Capability Classification ....................................................115
15. Wastelands .....................................................................................121
16. Trace Elements in Soil Ecosystem ...............................................127
17. Soil Pollution ..................................................................................133
18. Soil Restoration ..............................................................................143
19. Litter Decomposition ....................................................................147
20. Soil Carbon Sequestration............................................................157
