Soils in Our Environment by Raymond

NACTA Journal, Dec 2002 by Banwart, Wayne

Soils in Our Environment by

Raymound,

by W. Miller and Duane T. Gardiner, Prentice--

Hall, New Jersey, 2001, 642 pages,

hardcover $99

This book is the ninth edition of a time-proven soils text that has been widely adopted. It is dedicated to the first author, who passed away in 1997. The twenty chapters include all the basic information and pertinent topics for introductory soils. This edition has been streamlined somewhat from the previous edition with updated photos, figures, and tables, although some of the photos are still out of date.

The material is presented in an attractive and student-friendly format. Each chapter starts with a preview of what the author considers important facts for students to know. This introduction is followed by the various topics under the chapter heading. The end of each chapter contains useful questions to challenge the readers' comprehension of basic concepts and references for further study. The references include Web sites for students who want additional information or who may benefit from these URLs in writing research papers or other class assignments. In general, the additional references, including Web sites, are a starting point but quite limited in scope and number.

The book introduces contemporary topics and updates on subjects such as global positioning systems (GPS). Topics such as GPS have limited coverage probably because the focus is on basic soils and quite likely because of an interest in keeping a streamlined or shorter text.

There is adequate coverage of the fundamentals, such as the physical and chemical properties of soils like soil pH. This reviewer would prefer to see a bit more depth in topics such as buffering in soils and cation exchange capacity.

There is an excellent description and comparison of the U.S. and FAO systems of soil classification along with recent changes in this dynamic subject.

There is a good but brief introduction to environmental concerns and possible solutions. This is a useful addition to meet the needs of a changing student background and increased student environmental awareness.

The book comes with a CD-ROM Study Wizard with few instructions for getting started. It is targeted for students as a study aid, and once one masters access to the information, it can be helpful for that purpose. There are practice problems and quizzes that can be helpful to students. There is also a mechanism for "explanation" of answers, but the "explanation" for the most part simply states the correct answer rather than enlightening the student who has chosen the wrong answer. The Study Wizard is a step in the right direction but will be more useful with additional refinement.

Overall, this is a sound text, nicely formatted, and up to date. It is an excellent text for students with a wide range in backgrounds and the need for a basic understanding of soil science. Students with exceptional science skills and interest should be assigned additional or independent studies to expand the basic concepts introduced in this text.

Wayne Banwart

Assistant Dean for Academic Programs

College of Agricultural, Consumer and

Environmental Sciences

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign