John M. Kimble

Soil Degradation in the United States: Extent, Severity, and Trends examines the magnitude and severity of soil degradation by different processes in the U. S., including water erosion, wind erosion, C depletion, soil compaction, salt build-up, and soil contamination. In addition, it addresses policy issues with regard to economic and environmental impact, land use change, and global trends. It covers past trends and future projections regarding soil degradation. The book provides a ready reference and data source for soil scientists and researchers, agronomists, environmentalists, land use planners, land managers, and policy makers.

Soil Degradation in the United States: Extent, Severity, and Trends examines the magnitude and severity of soil degradation by different processes in the U. S., including water erosion, wind erosion, C depletion, soil compaction, salt build-up, and soil contamination. In addition, it addresses policy issues with regard to economic and environmental impact, land use change, and global trends. It covers past trends and future projections regarding soil degradation. The book provides a ready reference and data source for soil scientists and researchers, agronomists, environmentalists, land use planners, land managers, and policy makers.

This report assesses the potential of U. S. cropland to sequester carbon, concluding that properly applied soil restorative processes and best management practices can help mitigate the greenhouse effect by decreasing the emissions of greenhouse gases from U. S. agricultural activities and by making U. S. cropland a major sink for carbon sequestration. Topics include:Describe the greenhouse processes and global tends in emissions as well as the three principal components of anthropogenic global warming potential Present data on U. S. emissions and agriculture's related role Examines the soil organic carbon (SOC) pool in soils of the U. S. and its loss due to cultivation Provides a reference for the magnitude of carbon sequestration potential Analyzes the primary processes governing greenhouse gas emission from the pedosphere Establishes a link between SOC content and soil quality Outlines strategies for mitigating emissions from U. S. cropland Discusses soil erosion management Assesses the potential of using cropland to create biomass for direct fuel to produce power Details the potential for sequestering carbon by intensifying prime agricultural landThe Potential of U. S. Cropland to Sequester Carbon and Mitigate the Greenhouse Effect provides an exceptional framework for the adoption of science-based management methods on U. S. cropland, encouraging appropriate agricultural practices for the sustainable use of our natural resources and the improvement of our nation's environment.

Soil Management and Greenhouse Effect focuses on proper management of soils and its effects on global change, specifically, the greenhouse effect. It contains up-to-date information on a broad range of important soil management topics, emphasizing the critical role of soil for carbon storage. Sequestration and emission of carbon and other gases are examined in various ecosystems, in both natural and managed environments, to provide a comprehensive overview. This useful reference includes chapters that address policy issues, as well as research and development priorities. The material in this volume is valuable not only to soil scientists but to the entire environmental science community.

The pedosphere - the thin mantel of soil on the earth's surface - plays a potentially crucial role in climate and climate change . The carbon storage of soils is the second largest in the biosphere, making the dynamics of soil organic carbon an important issue that must be understood if we are to fully comprehend global change. This new book examines the importance of soils and their relationship to global change, specifically to the greenhouse effect. Soils and Global Change presents a state-of-the-art compendium of our present knowledge of soils. This up-to-date information source enables readers to delve into the literature about soils and climate change and examine soils in both natural and managed environments.