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Introduction to Soil Science: Soils of the Tropics

by E. Van Ranst and Bernard P. K. Yerima

397 pages; quality trade paperback (softcover); catalogue #05-0754; ISBN 1-4120-5853-8; US$30.00, C$35.00, EUR25.00, £17.50

A basic and applied textbook, ideal for students.

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About the Book

Increasing population pressures and poor management of the diminishing fragile, marginal tropical lands is eroding the agricultural production capacity base necessary for its sustenance as well as a sound environmental health. This increasing degradation is largely associated with poor or inadapted management practices and environmental pollution problems. A good understanding of basic soil science is central to more sustainable land management. The lack of basic soil science text books at affordable prices constraint these efforts.

With the above in view, this book has as its focus the development of an introductory soil science text, which covers in great detail a broad spectrum of the elements of soil science to include: soil formation, the morphological, physical, chemical properties, soil pedogenic processes, soil classification, and special aspects like soil biology, soil fertility and management, which are unavoidable in the continuum from basic to applied soil science principles. A good background of geology and parent material, which is often treated very superficially in most introductory soil science texts is given greater depth to give the reader the much needed support during the field description phase.

This book will appeal to those working within soil science, forestry, plant nutrition and soil management, and environmental issues in the tropics.

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About the Author

Bernard Palmer Kfuban Yerima (1952), PhD Soil Science (1986), M.Sc Soil Science (1983) from Texas A&M University College Station Texas, USA, and B.Sc in Plant and Soils from Southwest Missouri State University Springfield Missouri (1979). Worked from 1974-1977 with the Ministry of Agriculture in Cameroon as an Agricultural Extension Chief of Post after graduating from the School of Agriculture. From 1980 to 1986 worked as Graduate Assistant Teaching/Research in the Soil Science Department of Texas A&M University College Station Texas, and Research Associate in the same Department from 1986 to 1987 after obtaining his Ph.D degree. In 1988 was recruited as lecturer in the Department of Soil Science at the University Center Dschang, Cameroon. From 1989 to 1995, served as Soil Laboratory Procedure Specialist for the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in Bangui, the Central African Republic and in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. In 1997, served as an FAO Laboratory Procedure Consultant in Windhoek, Namibia within the framework of Agro-ecological Zones study to determine biophysical vocation and potentials of soils in this country. Specific duties involved development/refinement and preparation of analytical and interpretation manuals for soils, water, and plants, and on the job training of Nationals on all phases of laboratory procedures. In 1997, resumed duties as Assistant Professor at the University of Dschang. Research activities are focused on soil properties and interactive mechanisms related to the management of tropical soils, organic matter interactions with the cultivation of selected fruit trees, collection and identification of economic forest tree species and economic plants, medicinal plants, and the relation of the latter to ecosystem and watershed conservation.

Eric VAN RANST (1953), PhD Soil Science, MSc Soil Science and MSc Geology from Ghent University. Started professional career in 1976 as assistant of the late Professor. Em. Dr. R. Tavernir at the ITC-Ghent. In 1982 recruited by the Flemish Interuniversity Council (VLIR) as lecturer in soil science at the National Advanced School of Agriculture (NASA) in Cameroon. From 1985 until 1991 attached at the Dschang University Center (DUC) in Cameroon as Chief of Party for the Belgian Project, Head of Soil Science Department and Chairman of the Support Service Commission of DUC. Since 1991, nominated Professor and Director of the Laboratory of Soil Science at Ghent University in succession to Professor Em. Dr. ir C. Sys. Research activities are focused on soil processes, management of tropical soils as related to their mineralogical and charge properties, and land evaluation. Promoter of the International Course Programme 'Physical Land Resources', and of several research and development projects in Africa, Southeast Asia and South America. Director of the Forest Soil Coordinating Center and Chairman of the Forest Soil Expert Panel of the UN/ECE ICP; and member of the Scientific Committee of the European Soil Bureau, and of the Royal Academy of Overseas Sciences.

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