This book with nine chapters describes the main methods for visual soil evaluation (VSE) of soil structure and soil-related properties. It includes clear visual images of the variation of soil quality and how these relate to soil productivity and environmental sustainability. Such images raise awareness and provide a measure of the soil degradation that is a looming threat to the viability of world agriculture. Emphasis is given to recognizing, protecting and restoring soil quality as these are of vital importance for tackling problems of food insecurity, global change and environmental degradation. The book shows how these aims can be achieved with VSE by describing tools that can readily be used by land users and environmental authorities to assess crop performance, soil improvement and soil productivity. VSE is also placed in the context of future sustainable intensification of agriculture including factors of soil loss, resilience, climate change, scarcity of water and other resources, nutrient retention and increased risk of degradation. This book is relevant not only to students, lecturers, scientists and advisors working directly with soils but also to policy makers, food security experts, environmentalists and engineers who have an interest in soils and sustainable agricultural production. Last, but not least, it is hoped that these simple VSE techniques will be used extensively in years to come as a tool to link soil specialists and non-specialists together with the mutual aim of developing sustainable soil management to advance global food security and improve the environment.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Describing soil structures, rooting and biological activity and recognizing tillage effects, damage and recovery in clayey and sandy soils / Anne Weill and Lars J. Munkholm -- Assessing structural quality for crop performance and for agronomy (VESS, VSA, SOILpak, Profil cultural, SubVESS) / Tom Batey, Rachel M.L. Guimarães, Joséphine Peigné and Hubert Boizard -- Reduction of yield gaps and improvement of ecological function through local-to-global applications of visual soil assessment / David C. McKenzie, Mansonia A. Pulido Moncada and Bruce C. Ball -- Visual evaluation of grassland and arable management impacts on soil quality / Lars J. Munkholm and Nicholas M. Holden -- Choosing and Evaluating Soil Improvements by Subsoiling and Compaction Control / Richard J. Godwin and Gordon Spoor -- Valuing the Neglected : Lessons and Methods from an Organic, Anthropic Soil System in the Outer Hebrides / Mary Norton Scherbatskoy, Anthony C. Edwards and Berwyn L. Williams -- Evaluating land quality for carbon storage, greenhouse gas emissions and nutrient leaching / Joanna M. Cloy, Bruce C. Ball and T. Graham Shepherd -- Soil structure under adverse weather/climate conditions / Rachel M.L. Guimarães, Owen Fenton, Brian W. Murphy and Cássio A. Tormena -- The expanding discipline and role of Visual Soil Evaluation / Bruce C. Ball and Lars J. Munkholm.

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Also available in print format.

Title from PDF title page (viewed January 25, 2016).