Soil biophysics: the challenges

Young, I. M. and Crawford, J. W. (2014) Soil biophysics: the challenges. In: Churchman, G. J. and Landa, E. R. (eds.) The Soil Underfoot: Infinite Possibilities for a Finite Resource. CRC Press: Boca Raton, FL, pp. 371-378. ISBN 9781466571563

Abstract

In a soil prole, soil structure is not unconnected from soil chemistry, a nitrogen compound is not necessarily separate from a root or organic matter, an active microbe is not separate from water, nor is soil made up of only structural units <2 mm in size. It is the connectivity and interdependence of soil that enhances and sustains the many functions of soil, not the isolated parts of soil. Once we achieve an interdisciplinary approach to soil, the chances of new breakthroughs and management solutions will have a far greater likelihood of being reached. The biophysics of soil covers a multitude of disciplines and focuses on the soil architecture and soil water that governs the rate of all soil processes, from the smallest microbe wandering through a prole, to the largest volume of water hitting a prole.

• Item Type: Book Sections
• Status: Published
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Crawford, Professor John
• Authors: Young, I. M., and Crawford, J. W.
• College/School: College of Social Sciences > Adam Smith Business School > Management
• Publisher: CRC Press
• ISBN: 9781466571563