Soil Science

Many people need a better understanding of the formation, classification, properties and fertility of soils -- specifically Australian soils. Soil science, once restricted to schools of agricultural science and horticulture, now reaches out to secondary and tertiary students of ecology, geography and environmental science, to people concerned with natural resource management, to farmers -- even to the home gardener. This comprehensive, interesting and readable book is not just another textbook. It is an institution. First published in 1948, Professor Leeper's book became, in the course of four editions, the bible in its field. Inevitably it dates -- but nothing of comparable quality replaced it. Dr Nick Uren has updated the bible. His revision included substantive work on the theoretical underpinnings of major soil properties, conversion to standardized units, new and revised illustrations and tables. Most importantly, the book now better encompasses the whole of Australia. As each country has its own soils and usually its own scheme of soil classification, the textobooks of other countries have limited usefulness here. Now, again, we have our own. Its staying qualities are proven.
As an introduction of soils, there is simply nothing to match it. Dr N. C. Uren is Reader in Soil Science at the School of Agriculture, La Trobe University. The late Professor G. W. Leeper was Professor of Agricultural Chemistry at the University of Melbourne until 1969.