Instant Insights: Soil Erosion

Chapter 1 - Mechanisms of soil erosion/degradation: Jane Rickson, Cranfield University, UK; 1 Introduction 2 Soil erosion processes: overview and erosion by water 3 Soil erosion processes: other mechanisms 4 Consequences of soil erosion 5 Relating soil erosion to crop productivity and sustainable agriculture 6 Mitigating soil erosion: soil conservation 7 Summary and conclusions 8 Where to look for further information 9 References
Chapter 2 The impact of heavy metal contamination on soil health: Santanu Bakshi and Chumki Banik, Iowa State University, USA; and Zhenli He, University of Florida, USA; 1 Introduction 2 Current levels of soil contamination by heavy metals 3 Natural and anthropogenic sources of heavy metals 4 Chemical transformation of heavy metals in soils 5 Bioavailability of heavy metals in soils 6 Effects of heavy metals on soil health: soil chemistry, biochemistry and microbiology 7 Effects of heavy metals on plant health and crop production 8 Indicators of soil contamination 9 Remediation of contaminated soil 10 Conclusions and future trends 11 References
Chapter 3 Advances in techniques to assess soil erodibility: R. J. Rickson, E. Dowdeswell Downey, G. Alegbeleye and S. E. Cooper, Cranfield University, UK; 1 Introduction 2 Factors affecting soil erodibility 3 Assessment of soil erodibility 4 Future trends in research 5 Conclusion 6 Where to look for further information 7 References
Chapter 4 Rehabilitating degraded and abandoned agricultural lands with Conservation Agriculture systems: Telmo Jorge Carneiro Amado, Federal University of Santa Maria, Brazil; Carlos Alexandre Costa Crusciol, Sao Paulo State University (UNESP), Brazil; Claudio Hideo Martins da Costa, Universidade Federal de Goias, Brazil; Otavio dos Anjos Leal, Catarinense Federal Institute, Brazil; and Luan Pierre Pott, Federal University of Santa Maria, Brazil; 1 Introduction 2 Conservation Agriculture adoption in Brazil, mainly in Brazilian Southern region, as a tool to prevent and reverse soil degradation 3 Case study 1: Integrated strategies for restoration of compacted and low productive soils under no-tillage system in Southern Brazil 4 Case study 2: Strategies for soil quality improvement in crop-livestock integration under Conservation Agriculture in acidic tropical soils 5 Conclusion 6 Acknowledgements 7 References