"It is rare that texts are found combining ease of understanding with a solid scientific foundation. The subtitle of this text 'a clear and concise introduction to soil science' does indeed sum up this book. It's clarity of production and focus on key aspects of science and human interaction make it a great guide for the beginner and a 'must-buy' for the library."

--British Ecological Society, Teaching Ecology Group Newsletter

"I can wholeheartedly recommend this book to students who course includes a module of soil science, and indeed recommend it to students on soil science degrees as a general introduction or a last minute revision guide."

--Dr John S. Conway, Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester,

Publisher Web Site, March, 2003

This textbook is aimed at the majority of students, who need to quickly acquire a concise overview of soil science. Many current soil science textbooks still cater for a traditional student market where students embark on three years study in a narrow discipline. The growth in modular degree schemes has meant that soil science is now often taught as self-standing unit as part of broad based degree program. Students pursuing this type of course are increasingly reluctant to purchase expensive textbooks that are too detailed and often assume a scientific background. For those opting to specialise in soil science there are a variety of good textbooks to choose from. This short informative guide, will be particularly useful for students who do not possess a traditional scientific background, such as those studying geography, environment science, ecology and agriculture.

1. Rocks to soil
2. Particles, structures and water
3. Soil surfaces, acidity and nutrients
4. Soil microbes and nutrient cycling
5. Soil survey, classification and evaluation
6. Soils and agriculture
7. Soil contamination and erosion