VERTISOLS AND TECHNOLOGIES FOR THEIR MANAGEMENT, 24
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Edited By N. Ahmad, The University of the West Indies, Department of Soil Science, St. Augustine, Trinidad, West Indies A. Mermut, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Sask., Canada
Description Vertisols, one of the eleven established soil orders, are clay soils with unusual and interesting properties. They cover more than 350
million hectares of land in the world and in tropical Africa alone there are over 100 million hectares. Because of their very small particle
size and high surface area, these soils have higher physical and chemical reactivity than other soils. Their interaction with agrochemicals/industrial
wastes, has been, increasingly, the subject of research especially in the last two decades. Vertisols create special problems when used
for engineering purposes.
This book is intended to provide comprehensive and state-of-the-art information about Vertisols worldwide.
Special attention is given to the use and management of soils such as fertilizer use, crop selection, soil tillage, water restriction
on land including irrigation, and soil erosion. A special chapter has been added to deal with geotechnical engineering of Vertisols.
Vertisols
have great potential for agricultural production but many, especially in the developing world, are underutilized due to a lack of understanding
regarding their behaviour and management.
This book is written by leading scientists worldwide. It is expected that this monograph
will be of great use to soil scientists and agronomists, graduate and senior graduate students.
Improvement of their management may
solve the current food deficiency in the world.
Contents Preface.
Occurrence and Distribution of Vertisols (N. Ahmad). Vertisols of Africa. Vertisols of Australia. Vertisols
of the Caribbean. Vertisols of India. Vertisols of the United States. References.
Pedogenesis (A.R. Mermut et al.).
Soil–forming factors. Soil–forming processes. Formation of Vertisols. Pedogenic models. References.
Classification
of Vertisols (W.A. Blokhuis). Soil taxonomy. The FAO–Unesco System. The World Reference Base for Soil Resources (WRB).
The French Classification System (CPCS, 1967) and the "Référentiel Pédologique Français". The Australian
Soil Classification. General discussion. References.
Mineralogy and Chemistry of Vertisols (C.E. Coulombe et al.). Formation of vertisols.
Mineralogy of vertisols. Chemistry of vertisols. Shrink–swell phenomena. Summary. References.
Water Relations and Water
Management of Vertisols (M. Kutílek). Porous system of vertisols. Soil water retention curves. Hydrodynamics in vertisols.
Consequences for water management practices. References.
The Structure and Grain Size Distribution of Vertisols (D.
McGarry). Previous reviews. The description of structure in vertisols. Properties that influence the structure of vertisols. Constituent
properties. External influences. Discussion. References.
Tillage and Cultural Practices (D.F. Yule, T.J. Willcocks).
Resources and tillage. What does tillage do to the soil? Consequences of tillage. Tillage effects on soil water processes and crop production.
Cultural practices. Conclusion. References.
Soil Erosion and Soil Conservation for Vertisols (D.M. Freebairn, R.J. Loch,
D.M. Silburn). Special features of vertisols. Management options for erosion reduction. An integrated approach to erosion research. Simulation
of erosion. Application of erosion models in systems models. References.
Management of Vertisols in Rainfed Conditions
(N. Ahmad). Land use in crop production. Land use as pasture. Land use in agroforestry. References.
Management of Irrigated Vertisols
(N. Ahmad). Methods of irrigation applicable to vertisols. Problems associated with irrigation. Water use regulation and efficiency.
Water quality and its monitoring. Water conducting system. Examples of irrigation use on vertisols. References.
Management of
Vertisols for Rice Production (N. Ahmad, W.A. Muirhead). Rainfed and direct seeding system with manual or mechanical land preparation.
Rainfed or irrigated with transplanting system and manual or mechanical land preparation. Limited or full irrigation in which rice is
grown continuously with fully or partially mechanised production systems involving direct seeding and dry/wet land preparation. Limited
or full irrigation in which rice is grown continuously with fully mechanised production systems and wet land preparation. Full irrigation
in which rice is grown for one crop each year in a system of crop rotation or alternative land use (Australian Practice). References.
Cold Vertisols and their Management (A.R. Mermut, D.D. Patterson, P.A. McDaniel). Formation and distribution of cold
vertisols. Characteristics of cold vertisols. Uses and management of cold vertisols. References.
Geotechnical Problems Associated
with Swelling Clays (D.G. Fredlund). Stress state variables controlling soil behaviour. Theoretical derivation for prediction
of heave. Case histories. References.
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