DOI: 10.1097/01.ss.0000126845.90520.ff
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Issn Print: 0038-075X
Publication Date: 2004/04/01
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Excerpt
Soil Genesis and Classification has been a standard textbook for teaching soil genesis and classification for many years. I have used each edition as it has been published through the years to teach a senior level class in soil genesis and classification. Some of the comments that I have may be rooted in some of the previous edition, but most comments will be related directly to the 5th edition.
I have used this text consistently because it contains everything a professor needs to teach this particular subject. In conjunction with some field manuals and Soil Taxonomy, it contains highly pertinent information. At the undergraduate level, this information is overwhelming at times. I guess many assumptions are made that all students will have adequate vocabulary and experience from other classes to augment the learning experience from this text. I have discussed this with other colleagues and have found that they make assignments in this text and use it primarily as a reference.
I think that this edition has addressed the soil classification protocol in a more readable fashion. I especially like the key to soil family criteria. This has been difficult to teach to undergraduates from other texts and even from the pages of Soil Taxonomy. I believe that this text should contain more examples of soil profile features. This would include vesicular pores, reticulate mottling, patterned ground for Gelisols, polygons for Vertisols, or other features that would help the reader understand the properties. In addition, color photography is a must in teaching soil science. Maybe a CD-ROM could be included with the text for an additional cost. A visual representation, especially for the undergraduate, is beneficial to the understanding of soil features and other properties related to soil interpretation and classification.
The writing style is more closely related to a scientific paper with numerous references. This leads the reader to use the text more as a reference book due to the broken up reading. This is not necessarily terrible, but for an introduction to this subject matter, this can be frustrating. Additionally, some of the vocabulary used interrupts the continuity of the reading.
The presentation of some of the tables and diagrams were excellent (e.g., Table 7.5). Tables 7.7 and 7.8 were a compact way of showing particle size and mineralogical classes.
In summary, I think this may be the best book available for the instruction of soil genesis and classification. As previously pointed out, there is so much information presented in great detail that it may be confusing for the first-time student. I would still highly recommend the book for teaching soil genesis and classification.
