"Briefly, the position papers discuss institutional constraints, hydrologic and nutrient management, pathogens, metals, organics, engineering and economics, and an overview of public health effects" Pref.

Municipal Sludge Use in Land Reclamation is a new state-of-the-science reference that combines data from recent research and case studies in an effort to examine the use of municipal sludge in the reclamation of disturbed land, particularly land disturbed by surface mining. This important resource examines current regulations concerning surface mining and the use of sludge on mined lands. It also provides an overview of current land reclamation projects and presents vital information on the environmental effects of sludge use on vegetation, soil quality, water quality, and animal nutrition and health. Mining professionals, regulatory agencies, scientists, municipal and industrial managers, environmental consultants, foresters, and ecologists will find Municipal Sludge Use in Land Reclamation to be an invaluable reference.

Soil degradation is clearly one of the most pressing problems facing man kind. A continuation of soil degradation will eventually lead to a loss in crop productivity even though fertilizers and other inputs often result in increased yields in the short term. Soil degradation also leads to environ mental pollution. A decrease in soil quality invariably leads to a decrease in water quality, and often in air quality. While there is a clear consensus that soil degradation is a major problem, the literature on this subject leaves numerous baffling questions. If statis tics on land degradation are correct, there is a definite cause for concern, and present a mammoth challenge for agricultural scientists. There are those that say the scientific community has over dramatized this issue, and created a credibility problem. Consequently; Volume 11 of Advances in Soil Science was organized by Dr. Rattan Lal who is recognized as a lead ing authority on the subject. The objective of Volume 11 was to assess the types and processes of soil degradation and establish some of the major cause-effect relationships. Volume II documented the seriousness of soil degradation in many parts of the world. Therefore, it seemed immediately important to devote a volume to the principles and technologies for restor ing degraded soils to a productive status. While the land resources are limited, world population is rapidly increasing, particularly in developing countries. Dr.