Provides a brief introduction to soil.

Increase in global population, drastic changes in the environment, soil degradation and decrease in quality and quantity of agricultural productivity warranted us to adapt sustainable farming practices. This book focuses on soil health management and creating biased rhizosphere that can effectively augment the needs of sustainable agriculture.

With the growing popularity and availability of precision equipment, farmers and producers have access to more data than ever before. With proper implementation, precision agriculture management can improve profitability and sustainability of production. Precision Agriculture Basics is geared at students, crop consultants, farmers, extension workers, and practitioners that are interested in practical applications of site-specific agricultural management. Using a multidisciplinary approach, readers are taught to make data-driven on-farm decisions using the most current knowledge and tools in crop science, agricultural engineering, and geostatistics. Precision Agriculture Basics also features a stunning video glossary including interviews with agronomists on the job and in the field.

This open access book is a must-read for students of and beginners in soil science. In a well-organized and easy-to-follow manner, it provides basic outlines of soil minerals, new methods and recent developments in the field, with a special focus on visual aids. The chapters on primary minerals, secondary minerals, non-crystalline inorganic constituents and inorganic constituents sensitive to varying redox conditions will help readers understand the basic components of soils. Further, readers are introduced to new analytical methods with the aid of microscopy and recent developments in the field. Uniquely, the book features case studies on the identification and isolation methods for vivianite crystals from paddy field soils, as well as a useful procedure for identifying noncrystalline constituents such as volcanic glasses and plant opals, which can also be applied to other soils depending on the local conditions. Given its focus and coverage, the book will be useful to all readers who are interested in agronomy, plant production science, agricultural chemistry and environmental science. In addition, it can help biogeochemists further expand their research work on the rhizosphere of wetland plant roots, iron and phosphate dynamics, etc.

More than 1800 terms are included in this revised glossary. Subject matter includes soil physics, soil chemistry, soil biology and biochemistry, pedology, soil and water management and conservation, forest and range soils, nutrient management and soil and plant analysis, mineralogy, wetland soils, and soils and environmental quality. Two appendices on tabular information and designations for soil horizons and layers also are included.

This book covers material taught in a graduate-level soil physics course at Washington State University. While most soil physics courses dwell mainly on deriving rather than solving the differential equations for transport, the author's approach is to focus on solutions. Graduate students in agricultural and biological sciences usually have a good working knowledge of algebra and calculus, but not of differential equations. In order to teach methods for solving very difficult differential equations with difficult boundary conditions using fairly simple mathematical tools, the author uses numerical procedures on microcomputers to solve the differential equations. Numerical methods convert differential equations into algebraic equations which can be solved using conventional methods of linear algebra.This book reflects the philosophy used in the course. Each chapter introduces soil physics concepts, generally in the conventional way. Most chapters then go on to develop simple computer programs to solve the equations and illustrate the points made in the discussion. Problems at the end of each chapter help the reader practice using the concepts introduced in the chapter. The problems and computer programs are an integral part of the presentation, and readers are strongly encouraged to experiment with each model until both the working of the model and the concepts it teaches are familiar. Although the programs are generally short and relatively simple, they are suitable for use as submodels in large, general-purpose models of the soil-plant-atmosphere system, and have been used in this way by the author and by several of his students.Teachers and students alike will welcome this new textbook. It will enable graduate students to understand and solve transport problems which exist in field situations, and will provide them with a good working knowledge of soil physics - fundamental to so many other areas in soil, plant and engineering sciences.

Publisher Description

Principles and farm-tested practices for no-till market gardening--for healthier, more productive soil! From the host of the popular The No-Till Market Garden Podcast—heard around the world with nearly one million downloads! Discovering how to meet the soil’s needs is the key task for every market gardener. In this comprehensive guide, Farmer Jesse Frost shares all he has learned through experience and experimentation with no-till practices on his home farm in Kentucky and from interviews and visits with highly successful market gardeners in his role as host of The No-Till Market Garden Podcast. The Living Soil Handbook is centered around the three basic principles of no-till market gardening: Disturb the soil as little as possible Keep it covered as much as possible Keep it planted as much as possible. Farmer Jesse then guides readers in applying those principles to their own garden environment, with their own materials, to meet their own goals. Beginning with an exploration of the importance of photosynthesis to living soil, Jesse provides in-depth information on: Turning over beds Using compost and mulch Path management Incorporating biology, maintaining fertility Cover cropping Diversifying plantings through intercropping Production methods for seven major crops Throughout, the book emphasizes practical information on all the best tools and practices for growers who want to build their livelihood around maximizing the health of their soil. Farmer Jesse reminds growers that “as possible” is the mantra for protecting the living soil: disturb the soil as little as you possibly can in your context. He does not believe that growers should anguish over what does and does not qualify as “no-till.” If you are using a tool to promote soil life and biology, that’s the goal. Jesse’s goal with The Living Soil Handbook is to provide a comprehensive set of options, materials, and field-tested practices to inspire growers to design a soil-nurturing no-till system in their unique garden or farm ecosystem. "[A] practical, informative debut. . . .Gardeners interested in sustainable agriculture will find this a great place to start."—Publishers Weekly "Frost offers a comprehensive, science-based, sympathetic, wholly practical guide to soil building, that most critical factor in vegetable gardening for market growers and home gardeners alike. A gift to any vegetable plot that will keep on giving."—Booklist (starred review)

**Cultivating Independence Your Pathway to a Self-Sustained Life** Are you yearning for a life of fulfillment, where your hands dig into the earth and your efforts yield a harvest of both food and wellbeing? *Cultivating Independence* introduces you to the transformative world of self-sufficiency, guiding your journey to create a homestead that not only feeds your body but nourishes your soul. Embark on an adventure through 30 comprehensive chapters that unfold the secrets to establishing a thriving homestead. Begin with **Embracing the Self-Sufficient Lifestyle**, where you will explore the manifold benefits of this life choice, learn the mindset needed for success, and lay the groundwork for your very own sanctuary. Advance to **Planning Your Homestead** with practical steps ranging from resource assessment to crafting an actionable homestead layout design tailor-made to your vision. Delve deeply into the essence of the earth with **Soil Health and Management**, ensuring your land’s vitality for generations to come. Each chapter builds upon the last, from understanding **Organic Gardening Techniques** to mastering water conservation in **Water Management and Conservation**. The book provides easy-to-grasp instructions for making your garden flourish sustainably and how to select the perfect crops with chapters like **Crop Selection and Propagation**. For the animal enthusiast, chapters on **Raising Backyard Poultry**, **Beekeeping for Beginners**, and caring for **Small Livestock on the Homestead** offer the wisdom to integrate animals into your self-sustaining oasis seamlessly. As your homestead grows, you’ll learn to construct eco-friendly buildings, implement **Homestead Energy Solutions**, and even navigate the business aspect of your newfound lifestyle. With each page, uncover ways to ensure food security, engage in traditional skills, and navigate the balance between homesteading and family life. When winter’s chill beckons a slower pace, explore topics on **Seasonal Homesteading Activities,** discovering the rhythmic beauty of life attuned to nature’s cycles. And as the seasons turn, recognize the inherent role of a self-sufficient lifestyle as a form of peaceful resistance in **Self-Sufficiency as a Form of Resistance**. *Cultivating Independence* is not just a guide—it’s a manifesto for those seeking a life less ordinary, rich with the fruits of their labor and the serene complexity of living off the land. Whether you’re in a rural spread or urban dwelling, the seeds for an independent life await within these chapters. Join the movement and seize control of your sustenance and future—forge a path of resilience, sustainability, and profound personal growth. Make your first step towards a sustainable, joyful, and empowered life. Your homestead awaits.