The book, written from the perspective of pedologists and agronomists, is a study of the Earth's crust which is subjected to climatic agents and inhabited by living creatures. These phenomena in concert, slowly transform soil through the interaction of physical, climatic and biological processes.
Part I: Soil: A Site of Exchange and Transfer
Constituents and Organisation of Soil: C. Chenu and A. Bruand
Reactivity of Soil: Chemical Properties: Martine Terc
Transport in Soil: Laurent Bruckler
Soil and Exchanges with the Plant Cover: J.C. Fardeau and P. Stengel
Part II: Biotransformation of Soil
Biotransformation of Carbon and Nitrogen: J. Balesdent
Microorganisms in the Transformation of Minerals
Effect on Formation, Functioning and Development of Soils: J. Berthelin
The Rhizosphere: P. Lemanceau and T. Heulin
Part III: Consequences of Exploitation of Soils by Man
Salinisation of Soils: C. Cheverry and G. Bourri
Erosion of Cultivated Soils by Water in Temperate Conditions: Y. Le Bissonnais and C. Gascuel-Odoux
Sources of Soil Pollution: S. Martin; Contamination of Soils by Heavy Metals and Other Trace Elements: P. Cambier and M. Mench
Use of Pesticides and Fertilisers in Agriculture: C. Clermont-Dauphin and J.M.Meynard
Purifying Functions of Soil and their Limits: J.C. Germon
Annexure: Soil Quality Observatory: A Management Tool for Agriculture, an Instrument for Monitoring Ecological Systems: S. Martin
Biography
P Stengel