Soil and environmental science dictionary

569 Pages·2001·21.59 MB·English

Soil
and
Environmental
Science
DICTIONARY
Edited by
E.G. Gregorich
L.W. Turchenek
M.R. Carter
D.A. Angers
for the
CANADIAN SOCIETY OF SOIL SCIENCE
CANADIAN SOCIETY OF SOIL SCIENCE
CRC PR ESS
Boca Raton London New York Washington, D.C.
© 2001 by CRC Press LLC
3115_FM Page iv Tuesday, July 22, 2003 10:01 AM
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Soil and environmental science dictionary / edited by E.G. Gregorich ... [et al.].
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references.
ISBN 0-8493-3115-3
1. Soil science(cid:151)Dictionaries. 2. Soil science(cid:151)Dictionaries(cid:151)French. 3. Environmental
sciences(cid:151)Dictionaries. 4. Environmental sciences(cid:151)Dictionaries(cid:151)French. 5. English
language(cid:130) Dictionaries(cid:151)French. 6. French language(cid:151)Dictionaries(cid:151)English. I.
Gregorich, E.G. II. Canadian Society of Soil Science.
S592 .S59 2001
631.4¢03(cid:151)dc21 2001025292
CIP
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© 2001 by CRC Press LLC
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Don’t be surprised we don’t know how to describe the world
and only speak to things affectionately by their (cid:222)rst names.
Zbigniew Herbert
Never About You
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Preface
Judicious treatment of environmental questions and challenges requires an integrated, cross-
disciplinary approach. Whether working at a local, national, regional, or global scale, the knowl-
edge and expertise resident in a variety of subject areas comes to bear on all questions of
sustainable development. Soil scientists now collaborate with colleagues in many (cid:222)elds, and a
basic working knowledge of the vocabulary of those (cid:222)elds improves understanding and enhances
the (cid:223)ow of information.
This dictionary brings together the conventional vocabulary of soil science with that of many
overlapping disciplines such as geology, hydrology, and meteorology. Its purpose is to de(cid:222)ne
and describe technical words for researchers, students of various levels, librarians, policy- and
decision-makers, and interested citizens working and studying in a wide variety of disciplines
related to soil science.
The terms and de(cid:222)nitions for this dictionary were gathered from a wide variety of sources,
including several existing glossaries and dictionaries. The editors invited a panel of thirty reviewers,
experts in selected subject areas, to help review, select, and update best de(cid:222)nitions. The editors
acknowledge and thank Professor Alma Mary Anderson, Art Department, Indiana State University,
for drafting the illustrations. To re(cid:223)ect Canada(cid:146)s bilingualism and make the dictionary more useful
to the international science community, French equivalents are given for English terms.
© 2001 by CRC Press LLC
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Canadian Society of Soil Science
The Canadian Society of Soil Science is a non-governmental, non-pro(cid:222)t organization for scientists,
engineers, technologists, administrators, students, and others interested in soil science. Its three
main objectives are:
(cid:149) To promote the wise use of soil for the bene(cid:222)t of society
(cid:149) To facilitate the exchange of information and technology among people and organizations
involved in soil science
(cid:149) To promote research and practical application of (cid:222)ndings in soil science
The Society quarterly produces the international scienti(cid:222)c publication, the Canadian Journal
of Soil Science, and each year hosts an international soil science conference. Its well-known practical
soils methodology book Soil Sampling and Methods of Analysis (Lewis Publishers, CRC Press,
1993) is used throughout the world. The Society publishes a newsletter to share information and
ideas, and maintains active liaisons and partnerships with other soil science societies. Collaborative
projects are currently under way in Sri Lanka, Costa Rica, and Thailand.
For more information about the Canadian Society of Soil Science, please visit the following
Web site: http://www.csss.ca.

© 2001 by CRC Press LLC
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The Editors
E.G. Gregorich, Ph.D. holds degrees in agriculture and soil science from the University of
Saskatchewan, and earned a Ph.D. in soil science from the University of Guelph. He has been a
research scientist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada at the Eastern Cereal and Oilseed
Research Centre, Ottawa, Canada, since 1989, focusing on carbon and nitrogen cycling in soil. He
is a member of the Canadian Society of Soil Science and currently serves as an associate editor
for the Journal of Environmental Quality.
L.W. Turchenek, Ph.D. holds degrees in agriculture and soil science from the University of
Saskatchewan, and earned a Ph.D. in soil science from the Waite Agricultural Research Institute,
University of Adelaide. He held research positions at the University of Alberta and the Alberta
Research Council from 1975 to 1994, and is currently a senior soil scientist with AMEC Earth and
Environmental Ltd. in Edmonton, Alberta. He is a member of the Canadian Society of Soil Science
and has been involved in research and consulting in environmental soil science, reclamation, and
soil survey.
M.R. Carter, Ph.D. holds degrees in agriculture and soil science from the University of Alberta,
and earned a Ph.D. in soil science from the University of Saskatchewan. He has held agricultural
research positions with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada since 1977 and is currently a research
scientist at the Crops and Livestock Research Centre, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, working
on soil quality evaluation. A fellow of the Canadian Society of Soil Science, he currently serves
as editor-in-chief for Soil and Tillage Research and Agriculture Ecosystems and Environment.
D.A. Angers, Ph.D. holds degrees in agriculture and soil science from UniversitØ Laval, QuØbec
and the University of Guelph, and earned a Ph.D. in soil science from McGill University. He has
been a research scientist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada since 1988 at the Soils and Crops
Research and Development Centre, Sainte-Foy, QuØbec, involved in research in applied soil physics
and organic matter dynamics. He is an adjunct professor of soil science at UniversitØ Laval and
serves on the Canadian Society of Soil Science council, and is an editorial advisor for Soil and
Tillage Research and Plant and Soil.
© 2001 by CRC Press LLC
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Subject Reviewers
Manas R. Banerjee Douglas G. Maynard
M.H. Beare G.R. Mehuys
G. BØlanger J.J. Miller
Claude Bernard Alan P. Moulin
Johanne B. Boisvert G.H. Neilsen
Martin H. Chantigny Denise Neilsen
Reinder de Jong Michel C. Nolin
J.F. Dormaar Rock Ouimet
Deena Errampalli LØon-(cid:201)tienne Parent
C.A. Fox Philippe Rochette
L.J. Gregorich R.R. Simard
Y.P. Kalra Barrie Stan(cid:222)eld
Claude Lapierre Ulrica F. Stoklas
M.R. LaverdiŁre A.J. VandenBygaart
David A. Lobb Karl Volkmar
© 2001 by CRC Press LLC
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Table of Contents
Using the Dictionary...................................................................................................................xvii
Dictionary (A(cid:150)Z: English Terms and De(cid:222)nitions with Equivalent French Terms)..................1
English/French Index of Terms by Subject Area/Discipline...................................................409
French/English Index of Terms by Subject Area/Discipline...................................................481
References: Sources of Terms.....................................................................................................555
References: Sources of Illustrations...........................................................................................559
Appendix A. Units
Table A.1 SI Pre(cid:222)xes...................................................................................................................561
Table A.2 SI Base Units..............................................................................................................561
Table A.3 Conversion Factors for SI and Non-SI Units.............................................................562
Appendix B. Soil Properties
Table B.1 Types and Classes of Soil Structure...........................................................................565
Figure B.1 Type, Kinds and Classes of Soil Structure................................................................566
Figure B.2 Soil Texture Classes....................................................................................................566
Appendix C. Geological Timescale
Table C.1 The Geological Timescale..........................................................................................567
Appendix D. Soil Classi(cid:222)cation
Table D.1 Canadian Soil Classi(cid:222)cation at Levels of Order, Great Group,
and Subgroup..............................................................................................................569
Table D.2 Correlation of Horizon De(cid:222)nitions and Designations...............................................574
Table D.3 Correlation of United States and FAO Diagnostic Horizons
with Nearest Canadian Equivalents............................................................................575
Table D.4 Taxonomic Correlation at the Canadian Order and Great Group Levels..................576
Appendix E. Ecozones of Canada
Figure E.1 Terrestrial Ecozones of Canada..................................................................................577
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Using the Dictionary
Each term is printed in bold type, followed by the de(cid:222)nition. In the case of multiple de(cid:222)nitions for
a single term, de(cid:222)nitions are listed in a numbered sequence. Where a de(cid:222)nition pertains to a speci(cid:222)c
discipline, the discipline appears italicized in parentheses at the head of that de(cid:222)nition.
The French term equivalent to the de(cid:222)ned English term or phrase is shown in bold type following
the de(cid:222)nition. If the French term differs for multiple English de(cid:222)nitions listed in a numbered
sequence, the French terms are numbered correspondingly at the end of the list of de(cid:222)nitions.
A word in italic font within a de(cid:222)nition indicates that it is de(cid:222)ned elsewhere in the dictionary,
unless it denotes a biological genus and species. Where a term is de(cid:222)ned elsewhere in the
dictionary under a synonymous term, the reader is directed to this other de(cid:222)nition with the
instruction, (cid:147)See...(cid:148). At the end of a de(cid:222)nition, the reader is alerted to synonyms for this term
with the instruction, (cid:147)Also called...(cid:148).
Two indexes, located at the back of the dictionary, group dictionary terms according to discipline
and subject area. These sections enable the English or French reader to determine if a particular
term, or group of related terms within a discipline, is de(cid:222)ned in the dictionary. Terms are arranged
alphabetically within each discipline. The English/French index is sorted alphabetically by English
term with the corresponding French equivalent, and the French/English index by French term with
the corresponding English equivalent. Several appendices provide additional information to aid in
understanding certain terms or the context in which terms are used. The literature used to de(cid:222)ne
some of the terms is cited in References: Sources of Terms, and the sources used for some of the
illustrations are given in References: Sources of Illustrations.
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A 1
B 27
C 47
D 89
E 109
F 127
G 149
H 165
I 181
J 195
K 197
L 201
M 215
N 237
O 247
P 257
Q 289
R 291
S 309
Slope classes, class limits (in percent slope), and descriptive terminology 327
Slope equivalents in grade (ratio), degree, and percent. 327
Soil Map Units for the FAO/UNESCO World Soil Map 332
T 361
U 383
V 389
W 395
X 403
Y 405
Z 407
ENGLISH/FRENCH INDEX
OF TERMS BY SUBJECT AREA/DISCIPLINE 409
AGRONOMY, AGRICULTURE, FERTILITY, PLANT NUTRITION 409
BIOCHEMISTRY 411
BOTANY, HORTICULTURE, RANGE SCIENCE 412
CHEMISTRY 417
CONSERVATION, SOIL MANAGEMENT, TILLAGE 424
ECOLOGY 429
ENVIRONMENTAL SOIL SCIENCE, AGRICHEMICALS,
PESTICIDES, POLLUTANTS 433
FORESTRY 434
GEOMORPHOLOGY, GEOLOGY, CIVIL ENGINEERING 437
HYDROLOGY, LIMNOLOGY, WATER QUALITY 445
IRRIGATION 448
METEOROLOGY, CLIMATOLOGY, AIR QUALITY 449
MICROBIOLOGY 451
MINERALOGY, GEOCHEMISTRY, WEATHERING 454
MODELING, STATISTICS 457
PEAT, PEATLANDS 461
PHYSICS, SOIL WATER 462
RECLAMATION, REMEDIATION 467
© 2001 by CRC Press LLC