The Soil Underfoot: Infinite Possibilities for a Finite Resource

462 Pages·2014·10.67 MB·English

by  G. Jock Churchman, Edward R. Landa

Soil Science
ChurChman
Landa
THE SOIL
UNDERFOOT IT
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Infinite Possibilities tE
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for a Finite Resource S
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The largest part of the world’s food comes from its soils, either directly from plants, e
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or via animals fed on pastures and crops. Thus, it is necessary to maintain and, if s

possible, improve the quality—and hence good health—of soils, while enabling fN
o
them to support the growing world population. The Soil Underfoot: Infinite
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Possibilities for a Finite Resource arms readers with historical wisdom from various aD
populations around the globe, along with current ideas and approaches for the wise
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management of soils. It covers the value of soils and their myriad uses viewed within E
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human and societal contexts in the past, present, and supposed futures.
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In addition to addressing the technical means of maintaining soils, this book F
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presents a culturally and geographically diverse collection of historical attitudes to
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soils, including philosophical and ethical frameworks, which have either sustained
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them or led to their degradation. Section I describes major challenges associated o
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with climate change, feeding the increasing world population, chemical pollution u
and soil degradation, and technology. Section II discusses various ways in which r
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soils are, or have been, valued—including in film and contemporary art as well as in e
religious and spiritual philosophies, such as Abrahamic religions, Maori traditions,
and in Confucianism.

Section III provides stories about soil in ancient and historic cultures, including
the Roman Empire, Greece, India, Japan, Korea, South America, New Zealand, the
United States, and France. Section IV describes soil modification technologies,
such as polymer membrane barriers, and soil uses outside commercial agriculture,
including the importance of soils for recreation and sports grounds. The final section
addresses future strategies for more effective sustainable use of soils, emphasizing
the biological nature of soils and enhancing the use of “green water” retained
from rainfall.
K16546
ISBN: 978-1-4665-7156-3
90000
9 781466 571563
K16546_COVER_final.indd 1 3/13/14 4:13 PM

THE SOIL
UNDERFOOT
Infinite Possibilities
for a Finite Resource

The Soil
UnderfooT
Infinite Possibilities
for a Finite Resource
Edited by
G. J c
ock hurchman
University of Adelaide, Australia
E r. L
dward anda
University of Maryland, College Park, USA
Cover illustration by Jay Stratton Noller
Boca Raton London New York
CRC Press is an imprint of the
Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
CRC Press
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© 2014 by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC
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No claim to original U.S. Government works
Version Date: 20140131
International Standard Book Number-13: 978-1-4665-7157-0 (eBook - PDF)
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To Patrick, Harriet, Alice, Audrey, and Reuben, and every child of
their generation worldwide, including those yet to be born.
To Judith, for the sky above and earth below.

Contents
Foreword ...........................................................................................................................................xi
Introduction ....................................................................................................................................xiii
Cover Story .....................................................................................................................................xix
Editors, Foreword Writer, and Illustrator ........................................................................................xxi
Contributor Biographies ...............................................................................................................xxiii
Contributors ..................................................................................................................................xxxi
Section i Future challenges
Chapter 1 Climate Change: An Underfoot Perspective? ...............................................................3
Kevin R. Tate and Benny K. G. Theng
Chapter 2 Soils and the Future of Food: Challenges and Opportunities for Feeding
Nine Billion People ....................................................................................................17
Sharon J. Hall
Chapter 3 Soil Loss .....................................................................................................................37
Nikolaus J. Kuhn
Chapter 4 The Finite Soil Resource for Sustainable Development: The Case of Taiwan ..........49
Zeng-Yei Hseu and Zueng-Sang Chen
Chapter 5 The Far Future of Soil ................................................................................................61
Peter K. Haff
Section ii Valuing Soils
Chapter 6 Seeing Soil ..................................................................................................................75
Deborah Koons Garcia
Chapter 7 Picturing Soil: Aesthetic Approaches to Raising Soil Awareness in
Contemporary Art ......................................................................................................83
Alexandra R. Toland and Gerd Wessolek
Chapter 8 Principles for Sustaining Sacred Soil .......................................................................103
Norman Habel
vii
viii Contents
Chapter 9 Indigenous Māori Values, Perspectives, and Knowledge of Soils in Aotearoa-
New Zealand: Beliefs and Concepts of Soils, the Environment, and Land .............111
Garth Harmsworth and Nick Roskruge
Chapter 10 Integrative Development between Soil Science and Confucius’ Philosophy ...........127
Xinhua Peng
Chapter 11 Soil: Natural Capital Supplying Valuable Ecosystem Services ...............................135
Brent Clothier and Mary Beth Kirkham
Section iii culture and History
Chapter 12 Bread and Soil in Ancient Rome: A Vision of Abundance and an Ideal of
Order Based on Wheat, Grapes, and Olives .............................................................153
Bruce R. James, Winfried E. H. Blum, and Carmelo Dazzi
Chapter 13 The Anatolian Soil Concept of the Past and Today .................................................175
Erhan Akça and Selim Kapur
Chapter 14 Deconstructing the Leipsokouki: A Million Years (or so) of Soils and
Sediments in Rural Greece ......................................................................................185
Richard B. Doyle and Mary E. Savina
Chapter 15 Knowledge of Soil and Land in Ancient Indian Society ..........................................209
Pichu Rengasamy
Chapter 16 The Evolution of Paddy Rice and Upland Cropping in Japan with Reference to
Soil Fertility and Taxation........................................................................................213
Masanori Okazaki and Koyo Yonebayashi
Chapter 17 Soils in Farming—Centric Lessons for Life and Culture in Korea .............................221
Rog-Young Kim, Su-Jung Kim, E. Jin Kim, and Jae E. Yang
Chapter 18 Terra Preta: The Mysterious Soils of the Amazon ..................................................235
Antoinette M. G. A. WinklerPrins
Chapter 19 Modern Landscape Management Using Andean Technology Developed by
the Inca Empire ........................................................................................................247
Francisco Mamani-Pati, David E. Clay, and Hugh Smeltekop
Chapter 20 Indigenous Māori Values, Perspectives, and Knowledge of Soils in Aotearoa-
New Zealand: Ma¯ori Use and Knowledge of Soils over Time .................................257
Garth Harmsworth and Nick Roskruge