The soils are fundamental to our existence, delivering water and nutrients to plants, that feed us. But they are in many ways in danger and their conservation is therefore a most important focus for science, governments and society as a whole. A team of world recognised researchers have prepared this first English edition based on the 16th European edition. • The precursors and the processes of soil development • The physical, biological and chemical properties of soils • Nutrients and Pollutants • The various soil classifications with the main focus on the World Reference Base for Soil Resources (WRB) • The most important soils and soil landscapes of the world • Soil Evaluation Techniques • Basic Principles of Soil Conservation Whoever works with soils needs this book.

Die 17. Auflage dieses renommierten Lehrbuches vermittelt ein umfassendes Wissen über Böden und deren Schutz. Böden bilden eine der wichtigsten Grundlagen für das terrestrische Leben. Für einen effektiven Schutz und Erhalt dieses Lebensraums braucht es ein grundlegendes Verständnis der Prozesse, die Böden formen, sowie der Eigenschaften der Böden selbst. Dieses Buch fasst den neusten Kenntnisstand der Forschung zusammen und vermittelt ein umfassendes Wissen der Bodenkunde. Im Detail werden behandelt: die Vorgänge der Bodenbildung und -entwicklung, die physikalischen, chemischen und biologischen Eigenschaften und Prozesse, Nähr- und Schadstoffe, die verschiedenen Bodensystematiken, die wichtigsten Böden und Bodenlandschaften, die Nutzungsbewertung der Böden, Grundsätze des Bodenschutzes. Die 17. Auflage wurde überarbeitet und ergänzt. Neu ist ein Kapitel zu Nanopartikeln als Schadstoffe im Boden. Durch seineAusführlichkeit ist dieses Buch ein Must-Have für alle, die sich mit Böden befassen.

Agricultural soils have a great potential for carbon (C) sequestration due to the build-up of soil organic matter (SOM), which consists of about 58% C. Positive efforts in SOM management could therefore make a significant contribution to climate protection. For farmers, CO2 certificates for the build-up of soil organic carbon (SOC) represent an additional incentive to implement SOM-enhancing management measures. These CO2 certificates are issued by private initiatives and companies in the voluntary CO2 market. Especially in the field of agriculture, certificate trading for sequestered C in agricultural soils is currently growing in the German-speaking countries. In order to contribute to climate protection, certain criteria must be met when issuing certificates. In practice, however, minimum scientific standards have so far been given little consideration. In this study, recommendations are given regarding the quantifcation of SOC (sampling, analytics, SOC stock calculation), an evaluation of agricultural practices for C sequestration, as well as information on general limitations regarding climate protection via CO2 certificates. Generally, CO2-certificates can give a positive impulse for farmers to deal with sustainable cultivation and SOM supply of their soils. Since SOM is a key property for many soil functions and not least soil fertility, every effort to increase SOM is important. Farmers who are interested in building up SOC should therefore receive comprehensive support and advice on site-specific and farm-specific options for the sequestration of C in their soils.