The Soils of Italy

Description

The Soils of Italy is the first comprehensive book on Italian pedology in seventy years. Taking advantage of the authors’ large experience and of the most up-to-date information and technology, this book treats the main soil types of Italy, their diffusion, their functions, ecological use, and the threats to which they are subjected during centuries of intensive management. It also deals with future scenarios of the relationships between soil science and other disciplines, such as urban development, medicine, economics, sociology, and archaeology. The description of the soils is accompanied by a complete set of data, pictures and maps, including benchmark profiles. Factors of soil formation are also treated, making use of new, unpublished data and elaborations. The book also includes a history of pedological research in Italy, spanning over a century. Front Matter....Pages i-xi Research in Pedology: A Historical Perspective....Pages 1-17 Climate and Pedoclimate of Italy....Pages 19-37 Geology and Geomorphology....Pages 39-56 Vegetation and Land Use....Pages 57-91 Time as a Soil Forming Factor and Age of Italian Soils....Pages 93-104 Pedodiversity....Pages 105-178 Soil Functions and Ecological Services....Pages 179-203 Soil Threats....Pages 205-245 Italian Soil Management from Antiquity to Nowadays....Pages 247-293 Soils in Urban Areas....Pages 295-302 Future Soil Issues....Pages 303-348 Back Matter....Pages 349-354