Instant Insights

Chapter 1 - Mechanisms of soil erosion/degradation: Jane Rickson, Cranfield University, UK;

1 Introduction

2 Soil erosion processes: overview and erosion by water

3 Soil erosion processes: other mechanisms

4 Consequences of soil erosion

5 Relating soil erosion to crop productivity and sustainable agriculture

6 Mitigating soil erosion: soil conservation

7 Summary and conclusions

8 Where to look for further information

9 References

Chapter 2 The impact of heavy metal contamination on soil health: Santanu Bakshi and Chumki Banik, Iowa State University, USA; and Zhenli He, University of Florida, USA;

1 Introduction

2 Current levels of soil contamination by heavy metals

3 Natural and anthropogenic sources of heavy metals

4 Chemical transformation of heavy metals in soils

5 Bioavailability of heavy metals in soils

6 Effects of heavy metals on soil health: soil chemistry, biochemistry and microbiology

7 Effects of heavy metals on plant health and crop production

8 Indicators of soil contamination

9 Remediation of contaminated soil

10 Conclusions and future trends

11 References

Chapter 3 Advances in techniques to assess soil erodibility: R. J. Rickson, E. Dowdeswell Downey, G. Alegbeleye and S. E. Cooper, Cranfield University, UK;

1 Introduction

2 Factors affecting soil erodibility

3 Assessment of soil erodibility

4 Future trends in research

5 Conclusion

6 Where to look for further information

7 References

Chapter 4 Rehabilitating degraded and abandoned agricultural lands with Conservation Agriculture systems: Telmo Jorge Carneiro Amado, Federal University of Santa Maria, Brazil; Carlos Alexandre Costa Crusciol, S£o Paulo State University (UNESP), Brazil; Claudio Hideo Martins da Costa, Universidade Federal de Goi¡s, Brazil; Ot¡vio dos Anjos Leal, Catarinense Federal Institute, Brazil; and Luan Pierre Pott, Federal University of Santa Maria, Brazil;

1 Introduction

2 Conservation Agriculture adoption in Brazil, mainly in Brazilian Southern region, as a tool to prevent and reverse soil degradation

3 Case study 1: Integrated strategies for restoration of compacted and low productive soils under no-tillage system in Southern Brazil

4 Case study 2: Strategies for soil quality improvement in crop-livestock integration under Conservation Agriculture in acidic tropical soils

5 Conclusion

6 Acknowledgements

7 References