Ebook: Soils, Plants and Clay Minerals: Mineral and Biologic Interactions

This book represents a rather complicated history of encounters, changes in research interest and some very interesting results. Initially it is the very fruitful interaction of Ecology and Geology. The point of view of ecologists is extremely refreshing for hard science people. Interaction and inter-relationships are the focus of Ecology whereas the traditional sciences, such as Geology, have tried to isolate the natural phenomena so that thye could be studied in a more rigorous manner. The traditional sciences were of course natural science – based since the world to be observed was at the door step of everyone, mountains, weather patterns, plants and so forth. Chemistry and Physics were de ned after Mathematics in order to establish more precise and viable principles of the behavior of the materials that formed the world around mankind. It became quite clear that the observation of the natural world was too complicated to consider all of the possible variables which could affect an observed process or situation. The systems were simpli ed and taken into the laboratory in order to better master the phenomena observed. Physics c- cerned itself with non-reacting materials, subjected to essentially mechanical forces.

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This book considers the inter-relations between plants and minerals in an entirely new way, in that it introduces the notion of eco-engineering: i.e. the manipulation of the mineral world by the living world to the ends of the living world. These inter-relations are the basis for traditional agriculture and should be the basis for new, ecologically oriented land management disciplines, including agriculture itself. These relations also have an impact on surface geochemistry and determine pollution problems. A better understanding of this concept will lead to a renewed consideration of surface environmental problems.

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This book considers the inter-relations between plants and minerals in an entirely new way, in that it introduces the notion of eco-engineering: i.e. the manipulation of the mineral world by the living world to the ends of the living world. These inter-relations are the basis for traditional agriculture and should be the basis for new, ecologically oriented land management disciplines, including agriculture itself. These relations also have an impact on surface geochemistry and determine pollution problems. A better understanding of this concept will lead to a renewed consideration of surface environmental problems.

Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-x
Introduction: Objectives and Background....Pages 1-39
The Soil Profile: The Structure of Plant – Mineral Interaction Space....Pages 41-91
Physical Factors Affecting Soil Profiles: The Three Dimensional Aspect of Plant – Mineral Interaction: Displacements....Pages 93-128
Clay Minerals in Soils: The Interface Between Plants and the Mineral World....Pages 129-170
The Chemistry and Mineralogy of Plant and Soil Interactions: Plant as Manipulators of Their Environment....Pages 171-254
Man and Agriculture: Manipulating Soil – Plant Interactions....Pages 255-303
Plants and Soils: The Ecological Paradigm of Plants and Clays....Pages 305-313
Back Matter....Pages 337-349

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This book considers the inter-relations between plants and minerals in an entirely new way, in that it introduces the notion of eco-engineering: i.e. the manipulation of the mineral world by the living world to the ends of the living world. These inter-relations are the basis for traditional agriculture and should be the basis for new, ecologically oriented land management disciplines, including agriculture itself. These relations also have an impact on surface geochemistry and determine pollution problems. A better understanding of this concept will lead to a renewed consideration of surface environmental problems.

Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-x
Introduction: Objectives and Background....Pages 1-39
The Soil Profile: The Structure of Plant – Mineral Interaction Space....Pages 41-91
Physical Factors Affecting Soil Profiles: The Three Dimensional Aspect of Plant – Mineral Interaction: Displacements....Pages 93-128
Clay Minerals in Soils: The Interface Between Plants and the Mineral World....Pages 129-170
The Chemistry and Mineralogy of Plant and Soil Interactions: Plant as Manipulators of Their Environment....Pages 171-254
Man and Agriculture: Manipulating Soil – Plant Interactions....Pages 255-303
Plants and Soils: The Ecological Paradigm of Plants and Clays....Pages 305-313
Back Matter....Pages 337-349
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