Soil Science: Fundamentals to Recent Advances

This compilation has been designed to provide a comprehensive source of theoretical and practical update for scientists working in the broad field of soil science. The book explores all possible mechanisms and means to improve nutrient use efficiencies involving developing and testing of nanofertilizers, developing consortia based microbial formulations for mobilization of soil nutrients, and engineering of nutrient efficient crops using molecular biology and biotechnological tools. This is an all-inclusive collection of information about soil science. This book is of interest to teachers, researchers, soil scientists, capacity builders and policymakers. Also the book serves as additional reading material for undergraduate and graduate students of soil science, quantitative ecology, earth sciences, GIS and geodetic sciences, as well as geologists, geomorphologists, hydrologists and landscape ecology. National and international agriculture and soil scientists, policy makers will also find this to be a useful read.

Amitava Rakshit, an IIT-Kharagpur alumnus is presently Associate Professor at the Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry at Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University(IAS, BHU). Dr. Rakshit worked in the Department of Agriculture, Government of West Bengal in administration and extension roles. He has visited Scandinavia, Europe, Africa, UAE and Bangladesh pertaining to his research work and presentation. He was awarded with TWAS Nxt Fellow (Italy), BiovisionNxt Fellow (France), Darwin Now Bursary(British Council),Young achiever award and Best Teacher’s Award at UG and PG level(BHU-ICAR) and at state level by Uttar Pradesh Academy of Agricultural Sciences . He is serving as review college member of British Ecological Society, London since 2011, member of Global Forum on Food Security and Nutrition of FAO, Rome and Commission on Ecosystem Management of IUCN. He has published 105 research papers, 37 book chapters, 28 popular articles, three manuals and co authored twenty four books

Dr.Satish Kumar Singh, received his B.Sc.(Ag) degree in 1985 and M.Sc.(Ag)  in 1988 and Ph.D. in Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry in 1992 from Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi. He started his professional career in 1990 as Lecturer of Agricultural Chemistry in Amar Singh (PG) College, Lakhaoti, Bulandshahr subsequently Dr Singh joined as Associate Professor in the year 1999 at G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar (Uttarakhand) and Professor, in 2006 at Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi. Prof. Singh is Fellow of Indian Society of Soil Science, New Delhi and Indian Society of Agricultural Chemists, Allahabad. He has guided 27 post graduate and 07 Ph.D. Students. He has more than 200  publications to his credit that includes Research Papers, Books, Book Chapters, Laboratory  Manuals, Technical Bulletins, Technical Folders etc.

Asim Biswas is an Associate Professor at the School of Environmental Science, University of Guelph, Canada. He is also an Adjunct Professor at the Department of Natural Resources Sciences, McGill University Canada, a Visiting Professor at Jiangxi University of Finance and Economics and Jiangsu University, China. His research program on sustainable soil management is focused on increasing the productivity and resilience of our land-based agri-food production systems in an environmentally sustainable way while accounting for changing climate, economy, and production methodologies. Currently, he runs a 21-member research team, funded by federal and provincial bodies as well as industries, grower’s associations, and international organizations. He has authored and co-authored 113 peer-reviewed journal papers including 21 in review, 165 conference abstracts, 12 proceedings, 15 book chapters, 2 popular articles, edited a book, delivered radio and TV interviews, and granted a patent. He was invited to deliver keynote talks around the world and currently teaches multiple undergraduate, graduate, and special courses. Currently, he is an Associate Editor for 4 journals and a guest editor for another 4 journals.

P. C. Abhilash is a senior Assistant Professor of Sustainability Science in the Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development (IESD) at Banaras Hindu University in Varanasi, India, and Lead of the Agroecosystem Specialist Group of IUCN-Commission on Ecosystem Management. He is a fellow of the National Academy of Agricultural Sciences, India. His research interest lies on sustainable biomass production from marginal and degraded lands for supporting a biobased economy, restoring degraded lands for regaining ecosystem services, land system management, sustainable utilisation of agrobiodiversity, nature-based solutions and ecosystem-based adaptations for climate-resilient and planet healthy food production, and sustainable agriscape management for food and nutritional security. He is particularly interested in sustainability analysis, system sustainability, sustainability indicators, circular economy principles, policy realignment and the localization of UN-SDGs for the sustainable development. He is sitting on the editorial board of prestigious journals in Ecology/Environment/Sustainability from leading international publishers, and also serving as a subject expert for UN-IPBES, IRP- UNEP, UNDP-BES Network, IPCC, UNCCD, APN, GLP, and IUCN Commissions (CEM, CEC, CEESP, and SSC) for fostering global sustainability