Soils and Hydrology: Principles Applications

Soils and Hydrology: Principles and Applications has been written to provide an integrated treatment of the fundamental principles governing soil properties and hydrologic processes, together with their practical applications in engineering, agriculture, environmental management, and natural resource conservation. The book recognizes that soil and water cannot be considered independently. The physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of soil strongly influence the movement, storage, and availability of water, while water movement and hydrologic processes, in turn, influence soil formation, structure, fertility, erosion, and productivity. The book begins with the fundamental concepts of soil science and hydrology and progresses to important processes governing soil-water interactions. Topics include soil physical properties, soil formation and classification, organic matter, soil structure, compaction and strength, hydrologic measurement and instrumentation, infiltration and percolation, evaporation and evapotranspiration, rainfall and runoff, soil and water conservation, irrigation and soil-water management, and the effects of climate change on soil and water resources. Attention is also given to the application of these principles in Biosystems Engineering and related fields. A major objective of this book is to bridge the gap between theory and practice. Mathematical relationships and physical principles are presented where they are necessary for understanding and quantifying soil and hydrologic processes, while practical examples and applications demonstrate how these principles can be used to solve real-world problems. The emphasis throughout is on developing an understanding of the processes rather than simply presenting equations or procedures