Celebrating Soil
M.R. Balks D. Zabowski Celebrating Soil Discovering Soils and Landscapes
M.R. Balks University of Waikato Hamilton, New Zealand D. Zabowski University of Washington Seattle, WA, USA ISBN 978-3-319-32682-5 DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-32684-9 ISBN 978-3-319-32684-9 (ebook) Library of Congress Control Number: 2016940521 Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2016 This work is subject to copyright. All rights are reserved by the Publisher, whether the whole or part of the material is concerned, specifically the rights of translation, reprinting, reuse of illustrations, recitation, broadcasting, reproduction on microfilms or in any other physical way, and transmission or information storage and retrieval, electronic adaptation, computer software, or by similar or dissimilar methodology now known or hereafter developed. The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, service marks, etc. in this publication does not imply, even in the absence of a specific statement, that such names are exempt from the relevant protective laws and regulations and therefore free for general use. The publisher, the authors and the editors are safe to assume that the advice and information in this book are believed to be true and accurate at the date of publication. Neither the publisher nor the authors or the editors give a warranty, express or implied, with respect to the material contained herein or for any errors or omissions that may have been made. Cover page: Van Gough looks deeper tapestry in wool by Megan Balks Printed on acid-free paper This Springer imprint is published by Springer Nature The registered company is Springer International Publishing AG Switzerland
Preface Our objective is to produce a book that celebrates the diversity, importance, and intrinsic beauty of soils around the world and helps the reader to understand the ways that soils are related to the landscapes in which they form and the life that they support. Jock Churchman in 2013 nicely captured our underlying philosophy when he wrote: Like the Lorax who speak for the trees in Dr Seuss wonderful environmental fable, one of the most important roles for soil scientists may be to speak for the soil. We want every person on Earth to appreciate how important our soil resource is. Swaisgood and Sheppard in 2010 suggested that The gloom and doom niche in conservation is well occupied,. By contrast the hope niche is relatively open. Thus we want to give a positive message, rather than the fearful warnings that tend to dominate much of today s environmental writing. We want to take our readers on a global journey through soils and landscapes ranging from the Arctic to the Antarctic, sharing the delight of discovery and sense of awe for the amazing variety and processes that soils utilize to support the ecosystems of different landscapes. Exploring the relationships between landscapes and the underlying soils can increase a reader s understanding of the soils beneath the landscapes in which they live, work, and travel. A book of this type cannot be comprehensive. The soils and landscapes discussed are ones in which at least one of the authors has first hand experience. By using a wide range of examples, we seek to give some insight into the variety and fascination that is to be found in the study of soils. There are many excellent publications and websites people can go to for more in-depth information. A list of sources and some suggested further reading are included in Appendix 2, as a starting point for the interested person. The best way to learn and get to know soils is to get out there and get close to the soil. Plant a garden, make a clay sculpture, and enjoy the feel, sight, sound, and smell of the soil in its endless dance with water and life. Hamilton, New Zealand Seattle, WA, USA M.R. Balks D. Zabowski v
Acknowledgments We would like to thank: University of Waikato in New Zealand and University of Washington, in Seattle, USA, who allowed the authors time to work on this project. The many wonderful soil scientists who have provided us with inspiration, friendship, and education over the years. Megan would especially like to thank Vince Neall, Jim Pollock, Allan Hewitt, John McCraw, Iain Campbell, Graeme Claridge, Daniel Hillel, and Sergey Goryachkin. Darlene would like to thank all of the soil scientists who have shared their knowledge and experience with her over many meetings, discussions, and field trips. David Lowe, Russell Briggs, Tanya O Neill, and Wendy Fallon for critical review of drafts of the manuscript. Marianne Coleman for assistance with the preparation of figures and diagrams. Special thanks go to our wonderful husbands, Errol Balks and Brandon Cole, who have provided endless support to us as we have pursued our interests in soil science and in preparing this book. vii
Contents 1 Soils in Harmony with the Environment... 1 Introduction... 2 The Environment and Soil... 3 The Underlying Sources of Soil: Parent Materials... 4 Topography: The Relationship Between Landscape and Soils... 5 Climate: Hot or Cold, Wet or Dry, Soils Respond... 7 Living Creatures: Influence on the Soils on Which They Depend... 9 Time: It Takes Time for a Soil to Develop... 11 Looking Deeper: Understanding the Soil Profile... 12 Celebrating Soils in Harmony with the Environment... 13 2 Soils Born of Fire... 15 Introduction... 16 Volcanic Landscapes... 17 Hawaii: Steam Heat and New Rock... 20 Mount Saint Helens... 23 Raining Mud: The 1886 Eruption of Mt. Tarawera in New Zealand... 26 The Taupo Pumice Eruption... 30 Jeju, Korea: A Land of Wind and Stones... 32 Celebrating the Productivity of Volcanic Soils... 35 3 Soils Born of Water... 39 Introduction... 40 Water-Saturated Soils... 41 Soils Formed on River Floodplains... 43 Water Scarcity: Soils and Salt... 47 Frozen Water: Glacial Deposits... 51 Peatland Soils... 54 Soils Formed in Lake Sediments... 57 Coastal Margins: Acid Sulfate Soils, as Sour as Lemon Juice... 59 Celebrating the Productivity of Water-Influenced Soils... 60 4 Soils of Forests... 65 Introduction... 66 Temperate Broadleaf and Mixed Forests... 68 Temperate Coniferous Forests... 71 Boreal Forests... 77 ix
x Contents Tropical and Subtropical Forests... 81 Mediterranean Woodlands and Savannas... 84 Some Special Forest Trees... 86 Celebrating the Productivity of Forest Soils... 90 5 Soils of Grasslands and Rangelands... 95 Introduction... 96 Loess: Some Soils Start with Wind... 97 Grasslands... 100 Grasslands: Central China... 102 Grasslands: Australian Wheat Belt... 105 Grasslands: Alpine Meadows... 106 Grasslands: Mounds of Mystery... 108 Rangelands... 110 Rangelands: The Pilbara Region of Western Australia... 111 Celebrating the Productivity of Grasslands and Rangelands... 114 6 Soils in Extreme Environments... 119 Introduction... 120 Antarctic Coastal Margins... 121 The Dry Valleys of Antarctica... 126 Furthest South: Soils on the Margins of the Polar Plateau... 130 Mid-Latitude Deserts... 133 Extreme Heat: Geothermal Environments... 137 Celebrating the Productivity of Soils in Extreme Environments... 139 7 When the Earth Moves: Earthquakes, Landslides, and Erosion... 143 Introduction... 144 Uplifted Land: New Opportunities... 145 On Shaky Ground: Soil Behavior in Earthquakes... 148 Landslides and Mudflows: Hillsides on the Move... 151 Lahars: Mudflows from Volcanoes... 156 Soil Surface Erosion... 157 Celebrating Resilience, Recovery, and the Landforms Created... 160 8 Soils and Humans... 165 Introduction... 166 Soils in Myths, Legends, and Traditions... 167 Ancient Earthworks in the United Kingdom... 168 Soils in the Maori Culture of Aotearoa, New Zealand... 172 The Legacy of the Inca Civilization... 175 Middens in British Columbia, Canada... 177 Leaving a Record Using Soil Materials... 179 The Great Garden Traditions... 180 Plaggen Soils of Europe... 183 Urban Soils in the Twenty-First Century... 184 Celebrating the Productivity of Urban Soils... 188 9 Managing and Caring for Our Soils... 193 Introduction... 194 People on Earth... 195 Preventing and Mitigating Soil Erosion... 197
Contents xi Maintaining and Enhancing Soil Fertility... 200 Prevention, Mitigation, and Management of Salt Accumulation in Soils... 203 Urban Expansion... 204 Prevention, Mitigation, and Management of Soil Compaction... 206 Prevention, Mitigation, and Management of Contaminants in Soils... 208 Precious Water: A Key to Soil Productivity... 211 Drainage to Improve Soil Productivity... 214 Celebrating the Variety, Productivity, and Beauty of Soil... 216 Appendices... 219 Appendix 1: Visual Dictionary... 219 Appendix 2: List of Sources/Further Reading... 240 Appendix 3: Photographic Credits... 243 Appendix 4: About the Authors... 243