Vertisols and Technologies for their Management

Preface. Occurrence and Distribution of Vertisols (N. Ahmad). Vertisols of Africa. Vertisols of Australia. Vertisols of the Caribbean. Vertisols of India. Vertisols of the United States. References. Pedogenesis (A.R. Mermut et al.). Soil–forming factors. Soil–forming processes. Formation of Vertisols. Pedogenic models. References. Classification of Vertisols (W.A. Blokhuis). Soil taxonomy. The FAO–Unesco System. The World Reference Base for Soil Resources (WRB). The French Classification System (CPCS, 1967) and the "Référentiel Pédologique Français". The Australian Soil Classification. General discussion. References. Soil Morphology (A.R. Mermut, G.S. Dasog, G.N. Dowuona). Macromorphology. Micromorphology. References. Mineralogy and Chemistry of Vertisols (C.E. Coulombe et al.). Formation of vertisols. Mineralogy of vertisols. Chemistry of vertisols. Shrink–swell phenomena. Summary. References. Water Relations and Water Management of Vertisols (M. Kutílek). Porous system of vertisols. Soil water retention curves. Hydrodynamics in vertisols. Consequences for water management practices. References. The Structure and Grain Size Distribution of Vertisols (D. McGarry). Previous reviews. The description of structure in vertisols. Properties that influence the structure of vertisols. Constituent properties. External influences. Discussion. References. Tillage and Cultural Practices (D.F. Yule, T.J. Willcocks). Resources and tillage. What does tillage do to the soil? Consequences of tillage. Tillage effects on soil water processes and crop production. Cultural practices. Conclusion. References. Soil Erosion and Soil Conservation for Vertisols (D.M. Freebairn, R.J. Loch, D.M. Silburn). Special features of vertisols. Management options for erosion reduction. An integrated approach to erosion research. Simulation of erosion. Application of erosion models in systems models. References. Management of Vertisols in Rainfed Conditions (N. Ahmad). Land use in crop production. Land use as pasture. Land use in agroforestry. References. Management of Irrigated Vertisols (N. Ahmad). Methods of irrigation applicable to vertisols. Problems associated with irrigation. Water use regulation and efficiency. Water quality and its monitoring. Water conducting system. Examples of irrigation use on vertisols. References. Management of Vertisols for Rice Production (N. Ahmad, W.A. Muirhead). Rainfed and direct seeding system with manual or mechanical land preparation. Rainfed or irrigated with transplanting system and manual or mechanical land preparation. Limited or full irrigation in which rice is grown continuously with fully or partially mechanised production systems involving direct seeding and dry/wet land preparation. Limited or full irrigation in which rice is grown continuously with fully mechanised production systems and wet land preparation. Full irrigation in which rice is grown for one crop each year in a system of crop rotation or alternative land use (Australian Practice). References. Cold Vertisols and their Management (A.R. Mermut, D.D. Patterson, P.A. McDaniel). Formation and distribution of cold vertisols. Characteristics of cold vertisols. Uses and management of cold vertisols. References. Geotechnical Problems Associated with Swelling Clays (D.G. Fredlund). Stress state variables controlling soil behaviour. Theoretical derivation for prediction of heave. Case histories. References. References Index. Subject Index.