mixed bag in terms of subject matter. However, all are eminently readable, worthy of

inclusion in the volume, and represent rich pickings for those running soil courses with

an environmental spin. As a non-American I may have wished to see a broader

application of the concept of soil mineralogy families in the chapter on Distribution of

soil minerals and soil taxonomy, but given the identity of both the publishers and the

chapter authors, the American bias is perhaps inevitable and understandable—though

not necessarily excusable.

Another small gripe would be the use by a variety of the authors of the phrase ‘‘heavy

metal’’. Whilst many scientists are guilty of this crime, it is now stated IUPAC policy

that the phrase should not be used on account of the multiple, nonscientific, often

contradictory definitions of the term that exist. In this age of word processors, it would

have required little effort on behalf of the editors to eradicate this phrase from the book,

possibly replacing it with just ‘‘metal’’ or ‘‘potentially toxic element’’. However, it may

be the case that the IUPAC report was produced after the volume had already gone to

press, in which case it is to be hoped that the heinous phrase will be eradicated from a

2nd edition.

And, finally, the key question, Is this book worth purchasing? To those thinking of

updating their 1st edition of Dixon and Weed’s ‘‘Minerals in soil environments’’, to

students majoring in mineralogy or soil science, and to professionals involved with soil

mineralogy, I would wholeheartedly recommend this book. To those doing first year

courses in soil science or mineralogy, should you happen to be reading this review, at

least go to the library and see if it stocks this book. In it you will find lots of useful

information for your courses. To those readers who have recently invested in a copy of

the 2nd edition of Dixon and Weed, I would advise contacting your book seller to see if

you can swap the volumes. If this is not possible, I would still encourage you to buy this

book although you will have to resign yourself to a large amount of overlap between the

two.

Mark Hodson

Department of Soil Science, University of Reading,

Whiteknights, Reading, Berkshire RG6 6DW, UK

E-mail address: m.e.hodson@reading.ac.uk

Soil Genesis and Classification (Fifth Edition)

By S.W. Buol, R.J. Southard, R.C. Graham and P.A. McDaniel 2003 Hardbound, Iowa

State Press 512 pp. ISBN 0-8138-2873-2. US$79.99

This is the fifth edition of a text first published in 1973. Buol, Hole and

McCracken were the authors of the first three editions, Southard joined as an author

of the fourth edition, and in the fifth edition there are four authors, Buol and Southard

doi:10.1016/S0016-7061(03)00113-7

Book reviews 331

are joined by Graham and McDaniel. From the first edition, the book has had an

emphasis on the nature and function of soils at the earth’s surface, at the interface of

the atmosphere, lithosphere, hydrosphere and biosphere. This has then been linked to

the nature of soils in the landscape and their classification, with particular emphasis on

the systems of soil classification from the USA. In 1973, the classification was the

Comprehensive Soil Classification System (the Seventh Approximation) which is

known since 1975 as Soil Taxonomy. Through the five editions, there is an apparent

increasing confidence in the ability of these classifications systems to successfully

classify soils and in this fifth edition there is widespread use of the terminology

employed in Soil Taxonomy.

There have been changes in the chapter structure and content throughout the five

editions. The opening chapter is, however, relatively little changed and provides an

introduction to the history of ideas on soil genesis and how different ideas have

influenced the approaches to the classification of soils. Chapter 2, again relatively little

changed, addresses the morphology and composition of soils, briefly summarising

some of the terms used in Soil Taxonomy to describe soil materials and the definitions

of the diagnostic horizons. This is followed by brief descriptions of some of the

analytical procedures used to characterise these materials. Chapter 3 introduces the soil

forming processes in a little more detail, paying particular attention to biogeochemical

processes, discussing weathering, clay minerals and the development of soil horizons.

The fourth chapter draws attention to the role of soils in the broader context of the

ecosystem, highlighting the inter-relationships, which give rise to the often-complex

patterns of soils we see at the surface of the earth. The theme is continued in Chapter

5 with an emphasis on the nature and pattern of soil formation in time and space.

These first 160 pages provide a general introduction to the nature and development of

soils in the landscape.

From Chapter 6 onwards, the emphasis is on soil classification and mapping, with

the sixth chapter providing a summary of some of the key markers in the development

of modern soil classification systems, both national and international, and the scientific

context in which these classifications were developed. From Chapter 7 through

Chapter 19, the emphasis is on Soil Taxonomy. Chapter 7 presents an outline of

the broad principles and structure of Soil Taxonomy and the subsequent 12 chapters

present summaries of each of the Soil Orders. The final two chapters discuss the

spatial arrangement and mapping of soils, soil survey and the technical classification

of soils.

In conclusion, this edition continues the style and achievements of earlier editions,

providing undergraduates and postgraduate students from a wide range of subject areas

with broad background knowledge on the development, function and classification of

soils. I would recommend this text to anyone seeking a reasonably detailed introduction

to the formation and classification of soils, in particular it provides a good introduction

to Soil Taxonomy and the 12 Soil Orders. Whilst all five editions have seen gradual

changes in style and format, the fifth edition includes the descriptions of the major

revisions introduced in the 1999 Second Edition of Soil Taxonomy and as such the

changes from fourth to fifth editions are greater than the gradual changes seen between

Book reviews332

the earlier editions. For an up-to-date summary of the state of Soil Taxonomy, it is a

most useful text.

Stephen Nortcliff

Department of Soil Science, The University of Reading,

PO Box 233, Whiteknights,

Reading RG6 6DW, UK

E-mail address: s.nortcliff@reading.ac.uk

Tel.: +44-118-931-6559; fax: +44-118-931-6660

doi:10.1016/S0016-7061(03)00114-9

Book reviews 333