Crop processes in controlled environments: A. R. Rees, K. E. Cockshull, D. W. Hand and R. G. Hurd (Editors). Academic Press, London and New York, 1972, xiii + 391 pp., £6.50
✍ Scribed by J.P. Cooper
- Book ID
- 102621465
- Publisher
- Elsevier Science
- Year
- 1973
- Weight
- 123 KB
- Volume
- 12
- Category
- Article
- ISSN
- 0002-1571
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✦ Synopsis
This is a comprehensive soil physics text, covering also some relevant areas of micrometeorology, plant physiology and irrigation science.
The book begins with chapters on climatic factors and evapotranspiration, and then has useful chapters on the properties of water, on colloidal systems and on the soil solids. Energy relations, movement and measurement of soil water, and returns and flow of water in field soils are then examined in the body of the book, covering some 200 pages. This section is followed by chapters concerned with soil structure, aeration and temperature, and the book closes with three chapters on irrigation principles and practice.
The book contains much useful information but is rather difficult to read and is not a particularly good source of reference material. The latter feature is partly a result of the history of the book. It was initially drafted by Dr. Sterling Taylor and, after his untimely death, was revised and edited by his colleague, Dr. Ashcroft. The editing has been done competently and thoroughly but the reader gets the impression that Dr. Ashcroft saw his role primarily as preserving Dr. Taylor's views and style of presentation. In the process, the gaps in basic information which characterized the early draft have been filled in to some degree, but little extra research material appears to have been added, so that the book contains few references dated after the mid-1960's.
Another feature, perhaps understandable, is that the material on which the book is based is drawn largely from work by Dr. Taylor and his colleagues. While much of this was of top quality, the outcome is to give the book something of a parochial quality.
In summary, I regard the book as a useful and important addition to the limited number of substantial works in this field.