The Nature and Properties of Soils (13th Edition) (Hardcover)

by Nyle C. Brady (Author), Ray R. Weil (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review

A Fun, Readable, and Thorough Introduction to Soil Science, June 11, 2002

 

Reviewer: Amber Kerr, Berkeley, CA, USA

 

My "Science of Soils" class at Stanford University (Autumn '01) used "The Nature and Properties of Soils" as our main textbook. It is clearly written, easy to read, and has lots of helpful figures (including graphs, diagrams, drawings, and black-and-white and color photos). The chapters are well organized, so that you can find exactly what you need to know. The authors include hundreds of websites for those who want more information, and make the book more readable by starting off each chapter with a quote and a "big picture" statement.

 

"The Nature and Properties of Soils" has a good mix of theoretical and practical information. Wherever possible, the authors do sample calculations and describe applications for agriculture, ecology, and engineering. They thoroughly cover every major topic in soil science, as well as delving into some more specialized ones (for example, symptoms of micronutrient deficiencies in plants).

 

In conclusion, I've found this textbook to be both very information-rich and very readable, and highly recommend it. (The other day I caught my boyfriend, who's a materials engineer, reading it for fun... that's about the highest accolade any textbook can get!)

 

--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Product Description
For Introduction to Soils or Fundamentals of Soil Science courses. Also for courses in Soil Fertility, Forest Soils, Soil Management, Land Resources, Earth Science, and Soil Geography. Now in its thirteenth edition, The Nature and Property of Soils is designed to make the study of soils a fascinating and intellectually satisfying undertaking. This, the most widely-used soils textbook in the world, sets world-class standards for soils education. New photographs, diagrams and special "boxes" make the text much more engaging for readers. The text has an ecological approach that explains the fundamental principles of soil science in a manner that is relevant to students in many fields of study.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 960 pages
• Publisher: Prentice Hall; 13 edition (July 16, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0130167630
• ISBN-13: 978-0130167637
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.1 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #105,471 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #11 in	Books > Science > Agricultural Sciences > Agronomy
  #36 in	Books > Science > Agricultural Sciences > Soil Science

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Fun, Readable, and Thorough Introduction to Soil Science, June 11, 2002

By	Amber Kerr (Berkeley, California, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

My "Science of Soils" class at Stanford University (Autumn '01) used "The Nature and Properties of Soils" as our main textbook. It is clearly written, easy to read, and has lots of helpful figures (including graphs, diagrams, drawings, and black-and-white and color photos). The chapters are well organized, so that you can find exactly what you need to know. The authors include hundreds of websites for those who want more information, and make the book more readable by starting off each chapter with a quote and a "big picture" statement.

"The Nature and Properties of Soils" has a good mix of theoretical and practical information. Wherever possible, the authors do sample calculations and describe applications for agriculture, ecology, and engineering. They thoroughly cover every major topic in soil science, as well as delving into some more specialized ones (for example, symptoms of micronutrient deficiencies in plants).

In conclusion, I've found this textbook to be both very information-rich and very readable, and highly recommend it. (The other day I caught my boyfriend, who's a materials engineer, reading it for fun... that's about the highest accolade any textbook can get!)

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good informative book will teach you a lot about soil, August 9, 2005

By	A Reader (USA) - See all my reviews

I first bought this book when we bought a property with trashed-out soil. I've since grown attached to this book, which I find myself referring to. It's clearly written, well organized, and covers so much information. I really think that you can't go wrong with this book, if you want to know about soil (be warned: it doesn't really cover soil microbiology, the living aspect of soil - I'd recommend the book by Robert Tate III; the copy I have is Soil Microbiology 2nd Ed. (c) 2000)

With that said - I've gone through other books but haven't found one that I'd compare to this one. It's just really well done.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Indispensable Reference, February 11, 2006

By	Terry Serres (Minneapolis, MN United States) - See all my reviews

This is the 13th edition of a text that has been the standard in this field for 84 years. Its durability lies in its solid information; clear presentation; and graphics that are as rich as they are numerous. It is peppered with fascinating sidebars. You can dip into it as a reference and find just what you need (assuming you have a foundation in soil science). Even after I moved on to advanced coursework in soils, I found myself referring back to this.

If you have been assigned a soils text for a class, do not go with the abridged version of this, Elements of the Nature and Properties of Soils. It is 1/2 the book for 3/4 of the price (and at discounters the books are priced identically). If you plan to continue studies in the natural sciences, you will want this unabridged version. It's indispensable.