An authoritative reference on soil physics, Soil Physics Companion is lavishly illustrated with graphs, charts, line drawings, and equations. The book provides a valuable source of material and reference for most contemporary topics of soil physics and the vadose zone - arguably the most comprehensive volume available. In addition to being a reliable reference, it is valuable as an advanced text from which topics of interest can be selected by the teacher and student. Topics include: Static and dynamic aspects of soils, Transport processes and soil water measurements, Movement of soil water in the context of overall water balance and its key role in the hydrologic cycle, Energy balance and thermal regime, Soil-plant-atmospheric interface, Solute transport and soil-gas movement, Spatial variability.

Building on the work begun in the bestselling Handbook of Soil Science, this reference takes soil physics one step further. In addition to the material covered in the handbook, the book contains a chapter on soil temperature. Convenient and easy-to-use, it provides in-depth information at your fingertips. When you need easily accessible, readily available facts and theories you need the Soil Physics Companion.

Soil physics describes soil physical properties and transport processes of water, solutes, air, and heat in the porous medium. The Soil Physics Companion contains nine chapters to address the most significant topics of contemporary soil physics. Soil is a three-phase (solid, liquid, and air) system. Therefore, Chapters 1, 2, and 7 are devoted to describe the solid phase, including static aspects of the soil matrix, particle size, and surface areas (Chapter 1), as well as dynamic aspects of tillage and temporal variations attributable to natural and human activities (Chapters 2 and 7). The most important phase, the soil water, is discussed in Chapters 3 and 4, and a majority of Chapters 5 and 6, including soil water content and water potential relationships, soil water movement, and soil water related to other transport processes in soils. Chapter 8 emphasizes soil gas movement in unsaturated soils (the air phase). Chapter 5 discusses water and energy balances at soil-plant-atmosphere interfaces and the thermal regime of soils. Chapter 6 provides detailed discussion of solute transport in soils, which is an active research area for soil and water quality, and nutrient management. To emphasize the importance of the heterogeneity of soil properties, a separate chapter (Chapter 9) is devoted to describe soil spatial variability.

Besides in-depth discussion of these important topics, the book contains interesting and stimulating worked-out examples, food-for-thought questions, and historical stories related to soil physics. The discussions of new devices for measuring soil properties are also useful. At the end of each chapter, a vast number of current references are provided.

The book is extremely well organized. The editor and contributors of the chapters are leading scientists and recognized authorities on the topics. The book should be one of the best authoritative references on soil physics.

Soil Physics Companion is an expanded version of the soil physics chapter in Handbook of Soil Science, ed. By Malcolm E. Sumner (CH, Jan'00). Warrick has expanded the original format, which addresses several major topics of contemporary soil physics. He has used the same chapter format, and the same authors write on their respective topics. Additions to each chapter include boxed examples with problems, questions, citations, and additional descriptions, emphasizing a primary chapter concept. Each chapter has extensive citations for further information. Major topics include soil solids (particle size and structure); soil water (content, movement, energy balance, and solute transport); soil air; and soil spatial variability. Along with general principles and methodology presented in the Handbook of Soil Science, the Companion is extensively illustrated with figures, tables, illustrations of instruments for measuring soil water content and potential, and descriptions of new devices useful for measuring soil physical properties. The writing style is consistent from chapter to chapter regardless of author. Warrick has created a supplement for those interested only in soil physics without having to acquire the larger Handbook. Readers include soil scientists, hydrologists, and agronomists with strong backgrounds in soils. Upper-division undergraduates through professionals involved in soil research.-S.G. Shetron, emeritus, Michigan Technological University

Jan W. Hopmans review in Soil Science

Jan Hopmans wrote a detailed review in Soil Science, 2002, 167:838-839. If you are a subscriber to Soil Science, you can go to www.soilsci.com and look up the review under journal contents.