Emerging Stressors to Soil Health: Climate Change and Beyond reviews the complex and evolving threats to soil health, including climate change, microplastics, pharmaceuticals, and antimicrobial resistance. This vital resource offers a comprehensive examination of how these stressors interact with traditional soil degradation issues, reshaping soil structure, microbial communities, and biogeochemical cycles. Through interdisciplinary analyses and case studies, the book presents innovative solutions for sustainable soil management and resilience in a changing environment. Targeting researchers, academics, and graduate students in soil science, environmental science, and related fields, this book serves as an essential guide for understanding and addressing current challenges in soil health. Readers will find evidence-based insights and practical methodologies that not only enhance their knowledge but also inform their research and professional practice.
Table of Contents
Section I: Soil Health in the Anthropocene1. The Role of Soil in Ecosystem Functioning
2. The Soil-Climate Nexus A Bidirectional Relationship
3. The Impact of Rising Temperatures on Soil Processes
4. Extreme Weather Events and Their Consequences for Soil Stability
5. Salinization and Desertification The Expanding Drylands
Section II: Emerging Contaminants in Soil Ecosystems
6. Microplastics and Synthetic Polymers in Soil: Sources, Fate, and Ecotoxicology
7. Pharmaceuticals, Antibiotics, and the Rise of Antimicrobial Resistance in Soil
8. Engineered Nanomaterials in Soil Risks, Benefits, and Unknowns
9. Heavy Metal Contamination Under a Changing Climate: Bioavailability and Toxicity
10. Pesticide Residues and Agrochemical Pollution: Persistence and Environmental Impact
Section III: Soil Biodiversity, Microbiome and Ecosystem Resilience
11. The Decline of Soil Biodiversity and Its Consequences for Ecosystem Services
12. The Role of Soil Fungi and Microbial Networks in Climate Adaptation
13. Emerging Soil-Borne Pathogens, Pests, and Disease Dynamics in a Warming World
14. Acidification, Soil pH Shifts, and Their Impact on Microbial Communities
15. Urbanization and Soil Sealing: The Hidden Crisis of Peri-Urban Soil Health
Section IV: Carbon Dynamics and Greenhouse Gas Fluxes in Soil
16. Greenhouse Gas Fluxes and the Role of Soils in Climate Regulation
17. Soil-Based Carbon Sequestration A Key to Climate Resilience
18. The Role of Peatlands and Wetlands in Global Carbon Storage
19. Permafrost Thaw and the Release of Ancient Soil Carbon
20. Agricultural Intensification, Soil Health, and Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Section V: Sustainable Soil Management and Climate Adaptation Strategies
21. Regenerative Agriculture and Climate-Resilient Farming Systems
22. Technological Advances in Soil Monitoring, Precision Agriculture, and AI Integration
23. The Economics of Soil Health: Valuing an Invisible Ecosystem Service
24. Indigenous Knowledge and Traditional Practices in Soil Conservation
25. Agroforestry and Multispecies Farming Systems for Soil Sustainability
Section VI: Policy, Governance, and Future Challenges in Soil Conservation
26. Global Soil Governance and Policy Frameworks Bridging Science and Implementation
27. The Future of Soil Security Challenges, Innovations, and Research Priorities
Authors
Naseer Hussain Assistant Professor, B.S. Abdur Rahman Crescent Institute of Science and Technology (BSARCIS&T), Chennai, India.Naseer Hussain is an Assistant Professor at B.S. Abdur Rahman Crescent Institute of Science and Technology (BSARCIS&T), Chennai, India. He took his MSc degree in Botany from Barkatullah University and earned his MPhil and PhD degrees in Environmental Technology from Pondicherry University. He then held prestigious postdoctoral positions at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi, and McGill University, Canada, before joining BSARCIS&T, Chennai, as an Assistant Professor in 2022.
Dr Hussain's research work has addressed contemporary challenges of microplastic management, and greenhouse gas mitigation associated with agriculture and the valorization of organic waste.
A recipient of coveted awards, including the Indian Overseas Postdoctoral Fellowship (DBT, India) and the AgroPhytoSciences Postdoctoral Fellowship (Centre SEVE, Canada), Dr Hussain actively mentors postgraduate students and serves as a peer reviewer for leading environmental science journals. He has also been actively involved in faculty development programs, interdisciplinary research collaborations, and international conferences, contributing to the advancement of sustainable environmental practices. He continues to explore innovative solutions for organic waste recycling and soil restoration.
Rakesh Kumar Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Biosystems Engineering, Auburn University, USA. Dr. Rakesh Kumar is a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Biosystems Engineering, Auburn University, USA, and working in environmental science, with a focus on water and soil pollution, environmental hydrology, and nanotechnology. His research interests encompass water and environmental pollution control, soil and water engineering, environmental hydrology, and the impact of microplastics on natural ecosystems. Dr. Kumar received the 2023 Excellence in Review Award from ES&T Letters, American Chemical Society. In recognition of his expertise in water-related issues, Dr. Kumar was honored as a Young Water Professional in the Diffuse Pollution & Eutrophication specialist group by the International Water Association. He also contributes as The Hydrogeologist Newsletter Assistant at the Geological Society of America, USA. Additionally, he received a Certificate of Excellence from the Total Environment Research Themes Journal, published by Elsevier, further attesting to the quality and significance of his research work. Recognizing his potential for international collaboration, Dr. Kumar was granted a Travel Grant to attend the Fall Meeting of the American Geophysical Union, USA. Further cementing in environmental research, Dr. Kumar was selected to join the Early Career Editorial Board of Science of the Total Environment. Lixia Wang Professor, Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China. Lixia Wang is currently a Professor at the Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Dr. Lixia has been engaged in research on the prevention and control of non-point source pollution for over 20 years. She has presided over more than ten national projects, including the National Key Research and Development Program of China, the National Water Major Special Project, the National Natural Science Foundation of China, and the Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. She has published more than 60 academic papers in prestigious journals, notably the Journal of Hazardous Materials, Bioresource Technology, and Chemosphere. Dr. Lixia has applied for more than ten patents and recently had six patents authorized. She has won three Provincial Science and Technology Awards and submitted one government consultation report. The Chinese Academy of Sciences and the National Development and Reform Commission entrusted Dr. Lixia with evaluating and developing "The Jilin Model for the Construction of a Beautiful China� .
