The three favourite soil science books of:
Johan Bouma (Netherlands)
I start with the Handbook of Soil Science, with Editor in Chief Malcolm E. Sumner of the year 2000 (CRC press). It gives a good overview of the various disciplines and also pays attention to interdisciplinarity, be it in a somewhat classical manner by focusing on various problem areas such as e.g. salinity, erosion and waste application. Some chapters, such as the ones on soil databases could use an update. It would be good to plan an update by 2010! Still, this is a book with lots of interesting information on the entire range of soil science activities
The second one is Methods of Soil Analysis by the Soil Science Society of America ( SSSA Book Series :5), where I have affinity with Part 4: Physical Methods, edited by J.H.Dane and G.C.Topp. This was updated in 2006 and contains unique descriptions of an attractive up-to-date array of modern methods to be used in soil research.
The third one is quite different: Daniel J.Hillel. Out of the Earth. Civilization and the life of the soil. Published in 1991,( The Free Press) it still has not lost its relevance as it describes Man s role on God s earth. Lessons of the past logically lead into an analysis of problems of the present. Danny Hillel is a wonderful writer and this book , and some of his newer ones, make good and inspiring reading.