88 Book reviews/Soil & Tillage Research 32 (1994) 87-89

Soil and water conservation engineering

Soil and Water Conservation Engineering. G.D. Schwab, D.D. Fangmeier, W.J.
Elliot and R.K. Frevert, 1993. J. Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York, 1993, 4th
Edition, 507 pp., £57.00 (clothbound), £ 16.95 (paperback). ISBN 0-471-
59994-8, $623. $572, 63.4 dc.

Looking at an 'old', new book is always a gratifying experience. This one pro-
vides the reader with a well-written and thoroughly edited book as well as an
updated one. This edition is the fourth of this book. Its content has been thor-
oughly checked, revised and brought up to date. In the previous editions, engi-
neering approaches to soil and water conservation formed the skeleton and its
content. In this edition, the text addresses the interactions and impact which soil
and water conservation methods and practices have on soil, water and air quality
and on the entire environment.
The major purpose of this book, as was the case with its previous editions, is to
provide a basic textbook for agricultural engineers, soil scientists and other
professionals interested in soil and water conservation.
The book includes twenty-one chapters, nine appendices and an index, a list of
abbreviations, signs, symbols and Imperial to SI units conversion tables. Each
chapter is well-illustrated, includes several worked examples and an updated
bibliography.
The first two chapters cover precipitations and conservation-environment in-
terrelations in general and emphasize their implications on small and large area
scales. Problems directly connected with hydrology, namely infiltration, evapo-
ration and transpiration (Chapter 3), runoff and surface flow (Chapter 4) are
well-explained in details and illustrations. In the following chapters the problems
of water and wind erosion (Chapters 5 and 6 ) are dealt with and control practices
are discussed. Conservation measures, such as tending waterways (Chapter 7)
and terracing (Chapter 8), and structures especially constructed for conserva-
tion, such as earthworks, dams and flood control, are dealt with (Chapters 9
through 11 ).
Land forming, surface drainage and other methods for draining agricultural
land and large areas are discussed at length (Chapters 12 through 15 ). In Chap-
ters 16 through 21, pumping, quality of water for irrigation, water supply, prin-
ciples and method of irrigation are discussed in a very rigorous, technical lan-
guage and the illustrations and examples are most enlightening to the reader.
The appendices include compiled equations for determining runoff, flow in
pipes, conduits and channels, drain design, conversion constants, generally useful
formulae and design of filters. In the last appendix, a table listing the currently
used computer models and programs for soil and water conservation engineering
is given.
The book is very helpful in understanding the problems, solutions and techni-
calities involved in conservation agricultural engineering. This field is ofincreas-
 Book reviews / Soil & Tillage Research 32 (1994) 87-89 89

ing importance, especially in view of the formation of the nature conservation

and "Green Peace" movements.
As an introductory text, this book fulfills the goals set by its authors, and may
serve as a good companion to students and professionals alike.

A. HADAS
Institute of Soils and Water
ARO
Volcani Center
Bet Dagan

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