232 Book Reviews

Some beneficial effects of digestion were found, but, as in many fertilizer and plant growth trials, there were so many effects of soil, climate, type of crop, etc., that it was difficult to draw firm conclusions.

The next section dealt with soil injection as a means of spreading sludge and slurries. Problems such as damage to grass roots by the injectors and possible run-off on steeper slopes were among the topics discussed, along with the effects on yields caused by injection compared with other methods of spreading.

Sections four and five had nine papers discussing losses of nutrients by leaching and gaseous losses of nitrogen after applications of sludges and slurries. Gaseous loss of nitrogen from fields appeared to be much greater than leaching losses under many circumstances. The final section was entitled 'Rapid methods for assessing nutrient composition of farm slurries'. The first two papers did discuss methods, but the last paper was about the pathogenic microorganisms present in sludges and slurries and some methods of decreasing their numbers.

Although, as previously mentioned, it is very difficult to make firm proposals on such things as the opt imum methods for, or rates of application of, fertilizer slurries because of the large number of varying factors involved, this book contains much information of value to the farmer, the farm advisor, agricultural scientist and college lecturer. It is not expensive as present-day prices go, and can be recommended.

P. N. Hobson

Groundwater Resources of the European Community--Text and Maps for the United Kingdom. Verlag, Hanover, 1987.

The European Communi ty Atlas of Groundwater Resources consists of 10 Reports and 152 maps on a scale of 1:500 000. The work can be purchased as a whole or as the relevant parts for each of the countries of Belgium, Germany, Denmark, France, The Netherlands, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg and the United Kingdom. One general survey volume is common to all countries and is supplied with the specific survey volume for each country. Also in the country set is a volume of the maps for that country. The present review covers the set for the UK, but the other sets are produced to a similar high standard and written in the language of the country.

Prices for the complete set and for those relating to specific countries are as follows:

Book Reviews 233

Reference Text Price number (DM)

1 All 10 reports (general survey in English, nine national reports) 196,- 2 General survey volume* and survey volume for Belgium 55,- 3 General survey volume* and survey volume for the Federal

Republic of Germany 43,- 4 General survey volume* and survey volume for Denmark 32,- 5 General survey volume* and survey volume for France 83,- 6 General survey volume* and survey volume for Ireland 43,- 7 General survey volume* and survey volume for Italy 83, 8 General survey volume* and survey volume for Luxembourg 32, 9 General survey volume* and survey volume for the Netherlands 32,-

10 General survey volume* and survey volume for the United Kingdom 55,-

Maps

11 The whole work 790,- 12 Belgium 60,- 13 Federal Republic of Germany 170,- 14 Denmark 60,- 15 France 227,- 16 Ireland 80,- 17 Italy 185,- 18 Luxembourg 60,- 19 Netherlands 60,- 20 United Kingdom 146,

Maps will be made available separately or country by country or as a whole European Community Atlas.

* Only one general survey volume is supplied with the whole work.

General points (1) T h e r e p o r t is an excellent a n d wel l -cons t ruc ted s tudy which will be o f

w idesp read use in all aspects o f wa t e r resource m a n a g e m e n t . D a t a which can only n o r m a l l y be ob t a i ned f r o m several different sources has been b r o u g h t toge the r to m a k e the m a n a g e m e n t or p l ann ing t a sk a grea t deal easier.

(2) As well as be ing a s t a n d a r d too l for regional and c o m m u n i t y wa te r resource p lanning , the r epo r t will be o f f u n d a m e n t a l va lue for research a n d teaching inst i tutes t h r o u g h o u t the c o m m u n i t y . I t p rov ides a definit ive reference source for geologists , hydrogeo log i s t s , e n v i r o n m e n t a l p lanners , g e o g r a p h e r s and m a n y o thers whose w o r k impinges on g r o u n d w a t e r

resources.

234 Book Reviews

Groundwater resources o f the United Kingdom (1) The eight maps which describe the geology and hydrogeology of the

aquifers of the U.K. are superbly reproduced and, in general, fairly 'user- friendly'. My only minor criticism here is that the inclusion of the relevant portion of the key on each map would make their use slightly easier.

(2) The tables listing the groundwater resources within groundwater units of each UK aquifer are well presented and the data easy to assimilate. A minor criticism is that better use could have been made of the location maps of each water authority, i.e. it would have been very helpful to indicate the units for each water authority.

The description of the general features of the water authority areas is correct, useful and of suitable detail.

The aquifier transmissivity figures are ideally presented in histogram form for ease of reference.

(3) The chapter detailing trends in groundwater abstraction is an essential feature of the report, particularly from the point of view of the resource planner. It is unfortunate, however, that data discontinuities and changes in classification-criteria prevent the maximum comparative use of the data obtained.

(4) The chapter outlining groundwater development methods, although rather simplified, is a useful report input. The more detailed case studies of individual development schemes are extremely useful. It integrates both current and proposed schemes into the ideal reference source, particularly with the inclusion of a location map of the schemes which details the aquifer boundary and types.

(5) The chapter detailing the accuracy of the methods of data collection considers the parameters (Rainfall, Evaporation, Infiltration, Groundwater Level Fluctuation, Pumped Discharge) used in the report construction. This section includes the inclusion of the ~atest mathematical model (MORECS) produced by the Meteorological Office for the estimation of evaporation rates. As stated, the MORECS system is used in conjunction with rainfall data, to calculate potential and actual evaporation (and soil moisture deficits) for 40 x 40 km squares of the UK (except for N. Ireland).

Although neutron probes are used to measure soil moisture, infiltration rates are invariably calculated by a water balance equation. The error, therefore, may be compounded if other terms in the balance equation have been estimated! Groundwater level fluctuation by piezometric determin- ation, as stated, is based on a limited but increasing network of observation wells.

This chapter also considers the likely error in estimating total pumped discharges from a host of individual abstraction measurements.

(6) The report has been made considerably more 'user-friendly' by the

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inclusion of a fairly comprehensive glossary of terms, and a selected bibliography of the Institute of Geological Sciences regional guides.

In conclusion, this represents a definitive planning tool for groundwater resource management. My few criticisms are far outweighed by the many excellent features included in the report.

K. Killham