This book has its roots in the long history of residuals management and, in particular, nutrient recycling for the enhancement of crop production and soil improvement. Over the years, I have had the privilege of collaborating with many outstanding agricultural, chemical, and environmental engineers and scientists who provided me with valuable insight into the broad issues impacting residuals management decisions in the United States and abroad. Their professional enthusiasm and technical acumen highlighted the critical need for a text that collectively addressed the multifaceted field of biosolids engineering.

From Cornell University, I am particularly indebted to my Ph.D. advisor, Dr. William J. Jewell, who first introduced me to the field of residuals management and provided the technical foundation upon which much of this work is based. Thanks are also due to one of my favorite and most demanding instructors, Dr. Richard Dick of Cornell University, who painstakingly taught me the engineering fundamentals of sludge treatment. From the University of Texas at Austin, I am greatly indebted to my postdoctoral research supervisor, Dr. Raymond C. Loehr, who was instrumental in broadening my understanding and appreciation of land-based residuals management systems.

I would like to recognize and thank Mr. Bob Brobst of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency [USEPA Region VIII (Denver)] for submitting a critical and extremely valuable review of an earlier draft of this book. I also would like to acknowledge Mr. Robert K. Bastian of the USEPA s Office of Water (Washington, D.C.) for supplying me with much of the historical...