Soils And Fertilizers

The soil - plant growth situation; Nitrogen - The keystone of protein; Sulfur - essential for protein; Phosphorus - the key to life; Multinutrient fertilizers; Potassium - the catalyst; Calcium, magnesium and finely ground limestone; Micronutrients - for healthy plant growth; Protein - organic wastes; The fertilizer situation in the United States, 1973-1985; Wetland soil fertility; Fertilizer basics - an autotutorial laboratory exercise.

Soil and Fertilizers: Managing the Environmental Footprint presents strategies to improve soil health by reducing the rate of fertilizer input while maintaining high agronomic yields. It is estimated that fertilizer use supported nearly half of global births in 2008. In a context of potential food insecurity exacerbated by population growth and climate change, the importance of fertilizers in sustaining the agronomic production is clear. However, excessive use of chemical fertilizers poses serious risks both to the environment and to human health. Highlighting a tenfold increase in global fertilizer consumption between 2002 and 2016, the book explains the effects on the quality of soil, water, air and biota from overuse of chemical fertilizers. Written by an interdisciplinary author team, this book presents methods for enhancing the efficiency of fertilizer use and outlines agricultural practices that can reduce the environmental footprint. Features: Includes a thorough literature review on the agronomic and environmental impact of fertilizer, from degradation of ecosystems to the eutrophication of drinking water Devotes specific chapters to enhancing the use efficiency and effectiveness of the fertilizers through improved formulations, time and mode of application, and the use of precision farming technology Reveals geographic variation in fertilizer consumption volume by presenting case studies for specific countries and regions, including India and Africa Discusses the pros and cons of organic vs. chemical fertilizers, innovative technologies including nuclear energy, and the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goals Part of the Advances in Soil Sciences series, this solutions-focused volume will appeal to soil scientists, environmental scientists and agricultural engineers.

Introduction: Fertilizers in a changing world; Soil fertility: past and present; Growth and the factors affecting it; Elements required in plant nutrition; Basic soil-plant relationships; Soil and fertilizer nitrogen; Soil and fertilizer phosphorus; Soil and fertilizer potassium, magnesium, calcium and sodium; Sulfur and microelements in soils and fertilizers; Manufacture of nitrogen, phosphorius and potassium fertilizers; The manufacture and properties of mixed fertilizers; Liming; Soil fertility evaluation; Fundamentals of fertilizer application; Cropping systems and soil management; Economics and efficient use of water; Attacking soil fertility problems.

Fertilizers in a changing world. Soil fertility - past and present. Growth and the factors affecting it. Elements required in plant nutrition. Basic soil-plant relationships. Soil and fertilizer: phosphorus, potassium, sulfur, calcium, and magnesium. Micronutrients and other beneficial elements in soils and fertilizers. Fertilizer manufacture. Soil acidity and liming. Soil fertility evaluation. Fundamentals of fertilizer application. Cropping systems and soil management. Ecomomics of plant-nutrient use. Fertilizers and efficient use of water. Interaction of plant nutrients in a high-yield agriculture.

This text provides the basic biological, chemical, & physical properties affecting soil fertility & plant nutrition. Particular attention is paid to minimizing the environmental impact of soil & fertilizers.

This manual is intended for professional and student use and requires that the reader have basic knowledge of soil, plant, and fertilizer chemistry. New features in this edition include a wider variety of experimental designs, a section on special problems, and a detailed discussion of nutrient uptake in pot experiments.