Land Resources: On the Edge of the Malthusian Precipice?

About this book

A discussion meeting was held at the Royal Society in London in December 1996 which brought together leading scientists concerned with natural resource management to make a critical assessment of the production potential of the available land. This book is a product of the meeting and describes in detail current pressures on land and water resources, the effects of climate on productivity, the need for crop improvement, better management of water, soil and nutrients, economic factors and environmental limitations. A set of conclusions is drawn concerning our ability to feed the world population and the steps which must be taken to ensure that we achieve this aim.

Contents

Part 1 Present pressures on land and water resources: population momentum and the demand on land and water resources; the economic determinants of land degradation in developing countries. Part 2 Climate and potential productivity: adapting and improving crops - the endless task; agroecological zones and the assessment of crop production potential; potential and attainable food production and food security in different regions. Part 3 Water as a limiting factor: meeting water requirements of an expanding world population; managing water resources for crop production. Part 4 Soils as a limiting factor: trees, soils and food security; soil resources and their assessment; nutrient resources for crop production in the tropics; interactions between plant nutrients, water and carbon dioxide as factors limiting crop yields; degradation and resilience of soils. Part 5 Concluding session: managing soils for long-term productivity; the environmental implications of intensified land use in developing countries.

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