About this book
Soil degradation causes a shrinking of arable land resources, and the persistence of starvation and malnutrition. The depletion is compounded by the increasing populations of developing tropical nations, and the conversion of agricultural land to other uses. As a result, per capita grain harvesting and irrigated land is in steady decline all over the world.The decrease in horticultural resources and productivity has inspired Soil Quality and Agricultural Sustainability, which is based primarily on papers presented at the 1996 conference on soil degradation, sponsored by Ohio State University, the USAID and the International Agricultural Research Centers. The book addresses itself to six concerns: basic concepts and global issues, nutrient and water inputs, soil quality management in Asia, in Africa, and in the Tropical Americas, and future priorities. The Editor's goal is a new paradigm in soil quality research: a multidisciplinary approach. He proposes that an erosion management program include soil scientists, hydrologists, climatologists, sedimentologists, geographers, agronomists, agricultural engineers, land use planners, economists, anthropologists and social scientists. Lal advocates an optimistic, forward-thinking brand of soil science that concentrates on conservation and fertility. The 26 chapters explore what Lal considers to be the priorities: agricultural sustainability, soil quality, food security, quality restoration, long-term management, and the failure to adopt new technology. In sum, they paint a comprehensive portrait of the current state, and future prospects, for worldwide agronomic viability.
Contents
Soil Quality and Agricultural Sustainability -R. LalSoil-Land Degradation: Interventions for Sustaining Civilization-F.P. MillerAssessment of Soil Quality-M.J. Mausbach and C. A. SeyboldMinimum Data Sets Needed for Soil and Climatic Characterization-J.M. KimbleStrategies for Fertilizer Research in the Tropics -B.H. Byrnes and D.T. HellumsSustainable Management of Land and Water Resources in Irrigated Semiarid and Tropical Regions -J.W. Kijne and M. KuperAddressing Key Natural Resource Management Challenges in the Humid Tropics Through Agroforestry Research-D.P. GarrityThe Biological Management of Tropical Soil Fertility: Some Research and Development Priorities for Africa -P.L. Woomer, J. Kotto-Same, M.A. Bekunda, and J.R. OkaleboThe Role of Soil Management in Improving Yields in the Rice-Wheat Systems of South Asia -K.F. Bronson and P.R. HobbsSustainable Management of Soil and Water Resources in the Upper and Trans-Gangetic Plains of India-B.S. Ghuman and R.S. NarangSoil Fertility Management for Sustained Production in the West Asia-North Africa Region: Need For Long-Term Research-J. Ryan and Mohamed Abdel MonemSoil-Conservation and Sustainability of Agricultural Systems in Sub-Saharan Africa-B. Kayombo and G.C. MremaConsequences of Soil Erosion on Soil Productivity and Its Restoration by Soil Management in Tanzania-J.B. Aune, I.K. Kullaya, M. Kilasara, F.S.B. Kaihura, B.R. Singh, and R. LalThe Role of Ruminant Livestock in Soil Fertility Management in Sub-Saharan Africa-J.W. Smith and A. NaazieMaintenance of Soil Organic Matter and Nitrogen Supply in the Moist Savanna Zone of West Africa-R.J. Carsky, S.S. Jagtap, G. Tian, N. Sanginga, and B. VanlauweGrow the Soils to Grow the Crops in Africa-G.D. AndersonNo Till and Mulching Effects on Soil Physical Quality of a Tropical Alfisol in Western Nigeria-R. LalResearch Strategies for Sustainable Agriculture in Acid Savanna of Latin America-R.R. VeraLong-Term Research on Natural Resource Management: A "Commodity Center" Perspective-J.W. White, O. Erenstein, L. Harrington, and K. SayreAgricultural Intensification Systems and Their Impact on Soil and Water Quality in the Cerrados of Brazil-D.V.S. ResckProduction Systems in the Savannas of Brazil: Key Factors To Sustainability-C.R. SpeharPhysical and Economic Model Integration for the Measurement of Environmental Impacts of Farming-C.C. Crissman and J.M. AntleA Decade of Progress at IBSRAM and Future Priorities-E.T. CraswellThe Pilot Linkage Program: An Experiment to Enhance Interinstitutional Collaborations-C.R. CurtisResearch Priorities for Sustainable Use of Soil and Water Resources-G.UeharaNeed for Action and Researchable Priorities-R. Lal
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