Field-Crop Ecosystems

About this book

This book examines how agriculturalists and ecologists look at field-crop ecosystems and attempt better management of these systems with the aid of computer modelling. Most of the book describes an array of the world's most important systems in detail, but using language suited to readers who are not familiar with agricultural technology. Each chapter presents a `slice in time' of environmental, human and technical attributes of a particular cropping system along with the social and cultural background which contributed to that particular system.

Contents

Preface. List of Contributors. Chapter 1. Attributes and Evolution of Field-crop Ecosystems (C.J. Pearson). Chapter 2. The Purposes of Field-crop Ecosystems: Social and Economic Aspects (R.J. Bawden, R.L. Ison). Chapter 3. Climate Constraints on Cropping Systems (M.F. Hutchinson, H.A. Nix, J.P. McMahon). Chapter 4. Pest and Integrated Control (G.W. Fick, A.G. Power). Chapter 5. Cotton Cropping Systems (A.B. Hearn, G.P. Fitt). Chapter 6. Sugar-cane Cropping Systems (J.E. Bowen, D.L. Anderson). Chapter 7. Tropical Wet Rice Systems (B.S. Vergara). Chapter 8. Upland Rice Systems (D. Hanfei). Chapter 9. Mixed Root-crop Systems in the Caribbean (L.A. Wilson, L.B. Rankine, T.U. Ferguson, N. Ahmad, S. Griffith, L. Roberts-Nkrumah). Chapter 10. Mixed Root-crop Systems in Wet Sub-Saharan Africa (A.S.R. Juo, H.C. Ezumah). Chapter 11. Tobacco Cropping Systems in Central Africa (M.A. Schweppenhauser, W.W. Ryding, J. Lapham, R.T. Garvin, B.W. Blair, J.L. Stocks, L.T.V. Cousins). Chapter 12. Cereal-based Cropping Systems of the Highlands of North-east Africa (C.J. Pearson). Chapter 13. Mixed Crop Systems in the Himalaya (S.G. Shah, J.A. Friend). Chapter 14. Mediterranean Cropping Systems (L. Lopez-Bellido). Chapter 15. Field-crop Systems in North-western Europe (J.H.J. Spiertz, H.D.J. van Heemst, H. van Keulen). Chapter 16. Cereal and Root-crop Systems in Central Europe (E. Nalborczyk, H.T. Czembor). Chapter 17. Small-grain Cereal Systems in the Soviet Union (G.G. Gataulina). Chapter 18. Cereal Systems of the North American Central Great Plains (D.E. Smika). Chapter 19. Field-crop Systems of the Pampas (A.J. Hall, C.M. Rebella, C.M. Ghersa, J. Ph. Culot). Chapter 20. Cereal and Follow/Pasture Systems in Australia (P.M. Perry). Chapter 21. Semi-arid Cereal and Grazing Systems of West Africa (L.K. Fussell). Chapter 22. Synthesis: Modelling Field-crop Ecosystems and Issues for the Future (J.D. Hesketh, D.D. Alm). Author Index. Systematic Index. General Index.

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