Author: Kashif Akhtar Publisher: Springer Nature ISBN: 9811964106 Category : Technology & Engineering Languages : en Pages : 398
Book Description
This book provides insights into recent developments in the use of mulching in agroecosystems with emphasis on the major pros and cons. Increase in human population, climatic changes and agricultural intensification have put enormous pressure on soil and water resources. As a result, we are confronted with challenges to enhance nutrient and water use efficiencies and conserve soil organic matter without compromising crop yields and food security. Increasing the soil organic matter (SOM) via residue return increased nutrient availability and soil physical and biological properties. Management practices, such as straw mulching or incorporation, have significant effects on soil health. Straw addition also increases functionality related to carbon and N metabolism via increasing the microbes and thus greatly contributes to CO2 and N2O emissions. However, the co-use of organic and inorganic fertilizer reduces the N2O emission without compromising crop yield. Mulching has long been advocated to conserve soil moisture and increase the efficiency of macro- and micro-nutrients by improving soil physical, chemical, and biological properties. These effects of mulch are translated into better crop yields while improving soil health and quality in the long run. Therefore, the use of mulching techniques is on the rise in organic as well as conventional agriculture. The book is of great interest for researchers, academics, agriculture extensionists, soil and plant scientist, fertilizer industry, farmers, agro-industrial workers, farm managers, NGOs, and climate and civil society activists.
Author: Khawar Jabran Publisher: Springer Nature ISBN: 3030223019 Category : Science Languages : en Pages : 62
Book Description
This book provides the concepts, techniques, and recent developments with regard to use of mulches in agriculture, utility of mulches for non-chemical pest control, and sustainability of crop production systems. Non-conventional means of improving the sustainability of crop production and pest control are required in the wake of environmental concerns over the use of conventional pesticides as well as the intensive use of land resources. Mulches have been used in agriculture for various purposes; however, there has been an increase in their use more recently, and scientists around the world have conducted more research to explore the benefits of mulching in various agricultural systems. Mulches have been found advantageous in non-chemical pest control, soil and water conservation, improving fertility, and improving microbial activities in the soil. While this is a topic of current importance, the information use of mulches in agricultural fields is rarely compiled in one comprehensive location to provide a full account of various aspects of mulches and their utility. This book will be helpful for researchers, growers, and students.
Author: Rattan Lal Publisher: CRC Press ISBN: 1439850798 Category : Nature Languages : en Pages : 597
Book Description
Crop water use can be increased by management of surface runoff, groundwater, irrigation, and soil water. Technological innovations to enhance availability of water for agricultural crops depend on soil and site-specific conditions. Devoted to the principles and practices of enhancing water use efficiency, Soil Water and Agronomic Productivity addresses current problems associated with water supplies required for agricultural purposes and food production. Written for professionals and students in agricultural fields, the book focuses on innovative technologies for improving soil water availability, enhancing water use efficiency, and using productive irrigation systems. It also presents techniques to conserve water in the root zone as well as remote sensing techniques to assess soil water regime and predict drought on a regional scale. Soil water management is crucial to reducing the vulnerability to agronomic drought. There are numerous examples of aquifers that have been severely depleted by misuse and mismanagement. Soil Water and Agronomic Productivity explains the factors and causes of the mismanagement of soil water and proposes options for sustainable and efficient use of scarce water resources. Meeting the global food demand will require careful worldwide management of soil and water resources, and this can only be done by sharing information and knowledge. Part of the Advances in Soil Science Series
Author: H. David Thurston Publisher: Intermediate Technology Publications ISBN: 9781853393402 Category : Agriculture Languages : en Pages : 196
Book Description
Slash/mulch practices, particularly in the tropics, have shortened the necessary fallow periods and restored degraded soils, allowing small-scale farmers to compete more effectively with larger commercial farmers.
Author: K. R. Krishna Publisher: CRC Press ISBN: 1926895487 Category : Science Languages : en Pages : 554
Book Description
Comprised of three sections, this covers the nutrient dynamics and productivity of global agroecosystems. It focuses on the major aspects that make up agroecosystems, such as soils, climate, crops, nutrient dynamics, and productivity. It introduces agroeocsystems and describes global soil types that support vast crop belts, then deals with the principles that drive crop growth, nutrient dynamics and ecosystematic functions within any agroecosystem. It also details the influence of agronomic practices and factors such as soil microbes, organic matter, crop genetic nature, irrigation, weeds, and cropping systems that affect productivity of agroecosystems.
Author: Inamuddin Publisher: John Wiley & Sons ISBN: 1119710189 Category : Science Languages : en Pages : 290
Book Description
This book explores the state-of-the-art information regarding applied soil sciences. It covers the fundamentals, model concepts, principles, chemical reactions, functions, chemical recycling, chemical weathering, acid-base chemistry, carbon sequestration, and nutrient availability of soils. Also, it includes soil chemistry of heavy-metals, environment, clay, ion-exchange processes, analytical tools and applications. This book helps to understand the about soil characteristics targeting soil chemical reactions and interactions and its applications.