Soil fertility management for sustainable agriculture

Abstract

Introduction Sustainable Agriculture: Definitions and Goals Factors Determining Sustainability Soil Fertility Essential Plant Nutrients Criteria for Essentiality Basis for Classification of Nutrients as Primary, Secondary, and Micronutrients Primary Nutrients, Secondary Nutrients, and Micronutrients Functions of Essential Nutrients in Plants Soil the Sustainer Soil Organic Matter Soil Water Soil Air Soil Mineral Matter Soil Colloids Soil Living Organisms Soil Colloids Clay Minerals Oxide Minerals Organic Matter Humus, Its Structure and Properties C:N Ratio Factors Affecting the Organic-Matter Content of Soils Soil Acidity Acids The pH Concept Determination of Soil pH Active and Potential Acidity Buffering Capacity Nature of Soil Acidity Factors Affecting Soil Acidity Soil pH and Crop Production Lime Requirement Liming Materials Fineness of Limestone Soil Salinity and Sodicity Coverage and Special Features Criteria for Determining Salinity/Sodicity Classification Reclamation and Management of Saline Soils Crop Production on Saline Soils Reclamation and Management of Sodic Soils Crop Production on Sodic Soils Nitrogen Soil Organic N Mineralization of Soil Organic Nitrogen Factors Affecting Nitrification Nitrogen Immobilization Ammonium Fixation (Nonexchangable Ammonium) NH4 vs. NO3- Nutrition of Plants Biological Nitrogen Fixation Nitrogen Fertilizers or Industrial Nitrogen Fixation Efficient Nitrogen Management Increasing N Use Efficiency Nitrogen Availability Indices Nitrogen-Deficiency Symptoms Phosphorus Soil Phosphorus Phosphate Retention or Fixation in Soil Factors Affecting the Retention of Phosphorus by Soil Phosphate Fertilizer Reaction Products in Soil Intensity (I) and Quantity (Q) Factors in Phosphorus Availability Soil Testing for Phosphorus Phosphorus-Deficiency Symptoms in Plants Phosphate Fertilizers Efficient Phosphate Management Potassium Forms of Soil Potassium Quantity/Intensity Relationships Potassium Fixation Leaching of Potassium Potassium Fertilizers Efficient Use of Potassium Fertilizers Sulfur Sulfur in Soils Sulfur and Its Oxidation Oxidation of Pyrites Assessing S Needs of Soil Sulfur Deficiency Symptoms in Plants Sulfur Needs of Crops Sulfur Fertilization Calcium and Magnesium Calcium and Magnesium in Soil Factors Affecting the Availability of Calcium and Magnesium in Soils Leaching of Calcium and Magnesium Determining Available Calcium and Magnesium Calcium and Magnesium Deficiency Symptoms Calcium and Magnesium Amendments Iron and Manganese Amounts and Forms of Iron and Manganese Soil Solution Iron and Manganese Factors Affecting Iron and Manganese Availability Soil Tests for Iron and Manganese Deficiency Symptoms of Iron and Manganese Toxicity Symptoms of Iron and Manganese Iron and Manganese Fertilizers Copper and Zinc Amounts in Soil Forms of Copper and Zinc in Soils Factors Affecting the Availability of Copper and Zinc Soil Tests for Copper and Zinc Deficiency Symptoms in Plants Copper and Zinc Fertilizers Boron and Molybdenum Boron Molybdenum Chlorine Chlorine in Soils Addition of Chlorine to Soils Testing Soils for Chlorine Deficiency Chlorine Deficiency Symptoms Chlorine Toxicity Symptoms Interactions with Other Nutrients Chlorides and Plant Diseases Crop Responses to Chloride Fertilization Chloride Fertilizers Beneficial Elements Sodium Silicon Cobalt Nickel Aluminum Vanadium, Lanthanum, and Cerium Nutrient Interactions Interactions Interactions of Primary Macronutrients Interactions of Micronutrients Organic Manures Crop Residues Animal Manures Composting Organic Farming Integrated Nutrient Management Cropping Systems, Soil Fertility, and Fertilizer Use Legumes in Crop Rotations Intercropping Systems Intensive Cropping Systems and Soil Fertility Fertilizer Application in Cropping Systems Index Each chapter contains References. NTI Copy (already approved)