Cycling of Mineral Nutrients in Agricultural Ecosystems

Cycling of Mineral Nutrients in Agricultural Ecosystems contains the papers presented in the first international environmental symposium of the Royal Netherlands Land Development Society held at Amsterdam on 1976. The symposium is cosponsored by the International Association for Ecology and Elsevier Scientific Publishing Company. This compilation reflects the exchange of information and ideas by specialists and participants of the symposium.

The book is comprised of nine chapters, which cover the following concepts of nutrient cycling in agricultural ecosystems: principles and control of nutrient cycling; description and classification of agro-ecosystems; nutrient cycling data from different countries; and general discussion on nutrient balances, changes in soil pools, manipulations, and future researches. This book also offers potential background and perspectives for further studies on nutrient cycling in agro-ecosystems, presenting a view on what directions future research should take.

This volume will be an invaluable reference source for environmental science students and professionals. Research workers in agriculture and other environmental disciplines will also find this book useful.

Preface

Chapter 1. Introduction

Chapter 2. Principles of nutrient cycling (Newbould)

Chapter 3. Control of nutrient cycling

3.1. External controls (Floate)

3.1.1. Transport in the water phase (Wartena)

3.2. Internal controls (Floate)

3.2.1. Retention of nutrients by biomass (Vervelde)

3.3. Long-term effects of agriculture (Frissel)

3.4. Manipulation of system controls (Floate)

Chapter 4. Description and classification of agro-ecosystems (Frissel)

4.1. Introduction

4.2. Agricultural production systems

4.2.1. Food gathering

4.2.2. Extensive livestock farming

4.2.3. Shifting agriculture

4.2.4. Extensive arable farming

4.2.5. Mixed farming or self-sustaining unit system

4.2.6. Intensive agriculture

4.2.7. Systems based on organized large-scale recycling structures

4.2.8. Remarks

Chapter 5. Method of data presentation (Frissel)

Chapter 6. Nutrient cycling data

6.1. Introduction

6.2. Agro-ecosystems in the United Kingdom (Newbould and Floate)

6.3.1. Agro-ecosystems in The Netherlands, part I (Damen)

6.3.2. Agro-ecosystems in The Netherlands, part II (Henkens)

6.4 Agro-ecosystems in Germany (Ulrich)

6.5. Agro-ecosystems in France (Jacquard)

6.6. Agro-ecosystems in Czechoslovakia (Kolek)

6.7. Agro-ecosystems in Israel (Noy-Meir and Harpaz)

6.8. Agro-ecosystems in Japan (Yatazawa)

6.9. Agro-ecosystems in Australia (Williams, Newbould and Floate)

6.10. Agro-ecosystems in the U.S.A. (Thomas and Gilliam)

6.11. Agro-ecosystems in South America (Husz)

Chapter 7. General discussion

7.1. Introduction

7.2. The nutrient balances; summarizing graphs and tables (Frissel and Kolenbrander)

7.2.1. Nitrogen

7.2.2. Phosphorus

7.2.3. Potassium

7.3. Changes in soil pools (Floate)

7.4. Exchange of nutrients between atmosphere and vegetationsoil (Ross wall)

7.4.1. Introduction

7.4.2. Nutrient additions from the atmosphere

7.4.3. Nutrient losses to the atmosphere

7.4.4. Vegetationsoil as sinks and sources of air pollutants

7.5. Manipulations (Frissel)

7.5.1. Future application of fertilizers

7.5.2. Relative importance of Ν, Ρ and Κ

7.6. Research needed in the future (Frissel)

7.6.1. Missing data

7.6.2. More refined models

Chapter 8. Summary (Conclusions) (Newbould, Frissel and Floate)

Chapter 9. References

Annex 1. Note on the experimental nature and organization of the symposium

Annex 2. Survey of symposium participants

Subject index