Nickel (Ni), the fifth common element on the earth is widespread in the environment. Recently Ni has been proved essential for normal growth of many organisms, and at the same time Ni can become toxic
Faced with challenges of resource scarcity and environmental degradation, it is important to adopt innovative farming systems that maximize resource efficiency while protecting the environment. This v
The world population in 1930 was 2 billion. It reached 3 billion in 1960, stands at 4. 6 billion today, and is expected to reach 6 billion by the end of the century. The food and fiber needs of such a
Globally, 30% of the world population lived in urban areas in 1950, 54% in 2016 and 66% projected by 2050. The most urbanized regions include North America, Latin America, and Europe. Urban encroachm
Because inappropriate use of phosphorus can lead to non-point source pollution and eutrophication of natural waters, effective systems for managing its use are needed to minimize environmental risks.
Climate is a soil-forming factor, and soil can impact the climate through a reduction in the emissions of greenhouse gases. There is growing interest in soil management practices capable to mitigating
In natural ecosystems, nitrogen (N) is in short supply and an important control of numerous ecosystem functions. Understanding the N cycle is imperative to improve capacity to meet global N demands wh
Soil—The Basis of All Terrestrial LifeAncient civilizations and cultures—Mayan, Aztec, Mesopotamian, Indus, and Yangtze—were built on good soils, surviving only as long as soils had the capacity to su
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 so
This book discusses cultural, economic, social, and technological aspects of sustainable soil management for smallholder farmers. Chapters explore soil-related and instituational constraints, principl
With the use of high-level soil management technology, Africa could feed several billion people, yet food production has generally stagnated since the 1960s. No matter how powerful the seed technology
