Agriculture and the Nitrogen Cycle: Assessing the Impacts of Fertilizer Use on Food Production and the Environment (Volume 65) (Scientific Committee on Problems of the Environment (SCOPE) Series)

Nitrogen is an essential element for plant growth and development and a key agricultural input-but in excess it can lead to a host of problems for human and ecological health. Across the globe, distribution of fertilizer nitrogen is very uneven, with some areas subject to nitrogen pollution and others suffering from reduced soil fertility, diminished crop production, and other consequences of inadequate supply. Agriculture and the Nitrogen Cycle provides a global assessment of the role of nitrogen fertilizer in the nitrogen cycle. The focus of the book is regional, emphasizing the need to maintain food and fiber production while minimizing environmental impacts where fertilizer is abundant, and the need to enhance fertilizer utilization in systems where nitrogen is limited. The book is derived from a workshop held by the Scientific Committee on Problems of the Environment (SCOPE) in Kampala, Uganda, that brought together the world's leading scientists to examine and discuss the nitrogen cycle and related problems. It contains an overview chapter that summarizes the group's findings, four chapters on cross-cutting issues, and thirteen background chapters. The book offers a unique synthesis and provides an up-to-date, broad perspective on the issues of nitrogen fertilizer in food production and the interaction of nitrogen and the environment. Agriculture An Dthe Nitrogen Cycle Provides A Unique, Up-to-date Assessment Of The Role Of Nitrogen Fertilizer In The Nitrogen Cycle. In It, The Authors Emphasize The Need To Maintain Food And Fiber Production While Minimizing Environmental Impacts Where Fertilizer Is Abundant, And The Need To Enhance Fertilizer Utilization In Systems Where Nitrogen Is Limited. The Book Is Derived From A Workshop Held By The Scientific Committee On Problems Of The Environment (scope) That Brought Together The World's Leading Scientists To Examine The Nitrogen Cycle And Related Problems.--jacket. Nitrogen Fertilizer: An Essential Component Of Increased Food, Feed And Fiber Production / Arvin R. Mosier, J. Keith Syers, John R. Freney -- Crop, Environmental, And Management Factors Affecting Nitrogen Use Efficiency / Vethaiya Balasubramanian [and Others] -- Emerging Technologies To Increase The Efficiency Of Use Of Fertilizer Nitrogen / Ken E. Giller [et Al.] -- Pathways Of Nitrogen Loss And Their Impacts On Human Health And The Environment / Mark B. Peoples [et Al.] -- Societal Responses For Addressing Nitrogen Fertilizer Needs: Balancing Food Production And Environmental Concerns / Cheryl A. Palm -- Improving Fertilizer Nitrogen Use Efficiency Through An Ecosystem-based Approach / Laurie E. Drinkwater -- Nitrogen Dynamics In Legume-based Pasture Systems / M.b. Peoples [et Al.] -- Management Of Nitrogen Fertilizer In Maize-based Systems In Subhumid Areas Of Sub-saharan Africa / B. Vanlauwe, N. Sanginga, K. Giller, R. Merckx -- Integrated Nitrogen Input Systems In Denmark / J.e. Olesen [et Al.] -- Rice Systems In China With High Nitrogen Inputs / Ronald Buresh [et Al.] -- Using Advanced Technologies To Refine Nitrogen Management At The Farm Scale: A Case Study From The U.s. Midwest / T. Scott Murrell -- Impact Of Management Systems On Fertilizer Nitrogen Use Efficiency / John Havlin -- Fertilizer Nitrogen Use Efficiency As Influenced By Interactions With Other Nutrients / Milkha S. Aulakh, Sukhdev S. Malhi -- Assessment Of Fertilizer Nitrogen Recovery Efficiency By Grain Crops / R T.j. Krupnik [et Al.] -- Pathways And Losses Of Fertilizer Nitrogen At Differenct Scales / Keith Goulding -- Current Nitrogen Inputs To World Regions / Elizabeth W. Boyer [et Al.] -- Challenges And Opportunities For The Fertilizer Industry / Amit H. Roy, Lawrence L. Hammond -- Role Of Nitrogen In Sustaining Food Production And Estimating Future Nitrogen Fertilizer Needs To Meet Food Demand / Stanley Wood, Julio Henao, Mark Rosegrant -- Environmental Dimensions Of Fertilizer Nitrogen: What Can Be Done To Increase Nitrogen Use Efficiency And Ensure Global Food Security? / Achim Dobermann, Kenneth C. Cassman. Edited By Arvin R. Mosier, J. Keith Syers, And John R. Freney. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Title Page......Page 6 Copyright Page......Page 7 Contents......Page 8 List of Figures and Tables......Page 12 Foreword......Page 18 Preface......Page 20 Acknowledgments......Page 22 Part I: Overview......Page 24 Ch. 1: Nitrogen Fertilizer: An Essential Component of Increased Food, Feed, and Fiber Production......Page 26 Part II: Crosscutting Issues......Page 40 Ch. 2: Crop, Environmental, and Management Factors Affecting Nitrogen Use Efficiency......Page 42 Ch. 3: Emerging Technologies to Increase the Efficiency of Use of Fertilizer Nitrogen......Page 58 Ch. 4: Pathways of Nitrogen Loss and Their Impacts on Human Health and the Environment......Page 76 Ch. 5: Societal Responses for Addressing Nitrogen Fertilizer Needs: Balancing Food Production and Environmental Concerns......Page 94 Part III: Low-input Systems......Page 114 Ch. 6: Improving Fertilizer Nitrogen Use Efficiency Through an Ecosystem-based Approach......Page 116 Ch. 7: Nitrogen Dynamics in Legume-based Pasture Systems......Page 126 Ch. 8: Management of Nitrogen Fertilizer in Maize-based Systems in Subhumid Areas of Sub-Saharan Africa......Page 138 Ch. 9: Integrated Nitrogen Input Systems in Denmark......Page 152 Part IV: High-input Systems......Page 164 Ch. 10: Rice Systems in China with High Nitrogen Inputs......Page 166 Ch. 11: Using Advanced Technologies to Refine Nitrogen Management at the Farm Scale: A Case Study from the U.S. Midwest......Page 178 Ch. 12: Impact of Management Systems on Fertilizer Nitrogen Use Efficiency......Page 190 Part V: Interactions and Scales......Page 202 Ch. 13: Fertilizer Nitrogen Use Efficiency as Influenced by Interactions with Other Nutrients......Page 204 Ch. 14: An Assessment of Fertilizer Nitrogen Recovery Efficiency by Grain Crops......Page 216 Ch. 15: Pathways and Losses of Fertilizer Nitrogen at Different Scales......Page 232 Ch. 16: Current Nitrogen Inputs to World Regions......Page 244 Part VI: Challenges......Page 254 Ch. 17: Challenges and Opportunities for the Fertilizer Industry......Page 256 Ch. 18: The Role of Nitrogen in Sustaining Food Production and Estimating Future Nitrogen Fertilizer Needs to Meet Food Demand......Page 268 Ch. 19: Environmental Dimensions of Fertilizer Nitrogen: What Can Be Done to Increase Nitrogen Use Efficiency and Ensure Global Food Security?......Page 284 Appendix......Page 302 List of Contributors......Page 303 SCOPE Series List......Page 310 SCOPE Executive Committee 2001-2004......Page 313 Index......Page 314

The presence of nitrogen in soil is a delicate matter. Too little impedes production of food, feed, and fiber, but too much creates pollution. Distribution of nitrogen is uneven across the globe, creating hunger and want in some places and environmental disasters in others. In this collection of 19 papers derived from a Scientific Committee on Problems of the Environment workshop in January 2004, contributors examine nitrogen efficiency and its impact. Their topics include an overview of nitrogen fertilizer as an essential part of agricultural production; crosscutting issues such as management, technology, health, and social response; low-input systems such as an ecosystem-based or regional approaches; high-input systems such as those using advanced technology; interactions such as nitrogen efficiency as it relates to other nutrients, and current nitrogen inputs to world regions; and the challenges of sustaining production. Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

Annotation "Agriculture an dthe Nitrogen Cycle provides a unique, up-to-date assessment of the role of nitrogen fertilizer in the nitrogen cycle. In it, the authors emphasize the need to maintain food and fiber production while minimizing environmental impacts where fertilizer is abundant, and the need to enhance fertilizer utilization in systems where nitrogen is limited. The book is derived from a workshop held by the Scientific Committee on Problems of the Environment (SCOPE) that brought together the world's leading scientists to examine the nitrogen cycle and related problems."--BOOK JACKET. Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved Nitrogen (N) fertilizer has made a substantial contribution to the tripling of global food production over the past 50 years.