This book focusses on the thermodynamics of soil nutrient bioavailability, and in particular the most important plant nutrients such as, phosphorus and potassium, among major nutrients, and zinc among micronutrients. It proposes a paradigm shift in the approach to global soil testing procedures. Historically, soil testing has been used to quantify availability of essential plant nutrients to field-grown crops. However, contemporary soil tests are based on philosophies and procedures developed several decades ago, without significant changes in their general approach. For a soil test to be accurate, one needs to clearly understand the physico-chemico-physiological processes at the soil-root interface and, an understanding of soils and plant root systems as polycationic systems is essential. It is this knowledge that leads to sound prescriptive soil nutrient management inasmuch as soil nutrient bioavailability vis-à-vis fertilizer application is concerned, because, of all the factors which govern sustainability in crop production, the nutrient factor is the most important, yet, it is also least resilient to management. This book provides a clear scientific basis of the thermodynamics of soil nutrient bio availability, which routine soil testing does not provide

This book conceptualizes a revolutionary idea based on a mechanistic-mathematical model in which the “Buffer Power” of the principal and problematic nutrients like phosphorus, potassium and zinc is quantified. This is achieved by using either a very sophisticated technique, electro-ultra-filtration, or a simple adsorption-desorption equilibrium technique, and by integrating the “Buffer Power” of the nutrient in question into the computations, accurate fertilizer recommendations are made. This technique was field tested across Europe, (Germany and Belgium), Africa (The Republic of Cameroon), and Asia (both Central Asia- Turkey and South Asia-India), during a period of three decades in test crops, such as, summer rye (Secale cereale), maize (Zea mays), wheat (Triticum aestivum), white clover (Trifolium repens), a highly nutritious and palatable fodder crop for Africa, black pepper (Piper nigrum) and cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum). Remarkable precision in predictability of plant uptake of phosphorus, potassium and zinc was obtained employing the technique. “The Nutrient Buffer Power Concept” project was shortlisted for the very prestigious U.S. $1 Million Rolex Awards For Enterprise of The Rolex Foundation, Geneva, Switzerland, for its outstanding originality and quality from more than 3500 nominations worldwide and is the only project chosen for this very coveted distinction from the Asian continent.

This richly illustrated edition of an established classic deals with the chemistry and biology of soil nutrient availability. Provides information regarding the elements present in soils and the extent to which these elements can be used by plants in order to grow. Nutrient uptake by plant roots, rhizosphere microorganisms and application of the mechanistic uptake model as well as such elements as phosphorus, potassium and water are among the topics discussed.

This book catalogues the multi-scale impact of agronomy and economy on Cardamom, known as the “Queen” of spices. Cardamom is the second most important spice crop in the world, after Black pepper, known as the “King” of spices. Spices were the symbols of luxury and royalty, and cardamom was used in the manufacture of perfumes during the Greek and Roman times. It became one of the most important Oriental spices used in both Greek and Roman cuisine as well as its pharmacological applications. The book is divided into 15 chapters and concentrates on aspects of cardamom production and processing, the taxonomic aspects of cardamom, chemistry, pathology, entomology and is concluded with the future of cardamom. Special emphasis is given to the utility of “The Nutrient Buffer Power Concept”, a soil management technique in precise fertilizer management, especially with regard to Potassic fertilizers in cardamom production.

This volume in Advances in Agronomy contains seven outstanding reviews that discuss cutting edge developments in the crop and soil sciences. Chapter 1 addresses desertification and its relation to climate change. Chapter 2 discusses fate and transport of viruses in porous media. Chapter 3 is a comprehensive treatment of the future needs of root water and nutrient uptake modeling. Chapter 4 is a review on micronutrients in crop production, including a discussion on improving the supply and acquisition. Chapter 5 provides information on soils in tropical and temperate regions. Chapter 6 desribes free-air CO2 enrichment in agriculture. Lastly, chapter 7 discusses break crops and their application in organic agriculture.Advances in Agronomy continues to be recognized as a leading reference and a first-rate source of the latest and best research in agronomy. Major reviews deal with cutting edge issues of interest to agronomists, as well as crop and soil scientists. As always, the topics covered are varied and exemplary of the panoply of subject matter dealt with by this long-running serial. Donald Sparks is the editor and has been a president of the Soil Science Society of America.Advances in Agronomy has the highest impact factor among serial publications in Agriculture. The Science Citation Index, 1986, reports an impact factor over 2,459 and a cited half-life over 10 years.

Selected papers from the symposium on [title] held in Atlantic City, New Jersey, June 1991, address topics in general soil tests, nutrient status, organic constitutents, heavy metal content, and liming requirement. No index. Annotation copyright Book News, Inc. Portland, Or.

This book considers all aspects of black pepper from its growth, as a flowering vine, to how the dried fruit (peppercorn) is used as a spice and traded as a commodity. It is the economic mainstay of several India states and, principally, in Kerala State, with the Indian subcontinent being the largest black pepper producer. Indonesia has also emerged as a large producer of black pepper. Black pepper commands a leading position among the spices and has an immense commercial importance to world trade, finding its way onto the dining table of millions around the world, on the European and North American continents, and Japan. The use of black pepper ranges from a simple dietary component and flavour enhancer, to that of a spice with huge pharmacological benefits.