Crop Responses to Environment

Published:
December 21, 2000 by CRC Press - 248 Pages
Author(s):
Anthony E. Hall, University of California, Riverside, California, USA

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Hardback
$115.95
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ISBN 9780849310287
Cat# 1028
 

Features

  • Uniquely links plant physiological ecology with crop management and plant breeding
  • Well illustrated with figures and tables to assist you in understanding which crop species are effective in different climates and soil environments
  • Full of references to key papers, reviews, and useful, up-to-date Web site addresses to datatbases on climate and plant responses
  • Crop responses to pests and diseases as they interact with crop responses to physical and chemical aspects of the environment
  • Simple but effective mathematical models provide comprehensive descriptions of principles and applicationsABOUT THE AUTHORDr. Anthony E. Hall has spent the past 26 years in research that has led to a substantial increase in protein-rich food for poor people in Africa. In 2000, he received the Chair's Award for Scientific Excellence from the Board for International Food and Agricultural Development.

    • Summary

    Crop Responses to Environment discusses the principles, theories, and experimental observations concerning plant responses to environment that are particularly relevant to developing improved crop cultivars and management methods. The book illustrates the importance of considering emergent plant properties as well as reductionist approaches to understanding plant function and adaptation.

    Dr. Hall explains many practical applications to plant breeding, agronomy, and horticulture. He examines plant physiological and developmental responses to light and temperature as well as plant water-relations. He also describes climatic zone definitions based on temperature, rainfall, and evaporative demand in relation to plant adaptation and the prediction of crop water use. Irrigation management and crop responses to salinity and toxic levels of boron and aluminum are considered.

    Numerous figures and tables illustrate the climates of major agricultural zones, giving a thorough knowledge of which crop species and production systems are effective in different climates. The book concludes with an analysis illustrating the relevance of crop responses to environment to plant breeding. The practical examples in this book, some of them pulled from Dr. Hall's research, show your students the principles provided by Crop Response to Environment can be used in developing improved crop production systems.

    Table of Contents

    INTRODUCTION
    GENERAL PRINCIPLES
    Complete Understanding Requires Information from Several Levels of Biological Organization
    Separating Causes and Effects Can Be Difficult
    Limiting Factors, Synergisms, and Source/Sink Effects
    Optimization and Efficiency
    Genetic and Environmental Influences on Plants
    EXPERIMENTAL APPROACHES AND QUANTITATIVE METHODS
    Value of Experimental Studies in Different Fields or Seasons Having Contrasting Environments
    Value of Experimental Studies in Controlled Environments
    Value of Experimental Studies with Different Environments Imposed in the Same Field
    Quantitative Methods
    CROP PHYSIOLOGICAL RESPONSES TO LIGHT, PHOTOSYNTHESIS, AND RESPIRATION
    Photosynthesis and Productivity
    Photosynthesis and Adaptation
    Mitochondrial Respiration
    Photorespiration
    Growth Analysis
    CROP PHYSIOLOGICAL RESPONSES TO TEMPERATURE AND CLIMATIC ZONES
    Seed Germination, Storage, and Dormancy
    Resumption of Active Growth by Perennials
    Vegetative Growth
    Reproductive Development
    Climactic Zones
    Comparison Method for Determining Where Crops Can Be Grown
    CROP DEVELOPMENTAL RESPONSES TO TEMPERATURE, PHOTOPERIOD, AND LIGHT QUALITY
    Heat-Unit Systems for Predicting Plant Development
    Chilling Requirements of Plants
    Plant Developmental Responses to Photoperiod
    Light Quality Effects on Plant Development
    RADIATION AND ENERGY BALANCES, AND PREDICTING CROP WATER USE AND TEMPERATURE
    Solar Radiation at the Surface of the Earth
    Types of Radiation in the Earth's Environment and Optical Qualities of Plants
    Radiation and Energy Balances
    Predicting Crop Water Use
    Predicting Temperature Differences between Crop Canopy and Air
    CROP TRANSPIRATION AND WATER RELATIONS
    Transpiration
    Stomatal Responses to Environment
    Optimal Stomatal Function
    Adaptive Significance of Plant Differences in the Level of Daily Water Use
    Adaptive Significance of Plant Differences in Transpiration Efficiency
    Liquid Water Transport form Soil to Leaves
    Components of Total Water Potential
    Flow of Water from Root to Shoot
    Crop Water Relations
    CROP ADAPTATION TO WATER-LIMITED ENVIRONMENTS
    Crop Species Differences in Drought Resistance
    Mechanisms of Drought Resistance
    HYDROLOGICAL BUDGET OF CROPPING SYSTEMS, IRRIGATION, AND CLIMATIC ZONES
    Irrigation Management
    Climactic Zone definition based on Water
    CROP RESPONSES TO SALINITY AND OTHER LIMITING SOIL CONDITIONS
    Plant Responses to Extremes of Soil Texture and High Soil Bulk Density
    Salinity Tolerance
    Tolerance to High Boron
    Tolerance to High Aluminum
    INTERACTION OF CROP RESPONSES TO PESTS AND ABIOTIC FACTORS
    Crop Phonology and the Escape or Aggravation of Pest Problems
    Crop Resistance to Pests
    CONSIDERATION OF CROP RESPONSES TO ENVIRONMENT IN PLANT BREEDING
    Defining Crop Ideotype Traits
    Testing the Value of Crop Ideotype Traits
    Perspectives for Future Use of Crop Ideotypes in Plant Breeding
    REFERENCES

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