1st Edition

Maize Agroecosystem Nutrient Dynamics and Productivity

By K. R. Krishna Copyright 2012
    342 Pages
    by Apple Academic Press

    356 Pages
    by Apple Academic Press

    Maize is among the most widely spread and widely used crops of the world, used for cereals for over 4 billion humans, as food for farm animals, and as a source material for biofuel production. Yet there are relatively few books on the cropping system of this important crop. This book, Maize Agroecosystem, is a concise treatise dealing with agronomy, soil fertility, and productivity of maize. The information is global in nature and considers recent developments in all maize cropping belts.





    The "global maize agroecosystem" is a conglomerate of several "maize cropping belts" that flourish on different continents. The impact of nutrient management on the productivity of maize agroecosystems is the main focus of this book.





    The book includes the history of maize growing, the kinds of soil needed, nutrient dynamics, the use of soil organic matter, the physiology and genetics of maize, and integrated nutrient management. It presents comprehensive knowledge regarding the physicochemical dynamics of the three major nutrients: nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Also covered is how fertilizers impinge on soils of maize farms and their impact on soil and groundwater quality. The impact of crop genotype on soil nutrient dynamics and productivity is also highlighted.





    The information provided here will be highly useful to students at colleges and universities in the fields of agricultural sciences and environmental science and ecology, and the book also functions as valuable resource for researchers and professors in crop science.





    Several figures and tables are included that describe and summarize the impact of various agronomic/fertilizer management procedures on crop productivity.

    Preface by Kowligi Krishna
    Maize Agroecosystem: Origin, Physiography, Expanse, and Production
    Introduction
    Physiography, Agroclimate, Soils, Water Requirements and Cropping Systems
    Expanse and Productivity of Maize Agroecosystem: Current Status
    Uses
    Summary
    Soils of the Maize Agroecosystem: Tillage and Nutrient Dynamics
    Soils of Maize Agroecosystem
    Physico-Chemical Transformations of Nutrients in the Soil: A Summary
    Soil Tillage affects Nutrient Dynamics in the Maize Belt
    Summary
    Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium in Maize Agroecosystems
    Major Nutrients: Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium in Maize Belts
    Nitrogen Dynamics in Maize Agroecosystem
    Phosphorus Dynamics in Maize Agroecosystem
    Potassium Dynamics in Maize Cropping Zones
    Summary
    Secondary and Micronutrients in Maize Agroecosystems
    Soil Organic Matter, Crop Residues, and Green Manures
    Soil Organic Carbon and Its Sequestration
    Crop Residues and Nutrient Recycling
    Green Manures and Nutrient Dynamics
    Organic Mulches and Nutrient Dynamics
    Summary
    Maize Roots, Rhizosphere, Soil Microbes, and Nutrient Dynamics
    Introduction
    Maize Roots, Their Growth and Nutrient Dynamics
    Root Exudations
    Maize Rhizosphere
    Soil Microbes and Nutrient Dynamics
    Summary
    Crop Physiology, Genetic Improvement, and Nutrient Dynamics
    Integrated Nutrient Management
    Crop Response to Nutrient Management Procedures
    Modeling to Improve Nutrient Dynamics and Maize Production: Examples
    Agronomic Efficiency of Fertilizers
    Irrigation and Water-Use Efficiency Affect Nutrient Dynamics
    Soil Erosion Control and Its impact on Nutrient Dynamics
    Weeds affect Nutrient Dynamics and reduce Maize Productivity
    Long Term trials With Maize
    Cropping Systems, Nutrient Dynamics and Productivity
    Maize for Bio-fuel Production: Nutrients and Productivity
    Summary
    Index

    Biography

    K. R. Krishna received his PhD in Agriculture from the University of Agricultural Sciences Bangalore.





    He has been a cereals scientist in India and a visiting professor and research scholar at the Soil and Water Science Department at the University of Florida, Gainesville, USA.





    Dr. Krishna is a member of several professional organizations, including the American Society of Agronomony, the Soil Science Society of America, the Ecological Society of America, and the Indian Society of Agronomy.