Inositol Phosphates: Linking Agriculture and the Environment

By Edward Mullaney, Alan E. Richardson, Benjamin L. Turner

Inositol phosphates are a group of organic compounds found widely in the natural environment. They are important in agriculture because they constitute most of the phosphorus in grain seeds, but they cannot be digested by some animals. As a result, considerable research has been directed towards improving the digestibility of inositol phosphates in animal diets. Inositol phosphates are also abundant in soils and water bodies, yet a clear understanding of their behaviour in the environment remains elusive. This is surprising given the importance of phosphorus in the nutrition of both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Written by leading experts, this book brings together critical reviews on inositol phosphates in agriculture, ecology, and the environment. The sixteen chapters cover a diverse range of topics, including the synthesis and hydrolysis of inositol phosphates, their role in animal nutrition, and their fate in soils and aquatic ecosystems. It will prove valuable to a wide readership in the agricultural and biological sciences, and will serve as a unique reference source on this emerging topic.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1845931521
• ISBN13: 9781845931520
• Release Date: December 2006
• Publisher: Cab International
• Length: 304 Pages
• Weight: 0.15 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 7.3" x 9.7"