Managing Nitrogen for Groundwater Quality and Farm Profitability

The very essence of agriculture is based on the capture of radiant (solar) energy and the stocks and flows of nutrients. Among the biogeochemical cycles governing agricultural productivity is the N cycle with its attendant pathways that can "leak" N forms to groundwater as well as to the atmosphere. Nitrogen ranks at or among the top of the agricultural crop production resource inputs based on both economics and thermodynamic energy equivalents. This production-governing resource coupled with its propensity to leak beyond the rooting zone under certain conditions requires management practices and protocols that will address the economics of its use as well as the potential for environmental and human health impacts. This volume makes a state-of-the-art assessment of the N cycle as applied to agriculture and presents N management strategies for minimizing leakages from production systems in the interest of maximizing N-use efficiency and minimizing environmental impacts, particularly on groundwater quality.

• Format: Misc.
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0891188770
• ISBN13: 9780891188773
• Release Date: January 1
• Publisher: Acsess