Nutrient Disequilibria in Agroecosystems: Concepts and Case Studies

Nutrient imbalances have a substantial impact on the productivity and sustainability of agroecosystems worldwide. Fertilizer and manure use, atmospheric deposition, international transportation of produce, solute and gas emissions and soil erosion have all contributed to deficits and surpluses, which in some areas have reached alarming proportions.

This book describes and explores the latest concepts of the causes of nutrient imbalances, including the importance of different spatial scales, and examines ways to quantify and manage nutrient stocks, the increasing amount of legislation and the urgent need for the development of integrated nutrient management technologies. Nutrient Disequilibria in Agroecosystems also includes case studies, from fish farms in eastern Asia to nutrient flow monitoring in Kenyan tea/maize farms, the dairy sector in New Zealand and ecological farming in Switzerland, the future for global-level research in soil fertility management and nutrient flow analysis. This title should enhance research and the adoption of (inter)national policies on soil fertility maintenance with its global, multi-scale, multi-disciplinary approach.