World Soil Resources and Food Security

ISBN-13: 9781439844502 / Angielski / Twarda / 2011 / 574 str.

Rattan Lal; B. a. Stewart

Opis

Soil-The Basis of All Terrestrial Life Ancient civilizations and cultures-Mayan, Aztec, Mesopotamian, Indus, and Yangtze-were built on good soils, surviving only as long as soils had the capacity to support them. In the twenty-first century, productive soil is still the engine of economic development and essential to human well-being. The quality of our soil resources, however, is threatened by human-induced and natural perturbations. World Soil Resources and Food Security takes an in-depth look at the availability and status of soil resources in the context of the growing demands of an increasing world population and rising expectations of living standards. This timely reference presents current information on the soil resources available for food production. Presenting innovative strategies for soil and water management, it discusses how to maintain or improve the world's soil resources in order to increase food production. With the majority of the world's 1.02 billion food-insecure people concentrated in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, several chapters focus on soil resources in these regions. Contributions from renowned scientists deal with topics including:

• Global food situations
• World soil resources
• Soil resources of humid Asia and their acidification
• Soil resources of South Asia
• Properties and management of Vertisols
• Use of radioisotopic techniques in soil management
• The potential of rain-fed agriculture in the semiarid tropics
• The status of land degradation
• Nutrient balance in sub-Saharan Africa

The book concludes by outlining the need for further research to generate credible data on soil resources and degradation. This volume is a useful resource for those interested in the state of the soils of the world in relation to food security and environmental quality.

Spis treści

Sustainable Management of Soil Resources and Food Security. Global Food Situation and Unresolved and Emerging Issues. World Soil Resources: Opportunities and Challenges. Soil Resources and Human Adaptation in Forest and Agricultural Ecosystems in Humid Asia. Pedogenetic Acidification in Upland Soils under Different Bioclimatic Conditions in Humid Asia. Soil Resources Affecting Food Security and Safety in South Asia. Formation and Management of Cracking Clay Soils (Vertisols) to Enhance Crop Productivity: Indian Experience. Role of Nuclear and Isotopic Techniques in Sustainable Land Management: Achieving Food Security and Mitigating Impacts of Climate Change. New Paradigm to Unlock the Potential of Rainfed Agriculture in the Semiarid Tropics. Land Degradation. Where Do We Stand 20 Years after the Assessment of Soil Nutrient Balances in Sub-Saharan Africa? Research Needs for Credible Data on Soil Resources and Degradation.