Agroecologists from around the world share their experiences in the analysis and development of indicators of agricultural sustainability in Agroecosystem Sustainability: Developing Practical Strategies. The authors build on the resource-conserving aspects of traditional, local, and small-scale agriculture while at the same time drawing on modern ecological knowledge and methods. They define the relationship between agroecology and sustainable development.

Leading researchers present case studies that attempt to determine 1) if a particular agricultural practice, input, or management...

There is an increasing realization among biophysical scientists that human behavior drastically impacts the degree to which sound agroecosystems are implemented. Written by an international team of experts assembled by a leading rural sociologist, Interactions Between Agroecosystems and Rural Communities shows how human behavior impacts agroecosystems both positively and negatively and provides an understanding of alternative ways of working with human communities to increase agroecosystem sustainability.
Through a general overview and a series of case studies, this text demonstrates how...

Successful management of agricultural landscapes depends on the recognition of the relationships between the processes and the structures that maintain the system. The rapidly growing science of Landscape Ecology quantifies the ways these ecosystems interact and establishes a link between the activities in one region and repercussions in another. Although science continuously yields new environmentally friendly agricultural technology, the sustainable development of a system will ultimately depend on a farmer's ability to understand and utilize these advances. The results presented in this...

Ecologists, agronomists, and others who may question the validity of current models for determining sustainable growth of agroecosystems, need a new set of analytical tools that more effectively address the complex nature of related processes. Those who challenge traditional assumptions of optimization and static factors in agricultural modeling demand new methods beyond differential equations and traditional statistical tests.
Multi-Scale Integrated Analysis of Agroecosystems explores alternative ways to study agricultural sustainability, presenting new approaches to organizing data and...

Provides guidance on cultivation methods for preserving soil and soil ecosystems and at what intensity level tillage methods should be applied Uses current research and data to document the consequences of intensive plowing on soil structure, soil chemical processes, and soil borne pathogens Details the effects of tillage on specific groups of soil biota Contains contributions from internationally known agricultural scientists Using the knowledge of soil ecology under natural, undisturbed conditions, Soil Tillage in Agroecosystems focuses on how cultivation affects soil and the soil...

Recognition of the importance of soil organic matter (SOM) in soil health and quality is a major part of fostering a holistic, preventive approach to agricultural management. Students in agronomy, horticulture, and soil science need a textbook that emphasizes strategies for using SOM management in the prevention of chemical, biological, and physical problems.Soil Organic Matter in Sustainable Agriculture gathers key scientific reviews concerning issues that are critical for successful SOM management. This textbook contains evaluations of the types of organic soil constituents-organisms, fresh...

Tropical areas present ecological, cultural and political problems that demand analysis that is distinct from general ecological analysis. The tropical environment is special in many ways, from the lack of a biological down season (winter), to generally poor soil conditions, to a reliance on traditional methods of agriculture in an undeveloped society. At a time when the sustainability of natural resource use in the tropics has become a very big issue Tropical Agroecosystems provides a critical scientific foundation for developing a sustainable agriculture component within this process....

With all of the environmental and social problems confronting our food systems today, it is apparent that none of the strategies we have relied on in the past higher-yielding varieties, increased irrigation, inorganic fertilizers, pest damage reduction can be counted on to come to the rescue. In fact, these solutions are now part of the problem. It is becoming quite clear that the only way to keep the food crisis from escalating is to promote the conversion processes that will move agriculture to sustainability.

Under the editorial guidance of agroecology experts...

Presenting a global perspective of climate change effects on agricultural production, this volume considers the consequences of changes in the atmosphere and climate for the integrity, stability, and productivity of agroecosystems. It melds together theoretical contributions from ecologists and the applied perspective of agriculturalists. This book provides a theoretical underpinning to guide agricultural scientists on what phenomena to look for, and to move beyond first-order responses in the creation of sustainable agroecosystems. It also discusses issues such as how population biology of...

"Agroforestry in Sustainable Agricultural Systems" examines all facets of agroforestry, from social and political factors to regional climate variations, soil condition, and biological controls. The book provides a better understanding of the ecological interrelationships among forests, soils, and root and water systems.