ISBN: 978-90-481-2665-1
Sustainable agriculture is a collection of review articles that look at current agricultural issues and knowledge and then make proposals for alternative solutions. This publication was released in 2009, and was edited by E. Lichtfuse, M. Navarrete, P. Debaeke, S. Veronique and C. Alberola.
This publication is split into seven sections with each reviewing a specific subject.
Chapter one, looks at climate change, and reviews soils and sustainable agriculture, also food sufficiency and soils. Other subjects covered in section one are denitrification at sub zero temperatures in arable soils, re-thinking the conservations of carbon, water and soil. The influence of land use on carbon and erosion in Mexico.
Chapter two reviews articles on genetically modified organisms, pharmaceutical crops in California also the benefits and risks. Coexistence of genetically modified, (GM) and non-GM crops in the European Union (EU). The agro-environmental effects due to altered cultivation practices with GM crops mainly herbicide tolerant oilseed rape.
Chapter three reviews biodiversity: ecology and diversity of Bdellovibrio and similar organisms, also their dynamics in predator-prey interactions. Description of a strategy based on population and model strain studies, progress in mechanisms of mutual effect between plants and the environment. Biodiversity function and assessment in agricultural regions, mixing plant species in cropping systems.
Chapter four reviews alternative controls for weed management and sustainable pest management. It also looks at the role of nutrients in controlling the plant disease in sustainable agriculture. Another area it reviews was to do with crop protection, managing habitats with integrated farming methods and the use of grass strips to limit surface water mixing with pesticides.
Chapter five and six deal with alternative fertilisation, using recycled bio-solids and new farming systems to help develop agriculture in developing countries. Looking at different models of sustainability.
Chapter seven reviews the pollutants in agro-systems, from cadmium in soils and cereal grains after the application of sewage-sludge, and the storage of pollutants in soils. It also covers the results of the EU project Aqua: Terra. Looking at the effects of metal toxicity on plant growth and metabolism.
While reviewing this publication, I found it to be a well-presented and well-written document with a lot more information contained than I had expected. I believe it would be a great source of material for scientists, professors, farmers and politicians as well as the decision makers within the agricultural environment.
This blog is written by Martin Little The Global Miller, published and supported by the GFMT Magazine from Perendale Publishers.
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