Mineral Nutrition Of Crops

About this book

The first book on crop nutrition that covers topics from soil hydrology to molecular biology! The first book ever to elucidate so many different aspects of mineral nutrition of crops, Mineral Nutrition of Crops: Fundamental Mechanisms and Implications will allow you to grasp the complexity of the soil-water-plant-microbe interactions governing nutrient uptake and utilization by crops. By emphasizing a fundamental mechanistic approach, this book effectively complements the monograph Nutrient Use in Crop Production (The Haworth Press, Inc.). With Mineral Nutrition of Crops you will explore the many facets necessary to increase crop and pasture yields and minimize unwanted losses of nutrients to the environment. Mineral Nutrition of Crops covers a wide range of topics that span several scientific disciplines: agriculture, agronomy, botany, forestry, ecology, plant science, and soil science. From this book, you will gain vital knowledge required to understand the complexity of mechanisms and processes governing nutrient transport toward roots, including biological and chemical reactions influencing nutrient availability in the rhizosphere, uptake by root cells, long-distance transport toward grain, and the role of nutrients in metabolism. Also, you will explore issues relating to the following topics: biology and chemistry of nutrient availability in the rhizosphere kinetics of nutrient uptake by plant cells role of mineral photosynthesis and yield formation importance of seed nutrient reserves in crop growth and development breeding crops for improved nutrient efficiency significance of root size for plant production monitoring water and nutrient fluxes down the profileFrom Mineral Nutrition of Crops , you will gain the knowledge you need to understand and improve methods of crop growth and nutrition. Mineral Nutrition of Crops is an indispensable manual for anyone involved in the many aspects of growing crops.

Contents

Contents About the Editors Contributors Preface Chapter 1. Biology and Chemistry of Nutrient Availability in the Rhizosphere Introduction Influence of Rhizodeposition on Microbial Ecology Plant Modifications of Rhizosphere Chemistry Plant Responses to Micronutrient Deficiencies Microbial Interactions Influencing Plant Nutrition Bioaugmentation of the Rhizosphere Conclusions Chapter 2. Kinetics of Nutrient Uptake by Plant Cells Introduction Transport Mechanisms Control of Uptake Enzyme Kinetics and Membrane Transport Dual Isotherms and Multiphasic Kinetics Induction and Repression of Transport Systems Root Structure and Observed Kinetics Conclusions Chapter 3. Molecular Biology of Nutrient Transporters in Plant Membranes Introduction Isolation of Ion Transporters Common Molecular Features of Plant Nutrient Transporters Potassium Transport Sulfate Transport Phosphate Transport Nitrogen Transport Tools for Physiological Studies Implications for Agriculture and the Environment Chpater 4. Long-Distance Nutrient Transport in Plants and Movement into Developing Grains Introduction Long-Distance Transport in Xylem and Phloem Pathway of Nutrient Transport into Developing Grains Conclusions Chapter 5. The Significance of Root Size for Plant Nutrition in Intensive Horticulture Introduction The Role of Root Size and Container Volume in Nutrient Uptake Plant Response to Container Volume and Nutrient Concentrations Effect of Container Volume and Nitrate Concentration on Nitrogen and Water Uptake Rates Tomato Response to Root Treatments in Hydroponics Internal Regulation of Nutrient Uptake Concluding Remarks Chapter 6. Role of Mineral Nutrients in Photosynthesis and Yield Formation Introduction Photosynthesis and Related Processes Role of Mineral Nutrients in Yield Formation Conclusions Chapter 7. The Role of Nutrition in Crop Resistance and Tolerance to Diseases Introduction Effect of Disease on Nutrition Status of Plants Characterizing Nutrient Interactions with Disease Strategies to Reduce Disease Severity by Improving Nutrition Mechanisms of Disease Control with Nutrition Using Nutrition for Disease Control Examples of Nutrient-Disease Interactions Summary/Conclusions Chapter 8. Importance of Seed Mineral Nutrient Reserves in Crop Growth and Development Introduction General Considerations Importance of Phloem Transport and Transfer Cells Phloem-Mobile Nutrient Elements Variable Phloem-Mobile Nutrient Elements Conditionally Phloem-Mobile Nutrient Elements General Conclusions Chapter 9. Physiological Mechanisms Underlying Differential Nutrient Efficiency of Crop Genotypes Introduction Nutrient Efficiency Mechanisms of Zinc Efficiency Modification of Phenotypic Expression of Zinc Efficiency Mechanisms of Iron Efficiency Mechanisms of Manganese Efficiency Mechanisms of Phosphorus Efficiency Breeding for Nutrient Efficiency Concluding Remarks Chapter 10. Breeding Crops for Improved Nutrient Efficiency: Soybean and Wheat as Case Studies Introduction Nutrient Efficiency and Tolerance to Ion Toxicity: Inheritancy and Breeding Strategies Screening Techniques for the Evaluation of Nutrient Efficiency Summary and Conclusions Chapter 11. Monitoring Water and Nutrient Fluxes Down the Profile: Closing the Nutrient Budget Introduction Measurement of Soil Profile Concentrations of Nutrient Ions Measurement of Soil Water content Calculation of Soil Water Fluxes and Drainage Calulation of Nutrient Fluxes Field Studies of Nutrient Movement Conclusions Chapter 12. Mechanistic Simulation Models for a Better Understanding of Nutrient Uptake from Soil Introduction The Soil-Root System Modeling Approaches Validation of the Models Evaluation of Soil and Plant Properties by Sensitivity Analysis General Conclusions and Final Remarks Index Reference Notes Included