This book covers the use and dynamics of potassium fertilizers in agriculture. It explores potassium dynamics in soil, phytoavailability, uptake and translocation in crop plants, impact of potassium fertilizers on quality of agricultural produce. Potassium is an essential plant nutrient that has long been overlooked in agriculture of many developing countries. In most of the agro-ecosystems of such countries, potassium balance is negative because its application seldom matches with crop removal. Agro-technicians lack enough skills and resources to promote the right source of fertilizer at the right rate, time and place to facilitate profitable farming. There is a need for farmers to update their farming practices so as to improve the crop yield and quality under unfavorable climatic conditions. Correct application of potassium fertilizers is directly linked with increased crop yield per unit land area in most of the developing countries. Therefore this book fills the gap in the information and provide the readers with latest updates on use of potassium fertilizers. This book contains latest information relevant for graduate students, progressive farmers, extension worker, early career researchers, and policy makers.

An understanding of the mineral nutrition of plants is of fundamental importance in both basic and applied plant sciences. The fourth edition of this book retains the aim of the first in presenting the principles of mineral nutrition in the light of current advances. Marschner's Mineral Nutrition of Plants, 4th Edition, is divided into two parts: Nutritional Physiology and Plant–Soil Relationships. In Part I, emphasis is put on uptake and transport of nutrients in plants, root–shoot interactions, role of mineral nutrition in yield formation, stress physiology, water relations, functions of mineral nutrients and contribution of plant nutrition to food nutritional quality, disease tolerance, and global nutritional security of human populations. In view of the increasing interest in plant–soil interactions. Part II focuses on the effects of external and internal factors on root growth, rhizosphere chemistry and biology, soil-borne ion toxicities, and nutrient cycling. Now with color figures throughout, this book continues to be a valuable reference for plant and soil scientists and undergraduate and graduate students in the fields of plant nutrition, nutritional physiology, and soil fertility. - Offers new content on the relationship between climate change, soil fertility and crop nutrition - Keeps overall structure of previous editions - Includes updates in every chapter on new developments, ideas and challenges

"Respected and known worldwide in the field for his research in plant nutrition, Dr. Horst Marschner authored two editions of Mineral Nutrition of Higher Plants. His research greatly advanced the understanding of plant nutrition ranging from rhizosphere processes to nutrient uptake and utilization by plants in the field. While visiting field experiments in West Africa in 1996, Dr. Marschner contracted malaria and passed away, and until now this legacy title went unrevised. Despite the passage of time, it remains the definitive reference on plant mineral nutrition. Since the last edition, great progress has been made in the understanding of various aspects of plant nutrition. In recent years, the perspective on the mode of action of nutrients in plant metabolism and yield formation has shifted. Much progress has been made in the molecular aspects of nutrient uptake and transport within plants as well as the responses of plants to nutrient deficiency or toxicity. These and many other developments are covered in this long-awaited new edition."--P. [4] of cover.

After a summary of world sugar production from beets, the authors cover the plant's need of each macro and micronutrient and effects on growth, yield and crop quality. The soil's supply of nutrients is examined as the basis for use of mineral fertilizers, organic manures and foliar applications. The book provides an up-to-date review of relevant research and the authors draw out practical guidelines so that all concerned with growing the crop can make use of this latest information. The book is destined to become the standard reference on the subject for many years to come. It represents the only significant work in English since Dr. Draycott's earlier title on the same subject, published 30 years ago.

In Soil Fertility Management in Agroecosystems, Editors Amitava Chatterjee and David Clay provide a thoughtful survey of important concepts in soil fertility management. For the requirements of our future workforce, it is imperative that we evolve our understanding of soil fertility. Agronomists and soil scientists are increasingly challenged by extreme climatic conditions. Farmers are experimenting with integrating cover crops into rotations and reducing the use of chemical fertilizers. In other words, there is no such a thing as a simple fertilizer recommendation in today's agriculture. Topics covered include crop-specific nutrient management, program assessment, crop models for decision making, optimization of fertilizer use, cover crops, reducing nitrous oxide emissions, natural abundance techniques, tile-drained conditions, and soil biological fertility.