The text illustrates how to minimize the transportation of nitrogen fertilizers in crop production to surface and ground waters, as even moderate errors in uptake estimations lead to a dramatic increase in the amount of nitrogen leached into groundwater. It also highlights the knowledge gaps preventing correct simulation of this process and explains what to look for when using a system model and interpreting simulation results.

Applies to a Variety of Crops, Including Oilseed, Wheat, Potatoes, and Maize

Addressing quantification and synthesis in the context of system modeling, this text introduces cutting-edge and original information regarding N uptake not previously offered by other research texts in the field. This, in turn, benefits scientists, professors, system modelers, and model users in interpreting modeling results for enhancing nitrogen management and developing decision support tools.

This volume documents, with complex, detailed models, plant N uptake based on absorption kinetics of transporters across the root cell membranes, mass flow, and diffusion to the root surface of single or composite roots.  It also provides simpler models used in N uptake simulations at the field and watershed scales.

Discusses All Areas of the Complex Process

Integrates concepts from soil and plant sciences, chemistry, biology, ecology, and environmental engineering

This book offers an in-depth look at the chemical and biological cycling of nutrients, trace elements, and toxic organic compounds in wetland soil and water column as related to water quality, carbon sequestration, and greenhouse gases. It details the electrochemistry, biochemical processes, and transformation mechanisms for the elemental cycling of carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulfur. Additional chapters examine the fate and chemistry of heavy metals and toxic organic compounds in wetland environments. The authors emphasize the role of redox-pH conditions, organic matter, microbial-mediated processes that drive transformation in wetlands, plant responses and adaptation to wetland soil conditions. They also analyze how excess water, sediment water, and atmospheric change relate to elemental biogeochemical cycling.

Provides an ideal teaching text or professional reference for those involved in ecological restoration, water quality, ecological engineering, and global climate change

Although ending world hunger remains the most important goal, increasingly the focus is on simultaneously improving world malnutrition. Paradoxically, nutritionally important trace elements essential for human health are both deficient and over-abundant in soils in many regions of the world. Using a multidisciplinary approach, Development and Uses of Biofortified Agricultural Products provides new strategies and techniques for the production of biofortified agricultural products from different soils.

Seventeen contributors from twelve countries explore the effects of environmental and biological factors on the accumulation and speciation of nutritionally important trace elements in agricultural products. They explore novel strategies regarding the functional foods and animal feed and other forms of biofortified agricultural products. The text addresses alternative biosources and bioproducts produced from phytoremediation processes as well as the bioavailability and the effects of bioproduct compounds.

The editors comprehensively synthesize the ever-mounting body of new information on biofortification, including theoretical, practical, and practiced agricultural-based strategies in micronutrient management and improvement in different types of soils. The book provides a unique and useful platform to further the understanding of nutritionally important trace elements in the context of biogeochemistry, food chain transfer, and health-related issues.