Trees, Crops and Soil Fertility. Concepts and Research Methods

G Schroth, F L Sinclair9780851995939, 0-85199-593-4

Successful agroforestry requires an understanding of the complex relationship between trees, crops and soils. This book provides a review of both social and biophysical aspects of soil use and research in agroforestry in the tropics, with an emphasis on nutrient-poor forest and savanna soils. Key topics covered include decomposition, nutrient cycling and leaching, soil structure, and soil biological processes. The book combines theory and a review of methods used in research.

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Table of contents :
Cover……Page 1
Contents……Page 6
Contributors……Page 10
Foreword……Page 12
1. Impacts of Trees on the Fertility of Agricultural Soils……Page 14
2. Economic Aspects of Soil Fertility Management and Agroforestry Practices……Page 26
3. Designing Experiments and Analysing Data……Page 52
4. Soil Organic Matter……Page 90
5. Soil Nutrient Availability and Acidity……Page 106
6. Decomposition and Nutrient Supply from Biomass……Page 144
7. Nutrient Leaching……Page 164
8. Nutrient Capture……Page 180
9. Nutrient Exchange with the Atmosphere……Page 194
10. Soil Structure……Page 204
11. Soil Water……Page 222
12. Root Systems……Page 248
13. Biological Nitrogen Fixation……Page 272
14. Mycorrhizas……Page 284
15. Rhizosphere Processes……Page 302
16. Soil Macrofauna……Page 316
17. Soil Erosion……Page 338
References……Page 358
Index……Page 436
Team DDU……Page 9