Nitrogen: Nutrient of Life

A comprehensive review of the principles and management implications of nitrogen in the soil–plant–water system is now available in a new monograph Nitrogen in Agricultural Systems. The book, from the American Society of Agronomy (ASA), the Crop Science Society of America (CSSA), and the Soil Science Society of America (SSSA), brings together more than 30 leading experts to holistically address nitrogen in the context of environmental protection and the efficient use of resources.

Nitrogen is a key component of agricultural fertilizers and is crucial to the world’s food supply. Mismanagement of nitrogen can create environmental hazards. While nitrogen is often needed to make poor or depleted soil fertile, its over-use is a factor in climate change. Now, more than ever, scientifically informed management practices are needed to promote the most efficient use of nitrogen.

The book was co-edited by Drs. J.S. Schepers of the University of Nebraska and W.R. Raun of Oklahoma State University, with contributions from highly skilled and knowledgeable researchers in the field of agronomy. Contributors to Nitrogen in Agricultural Systems approach each aspect of the nitrogen cycle from a broad perspective. The volume begins with a chapter on the origin and distribution of nitrogen in soil, followed by a detailed discussion of soil nitrogen transformations in biological, chemical, physical, and weather-related interactions. Accountability and nitrogen budgeting are emphasized because they have a strong bearing on management decisions and environmental implications. The concept of soil–plant resiliency is introduced as a framework to better understand how climate, soils, and plants interact to broadly delineate cropping eco-regions.

“The contributors to this book are highly regarded scientists who work at the forefront of research in nitrogen management. Scientists, practitioners, and students will benefit greatly from this assemblage of in-depth knowledge of nitrogen management,” says Kenneth Moore, President of the American Society of Agronomy.

Nitrogen in Agricultural Systems can be purchased online for $150, Item No. B10261 at: http://www.societystore.org, by phone at 608-268-4960, or by email: books@soils.org. To view the table of contents, go to: https://portal.sciencesocieties.org/Downloads/pdf/NitrogenFrontMatter.pdf

The American Society of Agronomy (ASA) www.agronomy.org, the Crop Science Society of America (CSSA) www.crops.org and the Soil Science Society of America (SSSA) www.soils.org are educational organizations helping their 11,000+ members advance the disciplines and practices of agronomy, crop, and soil sciences by supporting professional growth and science policy initiatives, and by providing quality, research-based publications and a variety of member services.