Crop Responses to Environment

248pp  ISBN 0849310288      £55.00

• Uniquely links plant physiological ecology with crop management and plant breeding
• Well illustrated with figures and tables to assist you in understanding which crop species are effective in different climates and soil environments
• Full of references to key papers, reviews, and useful, up-to-date Web site addresses to datatbases on climate and plant responses
• Crop responses to pests and diseases as they interact with crop responses to physical and chemical aspects of the environment
• Simple but effective mathematical models provide comprehensive descriptions of principles and applications.

Crop Responses to Environment discusses the principles, theories, and experimental observations concerning plant responses to environment that are particularly relevant to developing improved crop cultivars and management methods. The book illustrates the importance of considering emergent plant properties as well as reductionist approaches to understanding plant function and adaptation.

Dr. Hall explains many practical applications to plant breeding, agronomy, and horticulture. He examines plant physiological and developmental responses to light and temperature as well as plant water-relations. He also describes climatic zone definitions based on temperature, rainfall, and evaporative demand in relation to plant adaptation and the prediction of crop water use. Irrigation management and crop responses to salinity and toxic levels of boron and aluminum are considered.

Numerous figures and tables illustrate the climates of major agricultural zones, giving a thorough knowledge of which crop species and production systems are effective in different climates. The book concludes with an analysis illustrating the relevance of crop responses to environment to plant breeding. The practical examples in this book, some of them pulled from Dr. Hall's research, show your students the principles provided by Crop Response to Environment can be used in developing improved crop production systems.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR - Dr. Anthony E. Hall has spent the past 26 years in research that has led to a substantial increase in protein-rich food for poor people in Africa. In 2000, he received the Chair's Award for Scientific Excellence from the Board for International Food and Agricultural Development.

Contents

INTRODUCTION

GENERAL PRINCIPLES
Complete Understanding Requires Information from Several Levels of Biological Organization
Separating Causes and Effects Can Be Difficult
Limiting Factors, Synergisms, and Source/Sink Effects
Optimization and Efficiency
Genetic and Environmental Influences on Plants

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACHES AND QUANTITATIVE METHODS
Value of Experimental Studies in Different Fields or Seasons Having Contrasting Environments
Value of Experimental Studies in Controlled Environments
Value of Experimental Studies with Different Environments Imposed in the Same Field
Quantitative Methods

CROP PHYSIOLOGICAL RESPONSES TO LIGHT, PHOTOSYNTHESIS, AND RESPIRATION
Photosynthesis and Productivity
Photosynthesis and Adaptation
Mitochondrial Respiration
Photorespiration
Growth Analysis

CROP PHYSIOLOGICAL RESPONSES TO TEMPERATURE AND CLIMATIC ZONES
Seed Germination, Storage, and Dormancy
Resumption of Active Growth by Perennials
Vegetative Growth
Reproductive Development
Climactic Zones
Comparison Method for Determining Where Crops Can Be Grown

CROP DEVELOPMENTAL RESPONSES TO TEMPERATURE, PHOTOPERIOD, AND LIGHT QUALITY
Heat-Unit Systems for Predicting Plant Development
Chilling Requirements of Plants
Plant Developmental Responses to Photoperiod
Light Quality Effects on Plant Development

RADIATION AND ENERGY BALANCES, AND PREDICTING CROP WATER USE AND TEMPERATURE
Solar Radiation at the Surface of the Earth
Types of Radiation in the Earth's Environment and Optical Qualities of Plants
Radiation and Energy Balances
Predicting Crop Water Use
Predicting Temperature Differences between Crop Canopy and Air

CROP TRANSPIRATION AND WATER RELATIONS
Transpiration
Stomatal Responses to Environment
Optimal Stomatal Function
Adaptive Significance of Plant Differences in the Level of Daily Water Use
Adaptive Significance of Plant Differences in Transpiration Efficiency
Liquid Water Transport form Soil to Leaves
Components of Total Water Potential
Flow of Water from Root to Shoot
Crop Water Relations

CROP ADAPTATION TO WATER-LIMITED ENVIRONMENTS
Crop Species Differences in Drought Resistance
Mechanisms of Drought Resistance

HYDROLOGICAL BUDGET OF CROPPING SYSTEMS, IRRIGATION, AND CLIMATIC ZONES
Irrigation Management
Climactic Zone definition based on Water

CROP RESPONSES TO SALINITY AND OTHER LIMITING SOIL CONDITIONS
Plant Responses to Extremes of Soil Texture and High Soil Bulk Density
Salinity Tolerance
Tolerance to High Boron
Tolerance to High Aluminum

INTERACTION OF CROP RESPONSES TO PESTS AND ABIOTIC FACTORS
Crop Phonology and the Escape or Aggravation of Pest Problems
Crop Resistance to Pests

CONSIDERATION OF CROP RESPONSES TO ENVIRONMENT IN PLANT BREEDING
Defining Crop Ideotype Traits
Testing the Value of Crop Ideotype Traits
Perspectives for Future Use of Crop Ideotypes in Plant Breeding

REFERENCES

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CRC Press : agriculture & forestry : crops : extremophiles : plant genetics : plant pathology : plant science