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Energy in plant nutrition and pest control
BOOK REVIEWS
161
and residue management, (3) impact of erosion on soil productivity, and (4) range productivity. Although most of the literature and data cited is from the temperate zone of the U.S. and Canada, much of this book will be of great interest world wide. Application to problems of the low-altitude cultivated soils of the tropics may be limited but the methodology should be usable. In the current emphasis on m i n i m u m tillage and maintenance of crop residues on the surface, many of the older problems such as reduced yields, weeds, low soil temperatures, and phytotoxicity of residues and organisms growing thereon have been shunted aside. Surface residue management has been promoted in erosion-prone areas since the 1930s, but has been slow of adoption. Perhaps these new approaches from this symposium will help. This book is highly recommended to all having an interest in better soil and crop management. It is suitable for supplementary reading in courses in soil science, land management and environmental quality. Computers will have an increasing role in decision making, but many decisions by farmers will still be made over a cup of coffee at the local cafe, a beer in the pub or in front of a banker's desk. F.G. V I E T S
102 Yale Way Fort Collins CO 80525 U.S.A.
E N E R G Y IN A G R I C U L T U R E
Energy in Plant Nutrition and Pest Control, by Zane R. Helsel (Editor). Elsevier Science Publishers, Amsterdam, 1987, 293 pp., $147.25, ISBN: 0-444-42753-8. This book is the second volume of the series on Energy in World Agriculture. According to the series editor B.A. Stout, the main objective of the series is to provide information in a concise form on the basic principles and the most appropriate data on both the efficient use of energy in agriculture and the food industry and alternative agricultural energy sources. Social and economic implications, along with each technology, are to be discussed. The present volume, as the title indicates, discusses plant nutrition and pest control. In fact the book is divided into two parts. The first part deals with fertilizers and the second with pesticides. In the preface, the editor points out that the main purpose of the book is to detail the use of fertilizers and pesticides and the energy required for their manufacture and distribution and also
162
BOOK REVIEWS
to review the potential for the conservation of these two important agricultural inputs. Part I on fertilizers contains six chapters: "Fertilizer and Energy Use", by M.S. Mudahar and T.P. Hignett; "Energy Requirements, Technology and Resources in the Fertilizer Sector", by M.S. Mudahar and T.P. Hignett; "Legume Nitrogen: Symbiotic Fixation and Recovery by Subsequent Crops", by G.H. Heichel; "Organic Materials as Alternative Nutrient Sources", by J.F. Parr and D. Colacicco; "Conservation of Nutrients", by D.D. Bucholz and L.S. Murphy; "Energy Efficiency, Economics, and Policy in the Fertilizer Sector", by M.S. Mudahar and T.P. Hignett. Altogether the first part of the book covers 164 pages. Part II contains six chapters as well: "Energy in Pesticide Manufacture, Distribution and Use", by M.B. Green; "Pesticide Use in World Agriculture", by Z.R. Helsel; "Alternative Pest Management Practices", by M. Barrett and W.W. Witt; "Maximizing Pesticide Use Efficiency", by M. Barrett and W.W. Witt; "Effects of Application Methods on Energy Use", by B.J. Butler and L.E. Bode; " Policy and Economic Issues of Pest Control and Energy Use", by C.D. Osteen. The second part covers 120 pages. Each of the 12 chapters of the book is completely self-contained. Each starts with an introduction and ends with a summary, though two of the chapters end with summary and conclusions, and the last two sections of one chapter are synthesis and summary. The distinctions between summary, summary and conclusions and synthesis are unclear. It would have been much better to use a consistent terminology. Some of the chapters contain excellent sets of references. Overall the book contains a wealth of knowledge and is really a mine of authoritative information. The chapters are well-written, easy to read and invariably follow a logical sequence. The reviewer is not aware of a single book which even comes close in terms of amassing so much essential information in a limited number of pages. The book will unquestionably be considered to be a reference text by all professionals working in this important area for many years to come. it is very strongly recommended. The only problem with the book is its price. At $147.25, it is undoubtedly one of the most expensive technical books that covers only 293 pages. This is a great pity, since this high cost will mean that those in all the Third World countries, who probably need it most and would benefit from it most, cannot afford it. Perhaps a paperback version can be brought out at around one-tenth the present price. M A R G A R E T R. B I S W A S
76 Woodstock Close Oxford OX2 8DD Great Britain
161
and residue management, (3) impact of erosion on soil productivity, and (4) range productivity. Although most of the literature and data cited is from the temperate zone of the U.S. and Canada, much of this book will be of great interest world wide. Application to problems of the low-altitude cultivated soils of the tropics may be limited but the methodology should be usable. In the current emphasis on m i n i m u m tillage and maintenance of crop residues on the surface, many of the older problems such as reduced yields, weeds, low soil temperatures, and phytotoxicity of residues and organisms growing thereon have been shunted aside. Surface residue management has been promoted in erosion-prone areas since the 1930s, but has been slow of adoption. Perhaps these new approaches from this symposium will help. This book is highly recommended to all having an interest in better soil and crop management. It is suitable for supplementary reading in courses in soil science, land management and environmental quality. Computers will have an increasing role in decision making, but many decisions by farmers will still be made over a cup of coffee at the local cafe, a beer in the pub or in front of a banker's desk. F.G. V I E T S
102 Yale Way Fort Collins CO 80525 U.S.A.
E N E R G Y IN A G R I C U L T U R E
Energy in Plant Nutrition and Pest Control, by Zane R. Helsel (Editor). Elsevier Science Publishers, Amsterdam, 1987, 293 pp., $147.25, ISBN: 0-444-42753-8. This book is the second volume of the series on Energy in World Agriculture. According to the series editor B.A. Stout, the main objective of the series is to provide information in a concise form on the basic principles and the most appropriate data on both the efficient use of energy in agriculture and the food industry and alternative agricultural energy sources. Social and economic implications, along with each technology, are to be discussed. The present volume, as the title indicates, discusses plant nutrition and pest control. In fact the book is divided into two parts. The first part deals with fertilizers and the second with pesticides. In the preface, the editor points out that the main purpose of the book is to detail the use of fertilizers and pesticides and the energy required for their manufacture and distribution and also
162
BOOK REVIEWS
to review the potential for the conservation of these two important agricultural inputs. Part I on fertilizers contains six chapters: "Fertilizer and Energy Use", by M.S. Mudahar and T.P. Hignett; "Energy Requirements, Technology and Resources in the Fertilizer Sector", by M.S. Mudahar and T.P. Hignett; "Legume Nitrogen: Symbiotic Fixation and Recovery by Subsequent Crops", by G.H. Heichel; "Organic Materials as Alternative Nutrient Sources", by J.F. Parr and D. Colacicco; "Conservation of Nutrients", by D.D. Bucholz and L.S. Murphy; "Energy Efficiency, Economics, and Policy in the Fertilizer Sector", by M.S. Mudahar and T.P. Hignett. Altogether the first part of the book covers 164 pages. Part II contains six chapters as well: "Energy in Pesticide Manufacture, Distribution and Use", by M.B. Green; "Pesticide Use in World Agriculture", by Z.R. Helsel; "Alternative Pest Management Practices", by M. Barrett and W.W. Witt; "Maximizing Pesticide Use Efficiency", by M. Barrett and W.W. Witt; "Effects of Application Methods on Energy Use", by B.J. Butler and L.E. Bode; " Policy and Economic Issues of Pest Control and Energy Use", by C.D. Osteen. The second part covers 120 pages. Each of the 12 chapters of the book is completely self-contained. Each starts with an introduction and ends with a summary, though two of the chapters end with summary and conclusions, and the last two sections of one chapter are synthesis and summary. The distinctions between summary, summary and conclusions and synthesis are unclear. It would have been much better to use a consistent terminology. Some of the chapters contain excellent sets of references. Overall the book contains a wealth of knowledge and is really a mine of authoritative information. The chapters are well-written, easy to read and invariably follow a logical sequence. The reviewer is not aware of a single book which even comes close in terms of amassing so much essential information in a limited number of pages. The book will unquestionably be considered to be a reference text by all professionals working in this important area for many years to come. it is very strongly recommended. The only problem with the book is its price. At $147.25, it is undoubtedly one of the most expensive technical books that covers only 293 pages. This is a great pity, since this high cost will mean that those in all the Third World countries, who probably need it most and would benefit from it most, cannot afford it. Perhaps a paperback version can be brought out at around one-tenth the present price. M A R G A R E T R. B I S W A S
76 Woodstock Close Oxford OX2 8DD Great Britain