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Theoretical production ecology: Reflections and prospects
Field Crops Research, 27 ( 1991 ) 381-386
381
Elsevier Science Publishers B.V., Amsterdam
Book Reviews THEORETICAL PRODUCTION ECOLOGY
Theoretical Production Ecology: Reflections and Prospects. R. Rabbinge, J. Goudriaan, H. van Keulen, F.W.T. Penning de Vries and H.H. van Laar (Editors), 1990. Pudoc, Wageningen, Simulation Monographs 34.301 pp., US$80/Dfl. 140, ISBN 90-220-1004-X. This volume presents the proceedings of a meeting held in the Department of Theoretical Production Ecology, Agricultural University, Wageningen, during 1989 to mark the retirement of its leader of many years, Professor C.T. de Wit. During a career of over 40 years, de Wit has inspired his students, collaborators and an international audience in relatively diverse fields. The book is divided into four sections to acknowledge that range of activity. The contents and contributors are as follows: I. Soils and Climate Conservative behaviour in the response of crops to water and light - - J.L. Monteith Atmospheric CO2, global carbon fluxes and the bioshere - - J. Goudriaan Nitrogen influence on the physiology of crop yield - - T.R. Sinclair On scale problems in modeling: an example from soil ecology - - P.A. Leffelaar II. Plant Growth and Development Assimilation, allocation, explanation, extrapolation - - L.T. Evans Can crop models contain economic factors? - - F.W.T. Penning de Vries Integration of activity in the higher plant - - R.S. Loomis, Y. Luo and P.L. Kooman Crop growth models for greenhouse climate control - - H. Challa III. Pests, Diseases and Weeds Defoliation disease and growth - - P.E. Waggoner The bridge function of production ecology in pest and disease management R. Rabbinge, W.A.H. Rossing and W. van der Werf Agronomical measures to control growth and yield reduction by weeds K. Baeumer On descriptive and mechanistic models for inter-plant competition with particular reference to crop-weed interaction - - C.J.T. Spitters IV. Agricultural Production Systems Agricultural production systems - - C.R.W. Spedding -
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0378-4290/91/$03.50 © 1991 Elsevier Science Publishers B.V. All rights reserved.
382
The crop model record: promise of poor show? - - N.G. Seligman A multiple goal programming basis for analysing agricultural research and development - - H. van Keulen Integrating crops and livestock in southern Mali: rural development or environmental degradation? - - H.J. Breman International agricultural research for developing countries - - C.T. de Wit Despite the wide range of topics, the book has a unifying theme in the use of simulation models as an aid to understanding the operation, performance and management of complex biological systems. For this reason the volume fits comfortably in the Simulation Monographs Series and is a fitting tribute to a man who pioneered and fostered this approach to agricultural research. The list of authors includes many well-known names in agricultural research who will attract readers. Those authors have variously interpreted their contributions so that the book is a mixture of reflections and reviews together with original research contributions. The papers are solid, tightly presented and well edited. Many readers might concentrate on a few chapters close to their own expertise but the real value of the volume is that it provides an opportunity for the experienced to inform themselves of the state of development and current thinking in a number of related aspects of theoretical production ecology. In summary, the book will be a valuable addition to libraries of universities and research institutes. It provides an up-to-date summary of the development and application of simulation models in a number of aspects of agricultural research and management. It will also be a treasured addition to the personal collections of those many scientists who respect de Wit's great contribution to agricultural science. D.J. CONNOR School of Agriculture & Forestry Plant & Soil Science Section The University of Melbourne Parkville, Vic. 3052, Australia
PHYSIOLOGY OF TROPICAL CROP PRODUCTION
The Physiology of Tropical Crop Production. G.R. Squire, 1990. CAB International, UK. 236 pp., paperback, £ 13.95/US$ 24.50, ISBN 0-85198-6773. This is an excellent book that examines the way the physiological processes of tropical crops are influenced by environmental factors, namely solar radiation, temperature, photoperiod, saturation deficit, soil water and nutrients.
381
Elsevier Science Publishers B.V., Amsterdam
Book Reviews THEORETICAL PRODUCTION ECOLOGY
Theoretical Production Ecology: Reflections and Prospects. R. Rabbinge, J. Goudriaan, H. van Keulen, F.W.T. Penning de Vries and H.H. van Laar (Editors), 1990. Pudoc, Wageningen, Simulation Monographs 34.301 pp., US$80/Dfl. 140, ISBN 90-220-1004-X. This volume presents the proceedings of a meeting held in the Department of Theoretical Production Ecology, Agricultural University, Wageningen, during 1989 to mark the retirement of its leader of many years, Professor C.T. de Wit. During a career of over 40 years, de Wit has inspired his students, collaborators and an international audience in relatively diverse fields. The book is divided into four sections to acknowledge that range of activity. The contents and contributors are as follows: I. Soils and Climate Conservative behaviour in the response of crops to water and light - - J.L. Monteith Atmospheric CO2, global carbon fluxes and the bioshere - - J. Goudriaan Nitrogen influence on the physiology of crop yield - - T.R. Sinclair On scale problems in modeling: an example from soil ecology - - P.A. Leffelaar II. Plant Growth and Development Assimilation, allocation, explanation, extrapolation - - L.T. Evans Can crop models contain economic factors? - - F.W.T. Penning de Vries Integration of activity in the higher plant - - R.S. Loomis, Y. Luo and P.L. Kooman Crop growth models for greenhouse climate control - - H. Challa III. Pests, Diseases and Weeds Defoliation disease and growth - - P.E. Waggoner The bridge function of production ecology in pest and disease management R. Rabbinge, W.A.H. Rossing and W. van der Werf Agronomical measures to control growth and yield reduction by weeds K. Baeumer On descriptive and mechanistic models for inter-plant competition with particular reference to crop-weed interaction - - C.J.T. Spitters IV. Agricultural Production Systems Agricultural production systems - - C.R.W. Spedding -
-
0378-4290/91/$03.50 © 1991 Elsevier Science Publishers B.V. All rights reserved.
382
The crop model record: promise of poor show? - - N.G. Seligman A multiple goal programming basis for analysing agricultural research and development - - H. van Keulen Integrating crops and livestock in southern Mali: rural development or environmental degradation? - - H.J. Breman International agricultural research for developing countries - - C.T. de Wit Despite the wide range of topics, the book has a unifying theme in the use of simulation models as an aid to understanding the operation, performance and management of complex biological systems. For this reason the volume fits comfortably in the Simulation Monographs Series and is a fitting tribute to a man who pioneered and fostered this approach to agricultural research. The list of authors includes many well-known names in agricultural research who will attract readers. Those authors have variously interpreted their contributions so that the book is a mixture of reflections and reviews together with original research contributions. The papers are solid, tightly presented and well edited. Many readers might concentrate on a few chapters close to their own expertise but the real value of the volume is that it provides an opportunity for the experienced to inform themselves of the state of development and current thinking in a number of related aspects of theoretical production ecology. In summary, the book will be a valuable addition to libraries of universities and research institutes. It provides an up-to-date summary of the development and application of simulation models in a number of aspects of agricultural research and management. It will also be a treasured addition to the personal collections of those many scientists who respect de Wit's great contribution to agricultural science. D.J. CONNOR School of Agriculture & Forestry Plant & Soil Science Section The University of Melbourne Parkville, Vic. 3052, Australia
PHYSIOLOGY OF TROPICAL CROP PRODUCTION
The Physiology of Tropical Crop Production. G.R. Squire, 1990. CAB International, UK. 236 pp., paperback, £ 13.95/US$ 24.50, ISBN 0-85198-6773. This is an excellent book that examines the way the physiological processes of tropical crops are influenced by environmental factors, namely solar radiation, temperature, photoperiod, saturation deficit, soil water and nutrients.