Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
that view water in the context of the larger cycles and
patterns that link the farm with the surrounding environ-
ments from which water comes and ultimately returns
after passing through the farm.
Water Resources, Development and Management
Service of the FAO
www.fao.org/landandwater/aglw/index.stm
RECOMMENDED READING
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Brady, N.C. and R.R. Weil. 2001. The Nature and Properties of
Soils. Thirteenth Edition. Prentice Hall: Upper Saddle
River, New Jersey. The most recent edition of this com-
prehensive soils textbook, with an extensive section on
how water functions in the soil ecosystem.
Ehlers, W. and M. Goss. 2003. Water Dynamics in Plant Pro-
duction . CABI: Oxon and Cambridge, MA. Explains the
basic principles of water transport, taking into account
soil-plant-atmosphere interactions, and their use in soil
and agricultural management.
Essington, M.E. 2003. Soil and Water Chemistry: An Integrative
Approac h. CRC Press, Boca Raton FL. This topic balances
agricultural and environmental perspectives in its analysis
of the chemical properties and processes that affect organic
and inorganic substances in soil and soil water.
Hargreaves, G.H. and G.P. Merkley. 1998. Irrigation Fundamen-
tals . Water Resources Publications LLC: Highlands
Ranch, CO. A very comprehensive text on the principles
and practices of irrigated agriculture.
Kirkham, M.B. 2004. Principles of Soil and Plant Water Relations .
Academic Press: London. Explores the methods used to
measure the status of water in soil and plants, including
details on instruments and basic sampling methods.
Lal, R. and M.K. Shuk (eds.). 2004. Principles of Soil Physics .
Taylor and Francis: London and New York. This topic
analyzes the impact of the physical and hydrological prop-
erties and processes of soil on agricultural production, the
environment, and sustainable use of natural resources.
National Research Council. 1993. Soil and Water Quality: An
Agenda for Agriculture . National Academies Press:
Washington, DC. Discusses strategies for national policy
to protect soil and water quality, without adversely
affecting agriculture.
Singer, M. J. and D. J. Munns. 2006. Soils: An Introduction .
Sixth Edition. Prentice-Hall: New Jersey. A very useful
introductory text on soils, with a very good treatment of
the management of the soil-water interface.
Sparks, D.L. 2002. Environmental Soil Chemistry . Academic
Press: San Diego, CA. This topic illustrates fundamen-
tal principles of soil chemistry, and the interactions of
soil with other important environmental factors and
materials.
1.
In rainfall-deficient regions, the lack of soil
moisture for crop production can be dealt with
in two ways: (1) developing crops or cropping
systems that are adapted to the low levels of
moisture or (2) introducing irrigation to over-
come the water deficit. What are the advantages
and disadvantages of each approach?
2.
What are some of the reasons that farmers must
be aware of the “downstream” effects of their
use of irrigation?
3.
A period without rainfall long enough to create
moisture stress in the soil, or a period of water-
logging long enough to create limiting condi-
tions of anerobiosis in the soil ecosystem, can
help control pest populations and diseases in
the soil that might otherwise cause crop loss.
When these natural events are removed from a
particular soil system, what alternative pest and
disease management strategies could be
employed?
INTERNET RESOURCES
International Water Management Institute
www.iwmi.cgiar.org
National Program for Sustainable Irrigation
www.lwa.gov.au/irrigation
An information-packed site pertaining to
Australia, where much agriculture requires
irrigation.
Sustainable Waters Program of the Nature
Conservancy
www.freshwaters.org/eswm/
All about ecologically sustainable water
management.
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