Crops and Environmental Change: An Introduction to Effects of Global Warming, Increasing Atmospheric CO2 and O3

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CRC Press, Feb 7, 2005 - Technology & Engineering - 421 pages
Examine important global environmental changes that will affect the future of agriculture!

Here is a complete introduction to the influence of global environmental changes on the structure, function, and harvestable yield of major field crops. It gives you an in-depth look at the effects of climate change, air pollution, and soil salinization. The book provides an introduction to the ramifications, both positive and negative, of these ongoing environmental changes for present and future crop production and food supply.

Crops and Environmental Change: An Introduction to Effects of Global Warming, Increasing Atmospheric CO2 and O3 Concentrations, and Soil Salinization on Crop Physiology and Yield integrates a discussion of the physiological effects of environmental change with background information on basic topics in plant physiology. Numerous charts, tables, and figures are included to assist in understanding the empirical effects of the environment on crops.

Topics addressed in Crops and Environmental Change include:
  • the effects of increasing global atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration
  • climatic changes associated with increasing atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases
  • the effects of increasing ozone concentrations in the lower atmosphere across large crop-growing regions
  • soil salinization in areas of irrigated crops
  • the causes and trajectories of ongoing environmental changes
  • the implications of environmental changes on the future of crop production
  • and much more!
The information in this book is appropriate for newcomers to the field as well as for seasoned professionals. It is written in language accessible to those new to the area and serves as a good jumping off point for more in-depth study. And since it is organized like a traditional plant physiology textbook, it is appropriate for students in the field. For experienced professionals, it acts as a handy refresher/reference tool on the basics of plant physiology. Crops and Environmental Change is a valuable resource for anyone concerned with the future of agriculture. Make it part of your professional/teaching collection today!
 

Contents

Introduction
Human Population Growth
Environmental Changes
Crops and Food Supply
20
Population Crop Yield and Crop Production
24
Summary
33
Methods of Studying Effects of Environmental Change on Crops
35
Experimental Control of Environmental Conditions
41
Methods for Studying Partitioning
167
Phloem Loading Transport and Unloading
168
Regulation of WholePlant Carbon Partitioning
172
Environmental Changes
179
Summary
187
Mineral Nutrition
191
Nutrient Passage from Soil to Root and Beyond
197
Regulation of Ion Uptake
199

Methods for Salinity Studies
50
Summary
52
Cellular Responses to the Environment
55
Enzymes
64
Cellular Mechanisms of Stress Resistance
65
The Role of Calcium in Stress Responses
82
Specificity CrossTalk and CrossTolerance
85
Summary
87
Water Relations
91
The Future of Fresh Water Resources
93
Excess Precipitation
95
Drought
96
The Plant Surface
97
Roots and Hydraulic Conductance
105
The Crop Canopy
106
Environmental Changes
107
Summary
119
Photosynthesis Respiration and Biosynthesis
123
Effects of Environmental Conditions and Changes on Photosynthesis
137
Respiration
148
Effects of Environmental Conditions and Changes on Respiration
152
Biosynthesis
159
Summary
160
Partitioning of Photosynthate
163
Harvest Index
166
Kinetics of Nutrient Uptake
200
Environmental Changes
201
Summary
218
Vegetative Growth and Development
221
Meristems Organs and Development
223
Shoots
230
Roots
232
Developmental Stages
234
Environmental Changes
235
Summary
259
Sexual Reproduction Grain Yield and Grain Quality
263
Sexually Reproductive Development
268
Yield Components and Variation
274
Environmental Changes
277
Interactive Effects of Environmental Changes in Yield
303
Summary
306
The Biotic Environment
309
Insect Pests and Diseases
315
Symbiotic Relationships with Soil Organisms
325
Multiple Environmental Changes and Implications for Biotic Interactions
330
List of Plant Species
333
Definition of US Principal Crops
339
References
341
Index
407
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