Ecological Principles of Agriculture

By Laura Powers, Robert McSorley - First Edition

Ecological Principles of Agriculture is a text for post-secondary students of agriculture and ecology. Its strength can be found in its versatility.

Agricultural students with no prior coursework in ecology will find it invaluable as an introduction to ecological principles, while ecology students will gain insight into the practical application of these principles with respect to agriculture.

This text will help readers understand the ecological processes inherent in any agricultural system as well as their implications in agricultural management. Without learning every type of agricultural practice (an impossible task), readers will come away with an understanding of how to apply these principles to agricultural design, management and problem-solving in very specific situations.

Features:

• Integration of principles of agroecology with real-world agricultural examples, making the material more relevant for hands-on agricultural applications
• Emphasizes sustainable agriculture with respect to many different types of farming practices, encompassing agroecology in developing as well as industrialized nations
• Ecological principles are studied in depth, without assuming prior knowledge, and presented in the context of agricultural systems, making the information pertinent for the agricultural student
• Takes a neutral approach to agricultural practices, allowing for the systematic presentation of information not found in other agroecology texts
• Agroecosystems are discussed in the context of external factors integrating the information with the realities of natural, socioeconomic and political forces

Contents:

INTRODUCTION TO AGROECOLOGY.

THE AGRICULTURAL FIELD AS AN ECOSYSTEM:
Carbon and Energy in the Agroecosystem.
Community Ecology.
Nutrient Recycling and Decomposition.

ADAPTATIONS OF ORGANISMS TO THE ECOSYSTEM:
Physical Factors and the Agroecosystem.
Growth and Dynamics of Populations.
Niches and Competition.
Adaptation of Plant Cultivars.

ABUNDANCE IN THE ECOSYSTEM:
Predation and Parasitism.

INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT:
Agricultural Pests.
Principles of Pest Management.

MONOCULTURE VS POLYCULTURE:
Agriculture in the Landscape.
Cropping Systems.

CONSERVATION OF RESOURCES:
Conservation of Nutrients.
Water Conservation and the Politics of Irrigation.
Energy Conservation and Animal Agriculture.

HUMAN POPULATION AND IMPACT:
Political and Socioeconomic Issues of Agroecology.
Issues in Tropical Agriculture.
Human Population Growth.

456 pages - 8-1/2 x 11 in.

Paperback, 432 pages