Description

Edited by Tei Francesco; Edited by Nicola, Silvana; Edited by Benincasa, Paolo

Short /annotation:
In the last decades, research on fertilization management in vegetables was aimed at producing economical yields with reduced fertilizer inputs by the development and implementation of cropping systems, nutrient management approaches and crop varieties.

:
This book is a review of the recent literature on the key scientific and technical subjects of fertilization management in vegetable crops. In the last decades, research on fertilization management in vegetables was aimed at producing economical yields with reduced fertilizer inputs by the development and implementation of cropping systems, nutrient management approaches and crop varieties. Examples of the interventions in cropping systems included adequate crop rotations, inter-cropping, double cropping, and other strategies for a better soil organic matter management; nutrient management approaches included modelling, Decision Support Systems, crop nutritional status testing and precision agriculture technologies; amelioration of crop varieties has been directed toward higher nutrient/fertilizer use efficiency.

Table of contents:

Chapter 1:
The role of research for a sustainable fertilization management in vegetables: future trends and goals
Francesco Tei, Silvana Nicola, Paolo Benincasa
Abstract
1. Vegetable production in the world
2. Health and economic benefits from vegetables
3. Peculiarities of fertilization in vegetable crops
4. Fertilizer consumption in vegetable production
5. Making fertilization sustainable in vegetables: trends and goals of research
References

Chapter 2: Tools and strategies for sustainable nitrogen fertilization of vegetable crops
Rodney B. Thompson, Nicolas Tremblay, Matthias Fink, Marisa Gallardo, Francisco M. Padilla

Abstract
1. Introduction
2. Nature of output from tools for N management of vegetable crops
3. Methods based on soil analysis or soil N supply
4. Nitrogen balance method
5. Methods based on crop/plant analysis
6. Use of proximal optical sensors
7. Luxury N consumption and responses of monitoring approaches at excessive crop N status
8. Use of simulation models and decision support systems for N management
9. Application methods
10. Specialised fertilisers
11. Future developments
12. General considerations
13. Conclusions
Acknowledgements
References

Chapter 3: Organic matter mineralization as a source of nitrogen
Stefaan De Neve

Abstract
1. Introduction
2. The process of N mineralization
3. Measurements and mathematicalof N mineralization
4. Predicting N mineralization
5. Environmental factors influencing N mineralization
6. Sources of organic matter
7. Synchronization of N mineralization with crop N demand
8. Conclusion
References

Chapter 4: Fertilizers: criteria of choice for vegetable crops
Paolo Sambo, Carlo Nicoletto
Abstract
1. Introduction
2. Mineral fertilizers
3. Organic fertilizers
4. Conclusions
References

Chapter 5: Crop Rotation as a System Approach for Soil Fertility Management in Vegetables
Paolo Benincasa, Giacomo Tosti, Marcello Guiducci, Michela Farneselli, Francesco Tei
Abstract
1. Introduction
2. Use of fertilisers in vegetable crops
3. Role of cover and green manure crops
4. Intercropping vegetables
5. Crop residue management
6. Crop rotation in non-specialised organic and conventional farming systems
7. Crop rotation in specialised vegetable cropping system
8. Conclusions
References