Principles of Field Crop Production

Book excerpt: The range of pressures affecting farmers has increased significantly in recent times. Produce must meet escalating quality requirements, while competition demands heightened productivity. At the same time, the community demands that farmers maintain the natural resource base of the land of which they are custodians and that they minimize chemical treatments and fertilizers. Principles of Field Crop Production concentrates on today's principles of farming and addresses the issues of raising productivity and environmental management. The book also endeavors to put crop production in a broader perspective by addressing issues such as socioeconomic aspects and crop improvement. This third edition updates information on numerous crops, and provides new insights into farming systems and modern breeding methods such as genetic engineering. The text continues to fill an important role for students of agronomy and their teachers. It is also an important reference book for research workers and for others involved or interested in agriculture.