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BOOK REVIEWS

Cropping Systems Trends and Advances.

^a Louisiana State University Agricultural Center Macon Ridge Research Station 212 Macon Ridge Road Winnsboro, LA 71295
^b Louisiana State University Agricultural Center Department of Agronomy and Environmental Management 104B Sturgis Hall Baton Rouge LA 70803

(dboquet{at}agcenter.lsu.edu)

Edited by ANIL SHRESTHA. Food Products Press, 10 Alice Street, Binghamton, NY 13904. 2003. Paperback, 720 pp., $59.95. ISBN 1 56022-107-0.

The widespread adoption of cropping systems that are sustainable and environmentally benign is essential for the long-term survival of civilization. Much of agriculture in the developed world had for a time embraced potentially non-sustainable systems for economic reasons, over-utilizing monocropping, specialization and mechanization, which was damaging to soils and the environment. Cropping Systems Trends and Advances edited by Anil Shrestha is a compendium of review articles related to cropping systems and arrives at an opportune time. Presented in this book are 25 review articles written by qualified authorities that address topics related to various aspects of cropping systems in North America and other regions of the world. This book fills a unique niche by bringing together a wealth of resources describing the complex considerations involved in the development and adaptation of cropping systems on a regional and international scale. The chronology of cropping systems is described beginning with natural cropping systems, progressing through the "destructive" period of monocropping and intensive mechanized tillage and culminating in present attempts to develop and re-establish more natural and sustainable systems. The history, development and present state of cropping systems are described in detail as well as the importance of developing cropping systems for resource conservation, sustainability and environment protection. The range of review topics offers an excellent introduction to the basic concepts and terminology necessary to understand sustainable and diversified cropping systems. The scope of topics and issues covered is impressive and include ecology, cover crops, soil quality, tillage practices, root dynamics, precision agriculture, nutrient efficiency, pest management, water quality, food security, and economics. Regionalized discussions of broad topics by local authorities will be of particular interest to readers who reside in those areas.

As with any book that provides an overview of a subject as complex and broad as world-wide cropping systems, oversights are inevitable. While all chapters are well-written treatises of their topics and present extensive literature reviews, some are more exhaustive than others. Also, some economically important systems and regions receive limited attention. Oversights, however, are generally minor and do not detract from the value of the book. A section on tillage research in southeastern USA overlooks the unique but important Mississippi River Delta. The article on precision agriculture left out discussion of what is arguably one of the most promising technologies—soil electrical conductivity. Additional discussion of the problems associated with determining causes of yield variability as identified by yield monitoring would also have added to the value of this review since, in many circumstances, yield limitations are not remedied by nutrient management. An otherwise excellent chapter on transgenic crops lacks sections on critical issues affecting acceptance and use of this technology such as resistance transference concerns, herbicide drift onto non-transgenic crops in increasingly diverse agricultural systems that include both transgenic and non-transgenic crops, and control of herbicide-resistant crops as weeds. All of the reviews are well written, interesting and informative but some are primarily monocrop based and do not directly relate to the relative sustainability of cropping systems, agroecosystem processes, or the effects of cropping systems on soil quality and sustainable productivity. These chapters illustrate important deficiencies in research and the many unresolved questions that require answers as we strive to increase diversity of cropping systems. It is evident from reading the more than 700 pages of this book that there is much yet to be learned about cropping systems and much to be done to define and implement economically and environmentally sustainable systems.

This book will serve as an excellent reference for instructors of most agricultural courses and for undergraduate and graduate students studying soil, crop, or environmental sciences. The thorough coverage of the many factors influencing the success of alternative cropping systems will be useful to researchers, producers and others who wish to broaden their understanding of sustainable agricultural systems.

NOTES

^* (gbreitenbeck{at}agcenter.lsu.edu)

This Article Full Text (PDF) Free Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Boquet, D. J. Articles by Breitenbeck, G. A. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Boquet, D. J. Articles by Breitenbeck, G. A. Agricola Articles by Boquet, D. J. Articles by Breitenbeck, G. A.