Belowground Responses to Rising Atmospheric CO2: Implications for Plants, Soil Biota, and Ecosystem Processes

Belowground Responses to Rising Atmospheric CO2: Implications for Plants, Soil Biota, and Ecosystem Processes
Author: P. S. Curtis
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 379
Release: 2013-04-17
Genre: Science
ISBN: 9401708517

As atmospheric CO2 increases there will almost certainly be alterations in soil carbon fluxes. It is likely that such alterations will be accompanied by changes in the partitioning of carbon between organic structures and to soil processes. These changes have the potential for further altering the structure and function of terrestrial ecosystems. While there has been increasing recognition of the importance of soil-mediated responses to global climate change, the nature and magnitude of these responses are not well understood. In an effort to expand our assessment of the significance of belowground responses to rising atmospheric CO2, a workshop has been organized that resulted in the peer-reviewed contributions that are contained in this volume.

Grasslands

Grasslands
Author: Stephen Reynolds
Publisher: Science Publishers
Total Pages: 564
Release: 2005-01-07
Genre: Nature
ISBN: 9781578083596

This book looks at significant current grassland problems and issues, and provides an insight into grassland productivity in diverse areas of the world, with their various production systems. There is a focus on recent technical advances and the prospects for further innovation, through twenty-one chapters by eminent grassland scientists, grouped into seven sections - forage germplasm; forage conservation; grass-based systems and organic production; climate change, biodiversity and biotechnology; geographical information systems; farmer and pastoralist participation; and regional developments. The book is timely in view of the expanding human and livestock populations, especially in arid and semi-arid environments, with the consequent pressure on the world's grasslands.

Carbon Dioxide, Populations, and Communities

Carbon Dioxide, Populations, and Communities
Author: Fakhri A. Bazzaz
Publisher: Elsevier
Total Pages: 489
Release: 1996-07-17
Genre: Science
ISBN: 0080500722

In past decades and in association with a continuing global industrial development, the global atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide has been rising. Among the many predictions made concerning this disturbing trend is global warming sufficient to melt polar ice-caps thereby dramatically altering existing shorelines. This book will help fill an obvious gap in the carbon dioxide debate by substituting date for speculation.* * Includes contributions from leading authorities around the world* Serves as a companion to Carbon Dioxide and Terrestrial Ecosystems* The first book of its kind to explore evolutionary responses of both populations and communities to elevated carbon dioxide

Global Climate Change and Human Impacts on Forest Ecosystems

Global Climate Change and Human Impacts on Forest Ecosystems
Author: J. Puhe
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 604
Release: 2012-12-06
Genre: Science
ISBN: 3642595316

The inclusion of forests as potential biological sinks in the Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in 1997 has attracted international attention and again has put scientific and political focus on the world's forests, regarding their state and development. The international discus sion induced by the Kyoto Protocol has clearly shown that not only the tropical rain forests are endangered by man's activities, but also that the forest ecosystems of boreal, temperate, mediterranean and subtropical regions have been drastically modified. Deforestation on a large scale, burning, over-exploitation, and the degra dation of the biological diversity are well-known symptoms in forests all over the world. This negative development happens in spite of the already existing knowledge of the benefits of forests on global energy and water regimes, the biogeochemical cycling of carbon and other elements as well as on the biological and cultural diversity. The reasons why man does not take care of forests properly are manifold and complex and there is no easy solution how to change the existing negative trends. One reason that makes it so difficult to assess the impacts of human activity on the future development of forests is the large time scale in which forests react, ranging from decades to centuries.

Carbon Dioxide and Terrestrial Ecosystems

Carbon Dioxide and Terrestrial Ecosystems
Author: George W. Koch
Publisher: Elsevier
Total Pages: 463
Release: 1995-12-21
Genre: Science
ISBN: 0080500706

The importance of carbon dioxide extends from cellular to global levels of organization and potential ecological deterioration may be the result of increased CO2 in our atmosphere. Recently, the research emphasis shifted from studies of photosynthesis pathways and plant growth to ground-breaking studies of carbon dioxide balances in ecosystems, regions, and even the entire globe. Carbon Dioxide and Terrestrial Ecosystems addresses these new areas of research. Economically important woody ecosystems are emphasized because they have substantial influence on global carbon dioxide balances. Herbaceous ecosystems (e.g., grasslands, prairies, wetlands) and crop ecosystems are also covered. The interactions among organisms, communities, and ecosystems are modeled, and the book closes with an important synthesis of this growing nexus of research. Carbon Dioxide and Terrestrial Ecosystems is a compilation of detailed scientific studies that reveal how ecosystems generally, and particular plants specifically, respond to changed levels of carbon dioxide. - Contributions from an international team of experts - Empirical examination of the actual effects of carbon dioxide - Variety of terrestrial habitats investigated - Specific plants and whole ecosystems offered as studies

Physiology of Plants Under Stress

Physiology of Plants Under Stress
Author: David M. Orcutt
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
Total Pages: 702
Release: 2000-06-27
Genre: Science
ISBN: 9780471170082

This second of a two-part treatise describes the phenomena of plants under stress, describing the relationship between plant structure, development, and growth and such environmental stresses as too much or too little water, light, heat, or cold.

Measuring Roots

Measuring Roots
Author: Stefano Mancuso
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 385
Release: 2011-10-26
Genre: Science
ISBN: 3642220673

Roots represent half of the plant body – and arguably the more interesting half. Despite its obvious importance for the whole plant, until recently our knowledge of the root apparatus was very limited, mostly due to the inadequacy of the techniques available. Recent advances in the visualization and measurement of roots have resulted in significant progress in our understanding of root architecture, growth and behaviour. In this book international experts highlight the most advanced techniques, both lab and field methods, and discuss them in detail. Measuring Roots combines academic and practical aspects of this topic, making it a universal handbook for all researchers and others interested in root-measuring methods.

Managing Risks of Nitrates to Humans and the Environment

Managing Risks of Nitrates to Humans and the Environment
Author: W S Wilson
Publisher: Elsevier
Total Pages: 358
Release: 1999-01-01
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 1845693205

This volume concentrates on research information on the beneficial effects of nitrates and their fate in the environment. Adopting an integrated approach it covers the agricultural, environmental and medical aspects of this emotive topic. In addition, there is an extensive description of the biochemistry of nitrates in plants, animals and humans including the positive aspects as well as the hazards.

Improvement of Plant Production in the Era of Climate Change

Improvement of Plant Production in the Era of Climate Change
Author: Shah Fahad
Publisher: CRC Press
Total Pages: 507
Release: 2022-07-20
Genre: Science
ISBN: 1000610853

Current trends in population growth suggest that global food production is unlikely to meet future demands under projected climate change scenarios unless the pace of plant improvement is accelerated. Plant production is facing many challenges due to changing environmental conditions and the growing demand for new plant-derived materials. These challenges come at a time when plant science is making significant progress in understanding the basic processes of plant growth and development. Major abiotic stresses like drought, heat, cold and salinity often cause a range of morphological, physiological, biochemical, and molecular changes affecting plant growth, development, and productivity; so sustainable food production poses a serious challenge to much of the world, particularly in emerging countries. This underscores the urgent need to find better ways to translate new advances in plant science into concrete successes in agricultural production. In order to overcome the negative effects of abiotic stress and to maintain food security in the face of these challenges, new, improved, and resilient plant varieties, contemporary breeding techniques, and a deep understanding of the mechanisms for offsetting harmful climate change are undoubtedly necessary. In this context, Improvement of Plant Production in the Era of Climate Change is a guide to the most advanced techniques that help in understanding plant response to abiotic stress, leading to new horizons and the strategy for the current translation studies application to overall solution to create a powerful production and crop improvement in such an adverse environment. FEATURES Provides a state-of-the-art description of the physiological, biochemical, and molecular-level understanding of abiotic stress in plants Courses taught in universities from basics to advanced level in field of plant physiology, molecular genetics, and bioinformatics will use this book Focuses on climatic extremes and their management for plant protection and production, which is great threat to future generation and food security Understanding of new techniques pointed out in this book will open the possibility of genetic engineering in crop plants with the concomitant improved stress tolerance Addressing factors that are threatening future food production and providing potential solutions to these factors Written by a diverse group of internationally famed scholars, this book adds new horizons in the field of abiotic stress tolerance

Plant-Soil Interactions at Low pH: Principles and Management

Plant-Soil Interactions at Low pH: Principles and Management
Author: R.A. Date
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 765
Release: 2012-12-06
Genre: Nature
ISBN: 940110221X

The understanding of plant-soil interactions in acid soils is important for improved food production in many parts of the world. The context of the book touches on basic and applied aspects of the physics, chemistry and biology of acid soils and their effect on growth of plants. It contains a large section on management of acid soils for plant (food) production and on socioeconomic aspects of management of acid soils. This is important because a large portion of the world's acid soils occurs in less developed countries. Plant-Soil Interactions at Low pH: Principles and Management contains a substantial number of papers, including nine invited reviews, presented at the Third International Symposium of Plant-Soil Interactions at Low pH. The major themes include chemistry and physics of acid soils, microbial and faunal activity in acid soils, mechanisms of acid tolerance of plants, selection and breeding of acid-tolerant plants, diagnosis and correction of acid soil infertility, socioeconomic aspects of acid soil management and management systems for agriculture, horticulture and forestry on acid soils.