Soil and Water Quality

Soil and Water Quality
Author: National Research Council
Publisher: National Academies Press
Total Pages: 541
Release: 1993-02-01
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 0309049334

How can the United States meet demands for agricultural production while solving the broader range of environmental problems attributed to farming practices? National policymakers who try to answer this question confront difficult trade-offs. This book offers four specific strategies that can serve as the basis for a national policy to protect soil and water quality while maintaining U.S. agricultural productivity and competitiveness. Timely and comprehensive, the volume has important implications for the Clean Air Act and the 1995 farm bill. Advocating a systems approach, the committee recommends specific farm practices and new approaches to prevention of soil degradation and water pollution for environmental agencies. The volume details methods of evaluating soil management systems and offers a wealth of information on improved management of nitrogen, phosphorus, manure, pesticides, sediments, salt, and trace elements. Landscape analysis of nonpoint source pollution is also detailed. Drawing together research findings, survey results, and case examples, the volume will be of interest to federal, state, and local policymakers; state and local environmental and agricultural officials and other environmental and agricultural specialists; scientists involved in soil and water issues; researchers; and agricultural producers.

Looking After Our Land

Looking After Our Land
Author: Will Critchley
Publisher: Oxfam
Total Pages: 92
Release: 1991
Genre: Social Science
ISBN: 0855981709

This book is about the main lessons to be learnt from new approaches to soil and water conservation in sub-Saharan Africa. It presents six case studies, two each from Burkina Faso, Kenya and Mali, where soil and water conservation, based on the participation of the local people, has resulted in some success.

Soil and Water Resources Protection in the Changing Environment

Soil and Water Resources Protection in the Changing Environment
Author: Miodrag Zlatic
Publisher:
Total Pages: 334
Release: 2018-05-30
Genre:
ISBN: 9783510654185

This book contains a selection of peer-reviewed contributions to the 3rd Conference of the World Association of Soil and Water Conservation (WASWAC), held in Belgrade in Serbia, August 22-26, 2016. The keynote paper documents the current status of soil erosion in Europe in view of a changing climate (Chapter I). Nine papers are devoted to "Mechanisms and Processes of Land degradation" (Chapter II), covering models, measurement and rates in various parts of the world. Chapter III contains five papers highlighting "Soil and water conservation strategies to adapt to and to mitigate the effects of climate change" addressing, among other things changing land use and effects of changing climate on soils and vegetation. Three papers in Chapter IV assess the observed benefits of soil and water conservation measures, such as their effect on topsoil thickness. The papers in Chapter V - "Sustainable watershed management" - discuss erosion intensity, measures to control erosion and assessing the risk of erosion in watersheds. Chapter VI (six papers) "Social and economic aspects and policies related to soil and water conservation" embarks on a discussion the relationship of human activity on soil and water conservation efforts, the role compliance with supranational legislation, compensation of damage done by natural disasters and other societal concerns relevant to soil and water preservation and management. The volume is of particular interest for all readers involved in resp. interested in soil, landscape and water resources protection and the role climate change and legislative processes play. It offers analysis, facts, new data, suggestions and portrays the current state of recommendations on soil and water resources issues, which are crucial elements in the functioning of environment.

Soil and Water Pollution Monitoring, Protection and Remediation

Soil and Water Pollution Monitoring, Protection and Remediation
Author: Irena Twardowska
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 638
Release: 2007-04-30
Genre: Science
ISBN: 1402047282

This book details the state-of-the art in early warning monitoring of anthropogenic pollution of soil and water. It is unique with regard to its complex, multidisciplinary, mechanistic approach. Top scientists establish links and strengthen weak connections between specific fields in biology, microbiology, chemistry, biochemistry, toxicology, sensoristics, soil science and hydrogeology.

Water for the Future

Water for the Future
Author: U.S. National Academy of Sciences
Publisher: National Academies Press
Total Pages: 243
Release: 1999-03-09
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 030906421X

This book is the result of a joint research effort led by the U.S. National Academy of Sciences and involving the Royal Scientific Society of Jordan, the Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities, and the Palestine Health Council. It discusses opportunities for enhancement of water supplies and avoidance of overexploitation of water resources in the Middle East. Based on the concept that ecosystem goods and services are essential to maintaining water quality and quantity, the book emphasizes conservation, improved use of current technologies, and water management approaches that are compatible with environmental quality.

Soil and Water Conservation Policies and Programs

Soil and Water Conservation Policies and Programs
Author: Ted L. Napier
Publisher: CRC Press
Total Pages: 654
Release: 1999-11-24
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 9780849300059

For as far into the future as we can see, governments will probably topple, power will continue to exchange hands, the climate will undergo continuous change, and the global economy will ebb and flow like the oceans. But for the world's many diverse countries-whether they be highly industrialized or third world-one thing will always remain constant: the need to solve the planet's pressing soil and water conservation problems, as well as implement effective policies. But why do some policy initiatives succeed while others fail? Soil and Water Conservation Policies and Programs: Successes and Failures addresses this very question. Based on an international conference held in Prague, this book debates the strengths and weaknesses of soil and water conservation initiatives implemented in North America, Europe, and Australia. Soil and water conservation policies in the United States, Canada, Germany, Austria, Yugoslavia, and other countries are examined through the eyes of technical and soil scientists. And the book also addresses specialized topics, such as agricultural pollution abatement in Poland, and private farmers and contemporary conservation subsidy programs in the Czech Republic. With its thorough treatment of the subject matter, Soil and Water Conservation Policies and Programs: Successes and Failures contributes to resolving one of the world's most pressing conservation issues.

The State of the World's Land and Water Resources for Food and Agriculture

The State of the World's Land and Water Resources for Food and Agriculture
Author: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 332
Release: 2013-06-17
Genre: Law
ISBN: 1136498877

The State of the World's Land and Water Resources for Food and Agriculture is FAO's first flagship publication on the global status of land and water resources. It is an 'advocacy' report, to be published every three to five years, and targeted at senior level decision makers in agriculture as well as in other sectors. SOLAW is aimed at sensitizing its target audience on the status of land resources at global and regional levels and FAO's viewpoint on appropriate recommendations for policy formulation. SOLAW focuses on these key dimensions of analysis: (i) quantity, quality of land and water resources, (ii) the rate of use and sustainable management of these resources in the context of relevant socio-economic driving factors and concerns, including food security and poverty, and climate change. This is the first time that a global, baseline status report on land and water resources has been made. It is based on several global spatial databases (e.g. land suitability for agriculture, land use and management, land and water degradation and depletion) for which FAO is the world-recognized data source. Topical and emerging issues on land and water are dealt with in an integrated rather than sectoral manner. The implications of the status and trends are used to advocate remedial interventions which are tailored to major farming systems within different geographic regions.

Adaptation strategies for soil and water conservation in a changing world

Adaptation strategies for soil and water conservation in a changing world
Author: Šarapatka, Bořivoj
Publisher: Palacky University Olomouc
Total Pages: 172
Release:
Genre: Nature
ISBN: 8024463180

Proceedings of abstracts from the WASWAC world conference on ADAPTATION STRATEGIES FOR SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION IN A CHANGING WORLD, which is intended mainly for the professional public and the scientific community.