The Role of Organic Matter in Modern Agriculture

1. Front Matter

   Pages I-XIV

   PDF

2. Introduction

   1. Organic residues in modern agriculture

      • Y. Avnimelech

      Pages 1-10

3. Nitrogen and phosphorus supply to plants by organic matter and their transformations

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 11-11

      PDF

   2. Effects of organic matter on nitrogen and phosphorus supply to plants

      • F. E. Broadbent

      Pages 13-27

   3. The role of organic matter and ammonium in producing high corn yields

      • S. R. Olsen

      Pages 29-54

   4. Nitrogen transformations in Histosols

      • R. E. Terry

      Pages 55-70

4. Effects of soil organic matter and redox on micronutrients availability to plants

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 71-71

      PDF

   2. Soil organic matter interactions with trace elements

      • Y. Chen, F. J. Stevenson

      Pages 73-116

   3. Effect of soil redox conditions on microbial oxidation of organic matter

      • K. R. Reddy, T. C. Feijtel, W. H. Patrick Jr.

      Pages 117-156

5. Soil microorganisms, biofertilizers and biocontrol agents: their interactions with soil organic matter and effects on soil fertility

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 157-157

      PDF

   2. Soil microorganisms, soil organic matter and soil fertility

      • Y. Henis

      Pages 159-168

   3. The role of organic matter in the introduction of biofertilizers and biocontrol agents to soils

      • Y. Hadar

      Pages 169-179

6. Effects of soil organic matter and applied sewage sludge on soil structure and fertility

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 181-181

      PDF

   2. Soil organic matter extraction, fractionation, structure and effects on soil structure

      • M. H. B. Hayes

      Pages 183-208

   3. Sewage sludge organic matter and soil properties

      • C. E. Clapp, S. A. Stark, D. E. Clay, W. E. Larson

      Pages 209-253

7. The use of peat and composts as container media

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 255-255

      PDF

   2. Peat and peat substitutes as growth media for container-grown plants

      • M. Raviv, Y. Chen, Y. Inbar

      Pages 257-287

   3. Effects of composts in growth media on soilborne pathogens

      • H. A. J. Hoitink, G. A. Kuter

      Pages 289-306

The use of organic residues as a means of maintaining and increasing soil fertility is of long-standing. This tradition has been somewhat neglected since the introduc­ tion of mineral fertilizers at low cost. More and more farmers and scientists are now showing renewed interest in the proper and effective use of org~tnic residues, composts and other recycled organic additives. The role and function of organic amendments in modern agricultural systems have become topics of major interest in the scientific and agricultural communities. Research work on residue disposal has provided new concepts on the interaction between organic components and soils as well as new handling technologies (e. g. pelletizing of organic residues). The trend to conserve energy has led scientists to study the minimal tillage system, to find ways of replacing conventional inorganic fertilizers with natural organic prod­ ucts or microbial preparations, and to develop new composting methods. The drive to achieve higher yields in commercial greenhouse farming has led to a search for optimum substrates as growth media and for improved management techniques. This has led to the introduction of organic substitutes for peat, nota­ bly those originating from agricultural wastes. Another important aspect is the current interest in organic farming, where use of synthetic chemicals is avoided or prohibited. An increasing percentage of the population in highly developed countries is willing to pay premium prices for food produced on soils where inorganic fertilizers and other agricultural chemicals have not been used.

• Ammonium
• Fertilizer
• Manure
• Oxide
• bacteria
• microorganism
• plant pathogens
• residue
• residues
• soil

• Department of Soil and Water Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israël

  Y. Chen

• Department of Soils and Fertilizers, Faculty of Agricultural Engineering, The Technion, Haifa, Israël

  Y. Avnimelech

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