
New Book
Focuses on Nitrogens Effect on the EnvironmentBy David Elstein February 15, 2002Nitrogen, while important to
farmers for growing crops, can pollute water and cause other environmental
problems. Also, atmospheric nitrogen emissions can contribute to global
warming. Now two Agricultural Research
Service (ARS) scientists have edited a new book that investigates nitrogen
and its effects on agriculture and the environment as a whole. Ronald F. Follett of the Soil-Plant-Nutrient Research Unit in Fort
Collins, Colo., and Jerry L. Hatfield of the National Soil Tilth Laboratory in Ames, Iowa,
are editors of the new book, "Nitrogen in the Environment: Sources,
Problems and Management." The 520-page book includes 20 chapters written
by 49 nitrogen experts from around the world, nine of whom are ARS researchers.
The book is divided into sections, including "Background and Importance
of Nitrogen," "Water Quality," "Atmospheric Effects,"
"Emerging Prediction and Management Technologies," and "Economic
and Policy Issues." A wide range of topics is covered in the book, such as
removing nitrogen from drinking water supplies and the roles of watersheds and
river basins. Other topics include dealing with nitrogen from a policy
standpoint and how nitrogen affects forest ecosystems. The book is written for
those who want to acquire an in-depth knowledge of the origins, issues and
management of nitrogen in the environment. Follett has been a research leader for the Soil-Plant-Nutrient Research Unit
for 15 years and was previously an ARS national program leader for 10 years.
Hatfield has been director of the National Soil Tilth Laboratory since 1989.
For six years prior to that, he was research leader at the
ARS Plant Stress and
Water Conservation Laboratory in Lubbock, Texas. Both Follett and Hatfield
have edited other books, most of which are about soil. "Nitrogen in the Environment" can be purchased from the publisher
Elsevier for $177. ARS is the U.S. Department of
Agriculture's primary scientific research agency. Story contacts David Elstein U.S. Department of Agriculture | |