Nutrient Management in Tropical Crops

Modern tropical agriculture faces the challenge of increasing crop productivity while preserving natural resources and adapting to climate change. Nutrient Management in Tropical Crops: Sustainable Practices and Innovations addresses this challenge by presenting current concepts, sustainable practices, and technological innovations in plant nutrition and nutrient management for tropical production systems. The book integrates knowledge from soil science, plant physiology, microbiology, and agronomy to provide a comprehensive understanding of nutrient dynamics in tropical environments. It discusses the physical and chemical characteristics of tropical soils, the role of organic matter and soil microorganisms in maintaining fertility, and strategies to improve nutrient use efficiency while reducing environmental impacts. Special attention is given to the contribution of nutrient management to climate change mitigation and adaptation. Topics include carbon sequestration, biological nitrogen fixation, crop–livestock integration systems, and the effects of major abiotic stresses such as drought and heat. The book also explores the importance of sustainable fertilization practices, and emerging approaches for nutritional diagnosis in high-yield cropping systems. Dedicated chapters examine the nutrition and fertilization of economically important tropical crops, including cotton, common bean, soybean, sorghum, maize, and sugarcane. In addition, the volume highlights the role of silicon in enhancing plant tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses and discusses recent advances in precision agriculture, including the use of sensors, digital technologies, and decision-support tools for fertilizer management. Written by specialists in plant nutrition and crop production, this book provides researchers, graduate students, agronomists, crop consultants, and agricultural professionals with an up-to-date resource on the principles and innovations shaping sustainable nutrient management in tropical agriculture.