Geologic research in support of sustainable agriculture

Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment
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Abstract

The importance and role of the geosciences in studies of sustainable agriculture include such traditional research areas as, agromineral resource assessments, the mapping and classification of soils and soil amendments, and the evaluation of landscapes for their vulnerability to physical and chemical degradation. Less traditional areas of study, that are increasing in societal importance because of environmental concerns and research into sustainable systems in general, include regional geochemical studies of plant and animal trace element deficiencies and toxicities, broad-scale water quality investigations, agricultural chemicals and the hydrogeologic interface, and minimally processed and ion-exchange agrominerals. We discuss the importance and future of phosphate in the US and world based on human population growth, projected agromineral demands in general, and the unavailability of new, high-quality agricultural lands. We also present examples of studies that relate geochemistry and the hydrogeologic characteristics of a region to the bioavailability and cycling of trace elements important to sustainable agricultural systems.

Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Geologic research in support of sustainable agriculture
Series title Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment
DOI 10.1016/0167-8809(93)90013-F
Volume 46
Issue 1-4
Year Published 1993
Language English
Publisher Elsevier
Description 14 p.
First page 55
Last page 68
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