Contents

**Preface XI**



S.É. Parent, L.E. Parent, D.E. Rozanne, A. Hernandes and W. Natale

Chapter 5 **Plant Analysis 115** Renato de Mello Prado and Gustavo Caione Chapter 6 **Sustainable Management of Soil Potassium – A Crop Rotation Oriented Concept 135** Witold Grzebisz, Witold Szczepaniak, Jarosław Potarzycki and Remigiusz Łukowiak Chapter 7 **Soil Acidity and Liming in Tropical Fruit Orchards 173** William Natale, Danilo Eduardo Rozane, Serge-Étienne Parent and Léon Etienne Parent Chapter 8 **Potassium Fertilization on Fruits Orchards: A Study Case from Brazil 193** Sarita Leonel and Luis Lessi dos Reis

Preface

soil fertility.

Soil fertility is critical for the provision of adequate food, fiber and renewable natural resources(fuel,wood etc.). In the developing world soil fertility is linked to economic well being of many farm families. Poor soils means poor harvest leading to low returns for the over 60% of the population of developing countries relying on agriculture for survival.Use of inorganic and organic fertilizers in addition to biological processes to improve the fertility of the soil requires good understanding of their practical use and management. The effect of these materials on the environment and economic returns need to be understood. There are many locally available resources that can be collected, improved and used to improve the

The Soil Fertility book presents nine chapters written by renowned soil fertility experts from Africa, Asia and South America. The book is divided into two sections. Section 1,Biological Processes and Integration of Inorganic and Organic Fertilizers for Soil Fertility Improvement, examines biological processes that can enhance the soil fertility. It discusses the use of both organic and inorganic fertilizers and their integration in improving soil fertility. The need to use locally available materials to enhance soil productivity especially by resource poor farmers is stressed. Within their locality resource poor farmers have abundant materials that can be transformed and usedto improve the capacity of their soils to produce more food. The second section - Improving Fertilizer Recommendation and Efficiency, looks at the-state-of-the-art in leaf sampling and analysis. Proper leaf sampling and standardized methods of analysis are important steps in providing good recommendations. Enhancing nutrient use efficiency through proper management is also discussed. Improper use of fertilizers and amendments may not result in good economic returns hence the need for effective management of these resources. This section further discusses the need for balanced nutrition to ensure good plant growth and yield. Improper

**Dr. Roland N. Issaka**

Kwadaso-Kumasi

Ghana

CSIR-Soil Research Institute

use of fertilizers may have negative effect on the growth of the plant.

#### Chapter 9 **Alternative Fertilizer Utilizing Methods for Sustaining Low Input Agriculture 225** Monrawee Fukuda, Fujio Nagumo, Satoshi Nakamura and Satoshi Tobita
