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| Foreword | |
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| Preface | |
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| Acknowledgment | |
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| Intensive Agriculture and Food Production | |
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| Problems with Intensive Agriculture | |
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| Correcting Problems Associated with Intensive Agriculture | |
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| Alternative Agriculture | |
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| Sustainable Agriculture | |
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| Sustainable Soil Science | |
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| Increasing Organic Matter, Sustainable Agriculture, and the Need for Inputs | |
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| Basic Concepts of Organic Matter | |
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| Decomposition of Organic Matter | |
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| SOM and Humus | |
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| Environmental Conditions Affecting Decomposition | |
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| Extent of Decomposition | |
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| Losses of SOM and Crop Yields | |
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| Increasing Soil Organic Matter | |
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| Negative Aspects of Organic Matter Additions | |
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| Organic Matter As a Source of Nutrients | |
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| Organic Matter and Nutrient Supply | |
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| Nutrients Released from Organic Matter | |
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| Nutrient Release | |
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| Indirect Effects of Organic Matter on Nutrient Availability | |
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| Accounting for Nutrients in Organic Matter | |
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| Physical Qualities | |
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| Soil Structure | |
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| Porosity | |
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| Bulk Density | |
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| Compaction | |
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| Infiltration and Percolation | |
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| Aggregate Stability | |
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| Moisture-Holding Capacity | |
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| Erosion | |
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| Biological Effects of Organic Matter | |
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| Soil Organisms and Their Functions | |
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| Processes Vital to Soil Health | |
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| Controlling Pests by Harnessing Soil Organisms and Organic Matter | |
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| Adding Organic Matter | |
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| Growing Organic Matter in Place | |
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| Plant Residues | |
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| Adding Organic Matter Not Grown in Place | |
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| Manure | |
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| Compost | |
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| Loamless Composts | |
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| Sewage Effluents and Biosolids | |
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| Peats | |
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| High-Analysis Animal and Other Wastes | |
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| Placement of Organic Matter | |
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| Incorporating OM | |
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| Plastic Mulch | |
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| Natural Organic Mulches | |
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| Types of Natural Organic Mulch | |
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| Deleterious Effects of Organic Mulches | |
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| Providing Protection from Pests by Using Organic Mulches | |
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| Conservation Tillage | |
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| Increasing Soil Organic Matter | |
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| Other Benefits of Reduced Tillage | |
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| Reduction in Costs | |
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| No-Tillage | |
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| Reduced Tillage | |
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| Pest Problems with Conservation Tillage | |
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| Corrective Measures | |
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| Changes Brought About by Conservation Tillage | |
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| Cultural Methods | |
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| Fertility Changes | |
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| Pests | |
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| Plant Diseases | |
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| Nematodes | |
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| Weeds | |
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| Miscellaneous Pests | |
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| Putting It All Together: Combining Organic Matter Additions with Conservation Tillage | |
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| Basic Approaches | |
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| Adding Organic Matter | |
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| Supplying Needed Nutrients | |
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| Controlling Pests | |
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| Adding Water | |
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| Equipment for Conservation Tillage | |
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| Summary | |
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| Common and Botanical Names of Plants | |
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| Abbreviations and Symbols Used in This Book | |
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| Useful Conversion Factors and Data | |
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| Bibliography | |
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| Index | |