Fertilizer sulfur and food production

Research and Policy Implications for Tropical Countries
Softcover Nachdruck of the original 1. Auflage 1986
ISBN: 978-94-010-8435-2
Verlag: Springer Netherlands

Buch, Englisch, 270 Seiten, Paperback, Format (B × H): 155 mm x 235 mm, Gewicht: 417 g

Fertilizer is a vital component of strategies for expanding foodproduction. The rapid growth in population and the widening food deficits inmany tropical countries of Asia, Africa, and Latin America call attention to those aspects of fertilization that have been neglected but are expected to yield­ large economic payoffs in the future. Fertilizer sulfur falls into this category. In the past fertilizer sulfur received little attention from researchers and policymakers since sulfur deficiency was not considered a serious problem. It was not a problem because of low crop yields, extensive cropping, and the incidental supply of sulfur through rain, irrigation water, manures, and sulfurcontaining fertilizers. However, the situation has changed in the last three decades. Moder­ nagriculture based on high crop yields, intensive cropping, improved crop varieties, and greater use of sulfur-free fertilizers and environmental regula­ tions restricting sulfur emissions are creating large gaps between sulfur sup­ ply and sulfur requirements. Sulfur deficiencies are widespread and grow­ ing. Consequently, the full potential of a modern agricultural system in tropical countries is not being realized. This research effort results from the recognition of the seriousness of the sulfur problem and its adverse impact on food production as well as IFDC's dedication to the development and transfer of economically ef­ ficient fertilizer technology to tropical countries. This study represents a comprehensive analysis of the technical and economic linkages between fer­ tilizer sulfur and food production, and it provides guidelines for future directions in fertilizer sulfur research and public policy.

Zielgruppe

Research

Autoren/Hrsg.

Mudahar, Mohinder S.

Kanwar, J.S.

Inhaltsverzeichnis

1 Introduction.- Statement of the Problem.- Objectives.- 2 Food and Nutrition Problems in Perspective.- Population and Food Production.- Magnitude and Location of Food Deficits.- Malnutrition in Developing Countries.- Sources of Calories and Protein Supply.- Components of Food Production.- 3 Fertilizer Sulfur in Strategies for Food Production.- Strategies for Expanding Food Production.- Fertilizer in Agricultural Development.- Importance of Sulfur.- Sulfur in the Fertilizer Industry.- The Sulfur Gap.- Social Cost of Inadequate Sulfur Use.- Economics of Fertilizer Sulfur.- 4 Sulfur in Plant, Animal, and Human Nutrition.- Function of Sulfur in Plant Nutrition.- Uptake and Translocation of Sulfur.- Sulfur Uptake by Different Crops.- Sulfur Application and Crop Quality.- Sulfur Interactions With Other Nutrients.- Uptake and Recovery of Applied Fertilizer Sulfur.- Sulfur in Animal Nutrition.- Sulfur in Human Nutrition.- 5 Status, Diagnosis, and Determinants of Sulfur Deficiency.- Sulfur Status of Soils in the Tropics.- Inorganic Sulfur.- Organic Sulfur.- Diagnosis of Sulfur Deficiency.- Determinants of Sulfur Deficiency.- Conclusions and Research Agenda.- 6 Crop Response to Fertilizer Sulfur in the Tropics.- Asia.- Africa.- Latin America.- Residual Effects of Fertilization With Sulfur.- Conclusions and Research Agenda.- 7 Estimating Sulfur Requirements, Supplies, and Gaps.- Determinants of Sulfur Uptake.- Determinants of Sulfur Replacement Requirements.- Model for Estimating Sulfur Requirements.- Data for Estimating Sulfur Requirements.- Estimated Aggregate Sulfur Requirements.- Estimated Sulfur Requirements by Crops.- Estimating Sulfur Requirements from Nitrogen and Phosphorus Use.- Trends in Fertilizer Sulfur Supply.- Estimated Gaps in Sulfur Requirements and Sulfur Supply.- 8 Fertilizer Sulfur Sources and Supply Strategies.- Sulfur Sources.- Organic Material and Crop Residues.- Fertilizers and Soil Amendments.- Sulfur-Supplying Fertilizers and Soil Amendments.- Considerations for Formulating a Sulfur Supply Strategy.- Modification of Fertilizers to Supply Sulfur.- Research on Sulfur Fertilizers.- Replenishing Sulfur Lost Through Leaching.- Criteria for Evaluating Fertilizer Sulfur Sources.- 9 World Sulfur Situation, Outlook, and Public Policy.- Sulfur Supply and Demand Components.- Patterns and Trends in Sulfur Production.- Patterns and Trends in Sulfur Consumption.- Patterns and Trends in Sulfuric Acid Production.- Patterns and Trends in Sulfuric Acid Consumption.- Patterns and Determinants of World Trade in Sulfur.- Sulfur Trade Policies in Selected Countries.- Behavior of International Sulfur Prices.- Sulfur Reserves, Resources, and Their Use.- Production and Use of Phosphogypsum.- 10 Summary, Conclusions, and Recommendations.- Sulfur — A Neglected Fertilizer Nutrient.- Tropics and Food Production and Human Nutrition — The Target Area of Study.- Sulfur in Plant Nutrition.- Sulfur in Food Production and Human Nutrition.- Sulfur Status in the Tropics — Additions.- Sulfur Status in the Tropics — Removals.- Sulfur Balance Sheet and Likely Scenarios.- Magnitude of Sulfur Deficiency in Tropical Soils.- Determining Sulfur Deficiency in the Tropics.- Crop Response to Fertilizer Sulfur.- Priority Areas for Fertilizer Sulfur Research.- Sulfur Strategies for Meeting the Challenge.- Estimating Sulfur Requirements and Gaps.- Evaluation of Alternative Fertilizer Sulfur Materials.- Economic and Policy Analysis of Fertilizer Sulfur.- Pricing of Fertilizer Sulfur.- Sulfur Situation, Resources, Trade, and Outlook.- Sulfur Trade Policies.-Phosphogypsum: A Source of Fertilizer Sulfur.- Need for Information Related to Fertilizer Sulfur.- Fertilizer Sulfur Use Recommendations.- Fertilizer Sulfur Regulation and Labeling.- Sulfur, Environmental Protection, and Food Production.- Implications for Research and Public Policy.- References.- Appendixes.