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Leading scientists look beyond the simple production paradigm and present a more holistic approach aimed at ensuring sustainability through understanding the biological, ecological, economic, and social dimensions of agroecosystems. Detailed analyses include multidimensional thinking, multifunctional economic analysis, whole-farm planning, agricultural conservation at the landscape scale, agroecosystem functions that benefit society, and ecological morality. Farmers, researchers, teachers, students, and policymakers will appreciate the diverse examples included, as well as the study questions and glossary.--Provided by publisher

Climate change effects on biogeochemical cycles, nutrient and water supply / Pascal A. Niklaus -- Nutrient and water demands of plants under global climate change / Oula Ghannoum, Matthew J. Searson and Jann P. Conroy -- Climate change and symbiotic nitrogen fixation in agroecosystems / Richard B. Thomas, Skip J. Van Bloem and William H. Schlesinger -- Belowground food webs in a changing climate / Joseph C. Blankinship and Bruce A. Hungate -- Herbivory and nutrient cycling / R. Andrew Carran and Vincent Allard -- Sustainability of crop production systems under climate change / Jürg Fuhrer -- Plant performance and implications for plant population dynamics and species composition in a changing climate / Grant R. Edwards and Paul C.D. Newton -- Climate change effects on fungi in agroecosystems / Matthias C. Rillig -- Trophic interactions and climate change / Jonathan A. Newman -- Future weed/pest/disease problems for plants / Lewis H. Ziska and G. Brett Runion -- Distinguishing between acclimation and adaptation / Mark J. Hovenden -- Plant breeding for a changing environment / Paul C.D. Newton and Grant R. Edwards.

One of the challenges under current land management practices is to increase food and soil security to meet projected trends in food production, while maintaining the resilience to climate change. This book provides a forum for researchers to access the most recent developments in enhancing carbon sinks and minimizing greenhouse gas emissions. It suggests that policies and practices integrating microbial technology, modern crop cultivars, conservation practices, increased manure application, organic farming and agroforestry have a greater capacity to sequester carbon and reduce carbon-based greenhouse gases, leading to more robust agroecosystems compared to conventional agriculture. It is argued that empirical models can represent powerful tools for assessing how mitigation and adaptation strategies can be used to optimize crop yield and minimize greenhouse gas emissions under future climate change scenarios.'Sustainable agroecosystems in climate change mitigation' bridges our current knowledge gaps and recognizes the contribution of sustainable agricultural practices as a way forward in reducing the global carbon and nitrogen footprint. It is relevant for students, researchers, governmental and non-governmental organisations interested in climate change mitigation, sustainable agriculture, soil science, modern analytical techniques and modelling. It answers the questions: 'How can sustainable agroecosystems help mitigate climate change?' and 'What are the tools to achieve this goal?'.

Front Cover -- Soil Health and Intensification of Agroecosystems -- Copyright Page -- Contents -- List of Contributors -- Preface -- 1 Fundamentals and Functions of Soil Environment -- 1.1 Introduction -- 1.2 Soil Properties and Interrelationships -- 1.2.1 Soil Physical Environment -- 1.2.2 Components of the Total Soil-Water Potential -- 1.2.3 Water Movement and Governing Forces -- 1.2.4 Soil Structure and Water Pathways -- 1.2.5 Soil Temperature -- 1.2.6 Soil Aggregate Formation and Structure -- 1.3 Soil Biological Environment -- 1.3.1 Soil-Plant Relationship -- 1.3.2 Soil-Root Interface and Nutrient Cycling -- 1.3.2.1 Nitrogen cycle -- 1.3.2.2 Carbon Cycle -- 1.3.2.3 Water cycle -- 1.3.3 Soil Environment and Microbial Diversity -- 1.4 Soil Chemical Environment -- 1.4.1 Soil Nutrient Capacity and Supply -- 1.4.2 Nutrient Cycling -- 1.4.3 Nutrient Pathways and Mechanisms -- 1.5 Conclusions -- References -- 2 Climate Variability Effects on Agriculture Land Use and Soil Services -- 2.1 Introduction -- 2.2 Climate Variables and Temporal Trends -- 2.2.1 Temperature -- 2.2.2 Precipitation -- 2.2.3 Extreme Events in Precipitation -- 2.2.4 Meteorological Variables (Solar Radiation, Wind, Humidity) -- 2.3 Patterns of Agriculture Land Use -- 2.3.1 Crop Distribution and Agroclimatology -- 2.3.1.1 Temperature effects -- 2.3.1.2 Precipitation effects -- 2.3.2 Interaction Between Climate Change and Soil Productivity -- 2.4 Role of Soil Services in Mitigating Effects of Climate Variability -- 2.5 Implications of Soil Health to Offset Climate Variability -- 2.6 Conclusions -- References -- 3 Soil Health Concerns Facing Dryland Agroecosystems -- 3.1 Introduction -- 3.2 Soil Health in Dryland Agroecosystems -- 3.2.1 Difficulty of Enhancing Soil Health in Areas with Increasing Temperatures and Decreasing Precipitation