Introduction to agronomy

the long version

This provides an introductory look at agronomy and crop science written for a broad audience including traditional agricultural students as well as students with nonagricultural backgrounds. Principles of crop science, sustainable agriculture, and the relevance of agriculture to important current societal issues are covered. Agriculture is discussed from a historical, economic, food, and resource basis. Topics relevant to our overall society such as food, fiber, energy, ecology, and environmental quality are discussed. The impact of climate and soils on agricultural practices and agriculture's impact on environmental quality and the description and uses of important crops are included. Approaches to improving plants and crop production efficiency through crop breeding, biotechnology, and crop management are also covered.