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Contents:

1 - Managing land for food production in the twenty-first century: an outline; 2 - Natural resources for sustainable land management; 3 - The development of agriculture and systems of land management; 4 - Maintaining and improving soil fertility; 5 - Land degradation and its control; 6 - Raising yields: use of fertilizers; 7 - Raising yields: water for rainfed crops and irrigation; 8 - Managing change of land use: seven examples; 9 - Increasing and sustaining agricultural production; 10 - Increasing agricultural production: the examples of Africa, India and China; 11 Prospects and uncertainties.

Review:

Agriculture has been a key focus of environmental and ecological curricula since the beginning. Its importance as an ecological system cannot be overrated. Since it is also central to human survival it is not surprising that it has aroused considerable debate on both sides of the argument. One outcome of this has been the move towards an increasing sophistication of research and a broadening of our understanding of the role of agriculture in ecological and human systems. Today, it is not so easy to either wholeheartedly support or condemn agriculture. We prefer hedges and woodlands but might oppose genetic modification of crops yet we cannot really have one without the other if we are being practical about the survival of rural areas.

One upshot of this is that we have a student base with increasing sophistication of views but often lack the basic grounding to help test, reinforce or change those views. What was needed was an overview of the way agriculture worked but from an environmental rather than agricultural perspective. This text is an extremely good attempt to address this. It starts in the right place: rather than arguing for one side or another about farming methods it sets the debate squarely into the need for food output. The opening chapter leaves aside the farm and debates the need for food (in both quantity and place). The advantage here is that are expected to eat and so the question becomes one of supply rather than production. It might seem a simple view but in the context of the rest of the book it is very effective. The author goes on to argue for a more sustainable view of rural land use - we cannot get continuing yields unless we look after the basis of production. Having set the scene, the text works through the items raised in this first chapter. Thus chapter two looks at the basic land resources - climate, vegetation, water and soils. However we try to improve on this, these are the basics we must learn to live with. Chapter three starts at the origins of agriculture. History is a key factor and one which many texts ignore. Since many European farming systems are based on thousands of years-old patterns it makes sense to see how it evolved. This is especially true of more modern colonial eras. For example, Australia suffered, and continues to suffer, from ill-judged farming practices imported, without regard, from Europe. These three chapters can be seen very much as a background. The next set move into more detailed discussion of key aspects of soil. Thus chapter four considers the basics of soil fertility (chapter five). Countering this is the misuse of soil - physical and chemical degradation that are removing vast tracts from production. If we are to keep up soil production (and this harks back to chapter one) then it essential that we stop degrading soil. The next two chapter focus of raising yields. If we are to feed an increasing population on a decreasing resource base (we lose more soil than we make) then we must get more per hectare of land. Use of fertilizers is crucial (chapter six) but we also need water (usually irrigation) if we are to maximise the value of those fertilizers. Looking at the main ideas provides a footing but it is in practical examples that the value lies. In this respect, chapter eight provides an ideal overview - 7 brief studies covering a wide range of cases and nations. UK agricultural development is set against the famous African groundnut saga. The final three chapters examine the prospects for increasing agriculture through sustainable production. Clearly, whatever our views about current agricultural production we must face the reality that only through taking more case of the resource base (i.e. soil etc.) can we hope to meet the needs of our populations. To this end, the author describes the way in which sustainable production can meet future needs (chapter 9) and gives examples where this has already happened (India, China and Africa - chapter 10). Lest this should be seen as inevitable or simple, the final chapter is given over to outlining the current state of knowledge, certainties and uncertainties about the system.

There is much to commend in this book. It is well written in a very clear and accessible style. Technical language is minimised whilst still retaining a rigour in the text. All the basic information is there to help the senior school student and the undergraduate starting in this field. Chapter summaries provide a good overview. The only issue one might have is that there are few illustrations which might deter the less avid reader. This aside, there is a very strong case for adding this book to the library shelves.