Instant Insights: Advances in Fertilisers and Fertiliser Technology

Bryan G. Hopkins is a Professor at Brigham Young University and a Certified Professional Soil Scientist. He is the Coordinator for the Soil Science Society of America--North American Proficiency Testing Program. He has degrees from Ricks College, Brigham Young University, and Kansas State University in Agronomy & Horticulture with specialties in soil biophysical chemistry and plant nutrition. He has published dozens of peer reviewed manuscripts and book chapters and hundreds of research reports and given countless presentations. Dr Asher Bar-Tal is a Senior Researcher at the Institute of Soil, Water and Environmental Sciences, Agricultural Research Organization (ARO, the Volcani Center) of Israel. In 1987 he earned Ph.D. from The Hebrew University of Jerusalem. From 2011 to 2013 he served as the Chairman of the Department of Soil Chemistry, Plant Nutrition and Microbiology, Institute of Soil, Water and Environmental Sciences, The Volcani Center, ARO. Dr Bar-Tal currently serves as the president of the Israeli Society of Soil Science. His research interests focus on soil chemistry, plant nutrition and fertilization of crops.

Chapter 1 - Spray technologies in precision agriculture: Paul Miller, Silsoe Spray Applications Unit Ltd, UK;

1 Introduction
2 Features of field crop sprayers for precision agriculture
3 Case study 1: designing and developing a system for spot treatment of volunteer potatoes
4 Case study 2: a patch spraying system for applying herbicides to field crops
5 Conclusion
6 Future trends
7 Where to look for further information
8 References


Chapter 2 - Site-specific nutrient management systems: Dan S. Long, USDA-ARS, USA;

1 Introduction
2 Processes to inform site-specific nutrient management
3 Regional perspectives
4 Conclusions and future trends
5 Where to look for further information
6 References


Chapter 3 - Developments in the use of fertilizers: Bryan G. Hopkins, Brigham Young University, USA;

1 Introduction
2 Nutrient pollution and resource depletion
3 Achieving more sustainable use of fertilizers
4 Developments in nitrogen fertilizers
5 Developments in phosphorus fertilizers
6 Developments in potassium fertilizers
7 Developments in sulfur fertilizers
8 Developments in calcium, magnesium, and micronutrient fertilizers
9 Case study
10 Conclusion and future trends
11 Where to look for further information
12 References


Chapter 4 - Advances in fertigation techniques to optimize crop nutrition: Asher Bar-Tal, Uri Yermiyahu and Alon Ben-Gal, Agricultural Research Organization (ARO), Israel;

1 Introduction
2 The right rate at the right time: nutrient consumption curves and supply
3 Irrigation frequency
4 The right place: water, salt, nutrient and root development under irrigation
5 The right source: fertilizer type and source
6 Models and decision support tools for design, operation and optimization of fertigation systems
7 Case studies
8 Conclusion
9 Future trends
10 References