Description
Book SynopsisThe environmental problems, such as pollution and land degradation, of post-Soviet agriculture are indeed serious and represent a major obstacle to the expansion of food production in the new political and economic arena. This book provides a thorough review of these problems and also responds to several reports claiming that the situation is irremediable. Although environmental problems are severe, the author shows that they are not necessarily the key limiting factor in agricultural production in the short-term. Drawing on a range of personal interviews and statistics and on the social, economic and political literature, as well as information on crop production, soil and water use, and the environment, it is shown how a more sustainable future might be attained.
Table of Contents1: Introduction 2: Land management and erosion 3: Irrigation - friend or foe? 4: Humus balance and soil compaction 5: Plant nutrients and pollution 6: Pesticides and antibiotics: use and misuse 7: Industry, mining and urbanization 8: Not only Chernobyl 9: Neglect of land 10: Post-Soviet Agriculture - towards sustainability 11: Appendix: The Agricultural Regions of the former USSR
