Date: Thu, 4 Nov 1993 19:15:47 -0800 (PST)
From: "Tom Hodges (moderated newsgroup)" <sustag@beta.tricity.wsu.edu>
Subject: Enclosed abstract for Sustag Network (fwd)
To: sustag-principles@twosocks.ces.ncsu.edu
Message-Id: <Pine.3.84x.9311041947.C1913-0100000@beta.tricity.wsu.edu>
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---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Thu, 4 Nov 1993 12:06:52 -0700
From: Jim Herring <jherring@sedproc.cr.usgs.gov>
To: sustag@beta.tricity.wsu.edu
Subject: Enclosed abstract for Sustag Network
Tom: I thought the enclosed abstract would be appropriate for the Sustag
Network. Please acknowledge its receipt and distribution onto the network.
Thx-Jim Herring, USGS.
The following abstract of a paper recently published in vol. 43, 1993,
of the journal Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment, p. 55-68, may
be of interest to the SUSTAG group.
for additional information please contact:
James Herring
U.S. Geological Survey, MS 939
Denver Federal Center
Denver, CO 80225
(303) 236-5559; Fax 236-0459
EMail: jherring@sedproc.cr.usgs.gov
GEOLOGIC RESEARCH IN SUPPORT OF SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE
ABSTRACT
The importance and role of the geoscienceinclude such traditional research
areas as agromineral resource assessments, the mapping and classification
of soils and soil amendments, and the evaluation of landscapes for their
vulnerability to physical and chemical degradation. Less traditional areas
of study, that are increasing in
societal importance because of environmental concerns and research into
sustainable systems in general, include regional geochemical studies of
plant and animal trace element deficiencies and toxicities, broad-
scale water quality investigations, agricultural chemicals and the
hydrogeologic interface, and minimally processed and ion-exchange
agrominerals. We discuss the importance and future of phosphate in the
US and world based on human population growth, projected agromineral
demands in general, and the unavailability of new, high-quality
agricultural lands. We also present examples of studies that relate
geochemistry and the hydrogeologic characteristics of a region to the
bioavailability and cycling of trace elements important to sustainable
agricultural systems.