The Ecology of Agroecosystems

The study of ecological processes that are important to agricultural production systems is called agroecology. The basic unit of study in agroecology is called an agroecosystem. It can be viewed as a subset of a conventional ecosystem and may be defined as a unit of agricultural activity that includes the living and abiotic components as well as their interactions. It embraces not only the immediate site of agricultural activity but also the region that is impacted by agriculture. Current farming practices have led to over-exploitation of water resources, reduced soil fertility and high levels of erosion. Therefore there has been a burgeoning interest in farming with agroecosystems. A major initiative in agroecology is to promote practices that decrease the distinction between natural ecosystems and agroecosystems by reducing the impact of agriculture. The book aims to shed light on some of the unexplored aspects of agroecosystems and the recent researches in agroecology. A number of latest researches have been included to keep the readers up-to-date with the global concepts in these areas of study. The extensive content of this book provides the readers with a thorough understanding of the subject.