AGRONOMIC AND PUBLIC ASPECTS OF SOIL-NITROGEN RESEARCH

Abstract. Public perceptions of agriculture as a contributor to environmental stress are resulting in changes within agricultural production systems. Increasingly, these systems will need to be economically viable, environmentally sound, socially and politically acceptable, and conserving of natural resources‐the characteristics that describe a sustainable agriculture. Improving and maintaining agricultural production systems with these characteristics must continue to be the objectives of agricultural research. Nitrogen research has contributed markedly to meeting the production and economic goals of agriculture, but it has not yet focused enough on answering socially and politically sensitive questions. Questions are posed about the environmental effects of various nitrogen management practices and the research needed to answer them is outlined. Emphasis is put on immobilization‐mineralization as affected by use of nitrification inhibitors and split‐application, release of nitrogen from animal manures, legumes, and other crop residues, and establishing acceptable yield goals. Copyright © 1990, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved