Front Cover; Advances in Agronomy, Volume I; Copyright Page; Contents; Contributors to Volume I; Preface; Chapter 1. Plant Growth on Saline and Alkali Soils; I. Introduction; II. Characteristics of Saline and Alkali Soils; III. Physiological Basis of Salt Tolerance; IV. Physiological Basis of Alkali Tolerance; V. How Saline and Alkali Soils Affect Plant Growth; VI. Salt Tolerance as Related to the Life Cycle of the Plant; VII. Specificity in Salt Tolerance; References; Chapter 2. New Fertilizers and Fertilizer Practices; I. Introduction; II. New and Improved Fertilizer Materials.

III. Recent Developments in Fertilizer UseReferences; Chapter 3. Soybeans; I. Introduction; II. Production and Distribution; III. Disposition and Utilization; IV. Physiology of the Soybean Plant; V. Effect of Climate and Location; VI. Effect of Cultural Practices; VII. Genetics and Cytology; VIII. Variety Improvement; IX. Effect on Soils; X. Disease and Insect Pests; XI. The Regional Approach to Soybean Research; References; Chapter 4. The Clay Minerals in Soils; I. Introduction; II. Historical Development of Clay Mineralogy; III. Crystal Structure of the Clay Minerals in Soil Clays.

IV. Qualitative Identification and Quantitative Estimation of the Clay MineralsV. Distribution of the Clay Minerals in Soils; VI. The Configuration of the Clay Mineral Crystals as Related to their Properties; VII. The Physicochemical Reactions of the Clay Minerals; VIII. Functions of the Clay Minerals; IX. Conclusions; References; Chapter 5. Alfalfa Improvement; I. Introduction; II. Seed Setting and Production; III. Progress in Methods of Breeding; IV. Conquering Some Diseases; V. Summary and Conclusions; References; Chapter 6. Soil Microorganisms and Plant Roots; I. Introduction.

II. Types of Relationships between Microorganisms and Plant RootsIII. The Rhizosphere Microflora in Relation to the Growth of Higher Plants; IV. The Numbers of Microorganisms Associated with Plant Roots; V. The Kinds of Microorganisms Found on Plant Roots; VI. Modification of the Root Surface Microflora; VII. Influences of the Rhizosphere Flora on Succeeding or Associated Plants; References; Chapter 7. Weed Control; I. Introduction; II. Tillage, Cropping, and Competition in the Control of Weeds; III. Chemical Weed Control; IV. Principles of Chemical Weed Control; V. Herbicidal Action.

VI. Molecular Properties of HerbicidesVII. Emulsions and Emulsion Stabilizers; VIII. Selectivity of Herbicides; IX. The 2,4-D Herbicides; X. Uses of 2,4-D; XI. Nitro- and Chloro-substituted Phenols; XII. Oils; XIII. Other Organic and Inorganic Chemicals; XIV. Water Weed Control; XV. Herbicide Application Equipment; XVI. Drift, Volatilization, Blowing of Herbicides. Secondary and Residual Effects; XVII. Flame Cultivation; XVIII. The New Agronomy; References; Chapter 8. Boron in Soils and Crops; I. Introduction; II. Boron Determination; III. Boron Availability in Soils.