Dr. N. K. Fageria, Doctor of Science in agronomy, is a senior research soil scientist at the National Rice and Bean Research Center, Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuaria (EMBRAPA), since 1975. Dr. Fageria is a nationally and internationally recognized expert in the area of mineral nutrition of crop plants and a research fellow and ad hoc consultant of the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) since 1989. Dr. Fageria is the author or co-author of 12 books and more than 320 scientific journal articles, book chapters, review articles, and technical bulletins. He is a member of editorial board of the Journal of Plant Nutrition and the Brazilian Journal of Plant Physiology.

"The book is both detailed and wide-reaching in its coverage of the role of nitrogen in crop-production systems and embraces issues such as crop rotation, tillage systems and the effect of soil erosion on nitrogen within the system. …a very readable and comprehensive guide to nitrogen use in annual crops."—N. Cannon, in European Journal of Soil Science

• Functions of Nitrogen in Crop Plants. Nitrogen Losses in Soil-Plant System. Diagnostic Techniques for Nitrogen Requirements in Crop Plants. Management of Soil Organic Matter. Nitrogen Use Efficiency in Crop Plants. Nitrogen Interaction with Other Nutrients. Biological Nitrogen Fixation by Legumes. Management Practices to Improve Nitrogen Use Efficiency in Crop Plants. Index.