The high standard of today's agricultural practices in western countries can be attributed to the great advances achieved in agricultural sciences since the second world war. This has led to a better understanding of plant physiology and the interaction between plants and their natural cohabitants, the latter of which can be direct competitors for the available nutrients and space, or pathogenic intruders of plants (fungi, nematodes, insects, rodents).

This book presents an overview of all aspects of modern agricultural practices. Beginning with a concise historic overview of modern trends in agriculture, it leads into chapters dealing with fertilizers, herbicides, fungicides, insecticides, acaricides, nematocides, rodenticides, molluscicides, plant growth regulators, and biological control agents. In each chapter, corresponding practical and theoretical aspects are discussed, and each entry is accompanied by its chemical structure, physical properties, synthesis, agricultural use, trade names, toxicology, and its ecological significance.

The book is a valuable source of information for those involved in modern agricultural practices. The reader will find not only fast answers to both general and specific questions, but also access to the broader literature.