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E-book
Author Leigh, G. J., author.

Title The world's greatest fix : a history of nitrogen and agriculture / G.J. Leigh
Published Oxford ; New York : Oxford University Press, 2004

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Description 1 online resource (x, 242 pages) : illustrations, maps
Contents Nitrogen fixation, agriculture, and the environment -- The development of agriculture -- The development of English agriculture and the recognition of the fertiliser deficit -- The discovery of nitrogen and the disappearance of alchemical nitre -- The triumph of industrial chemistry -- The continuing mystery of biological nitrogen fixation -- Nitrogen, threat or benefaction?
Summary Annotation In the tradition of Jared Diamond's Guns, Germs, and Steel, this gives the very early history of how human ingenuity overcame the risk of famine through productive agriculture. Starting with a layman's guide to the chemistry of nitrogen fixation, the book goes on to show how humans emerged from nomadic lifestyles and began developing towns and settlements. When they for the first time began planting the same fields year after year, they noticed quickly the need to ensure soil fertility. But how? The method they came up with is still in use to this day
Bibliography Includes bibliographical references (pages 221-231) and index
Notes Online resource; title from digital title page (EBSCOhost, viewed February 20, 2023)
Subject Nitrogen fertilizers -- History
TECHNOLOGY & ENGINEERING -- Agriculture -- General.
Nitrogen fertilizers
Genre/Form History
Form Electronic book
LC no. 2003021366
ISBN 1423720830
9781423720836
1280532939
9781280532931
9786610532933
6610532931
9780198037071
0198037074
0195165829
9780195165821