Modern agriculture is an exact science, with numerous models developed to best manage crops. Most plants are limited in growth by nitrogen, but this can be eliminated with fertilization. However, how much should be applied to maximize crop yield but minimize wasted cost, energy expenditure and environmental damage is somewhat of an inexact science.

Ma et al. have compiled the latest developments in modeling plant nitrogen uptake. Through 13 chapters the contributing authors cover topics from the rhizosphere and roots to mycorrhizae and Michaelis-Menten kinetics. Each chapter is straight to the point and focuses on a different model and crop, which is useful as an introduction to each model as well as insightful into specific crop behaviour. A good overview of model structure is provided for each model, and most are tested against data.

The book is, however, put together a bit piece-meal, – the selection of models and crops seems random at times, and there is no unified, robust model tested against all of the data presented in the chapters. There is redundancy in the chapter introductions (justification of why plant nitrogen uptake is important). Many of the models are empirically designed for one specific crop. Still other models are too complex to parameterize or simply not believable.

Nonetheless, for anyone interested in modeling plant nitrogen uptake, this should be the first source to go to for a solid overview of quantifying and understanding plant nitrogen uptake for systems modeling.