Preface by L.D. Swindale.- List of Contributors.- Part I. Historical Review and Global Concerns: 1. Historical Significance of Nutrient Acquisition of Plant Nutrition Research -- H. Okajima. 2. Plant Nutritional Problems in Marginal Soils of Developing Countries -- P.C. Smithson and P.A. Sanchez.- Part II. Root Exudates in Nutrient Acquisition and Metal Tolerance: 3. Root Exudates in Phosphorus Acquisition by Plants -- P.J. Randall, J.E. Hayes, P.J. Hocking, and A.E. Richardson. 4. Interspecific Differences in the Role of Root Exudates in Phosphorus Acquisition -- T. Otani and N. Ae. 5. The Role of Mugineic Acid in Iron Acquisition: Progress in Cloning the Genes for Transgenic Rice -- S. Mori. 6. The Role of Root Exudates in Aluminium Tolerance -- E. Delhaize.- Part III. Involvement of the Cell Apoplast in Nutrient Acquisition and Metal Tolerance: 7. The Role of the Outer Surface of the Plasma Membrane in Aluminium Tolerance -- T. Wagatsuma, S. Ishikawa, and P. Ofei-Manu. 8. Adaptation Mechanisms of Upland Rice Genotypes to Highly Weathered Acid Soils of South American Savannas -- K. Okada and A.J. Fischer. 9. The Role of the Root Cell Wall in Aluminium Toxicity -- F.P.C. Blamey. 10. Boron in Plant Nutrition and Cell Wall Development -- T. Matoh. 11. The Significance of the Root Cell Wall in Phosphorus Uptake -- N. Ae, R-F. Shen, and T. Otani. 12. Structure of Plant Cell Walls and Implications for Nutrient Acquisition -- Y. Kato.- Part IV. Contribution of Soil Microorganisms and Soil Fauna: 13. Phosphate-Solubilizing Microorganisms and Their Use -- M. Leggett, S. Gleddie, and G. Holloway. 14. Management of Arbuscular Mycorrhizae Through Crop Cultivation on Various Soil Types under Fluctuating Weather Conditions in a Cool Temperate Region -- J. Arihara and T. Karasawa. 15. A New Control Method of Soybean Cyst Nematode Using Animal Feces -- K. Matsuo.- Part V. Direct Incorporation of Soil Micro and Macro Organic Molecules: 16. The Effectiveness of Nitrogen Derived from Organic Matter: Results from Long-Term Experiments -- P.R. Poulton. 17. Short-Circuiting the Nitrogen Cycle: Ecophysiological Strategies of Nitrogen Uptake in Plants from Marginal Environments -- K. Kielland. 18. Possibility of Direct Acquisition of Organic Nitrogen by Crops -- M. Yamagata, S. Matsumoto, and N. Ae. 19. Direct Uptake of Macro Organic Molecules -- N.K. Nishizawa and S. Mori.- Part VI. Practical Implications: 20. Implications of Soil-Acidity Tolerant Maize Cultivars to Increase Production in Developing Countries -- L. Narro, S. Pandey, C. De Len, F. Salazar, and M.P.Arias. 21. A Marker-Based Approach to Improve Nutrient Acquisition in Rice (Oryza sativa L.) -- M. Wissuwa. 22.Nutrient Acquisition and Management in Cropping Systems: Research and Strategies -- J. Arihara and S. Ancha.- Subject Index.- Epilogue by N. Ae, J. Arihara, and S. Ancha.