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Books in Agricultural science

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Agricultural Ecology and Environment

  • 1st Edition
  • December 2, 2012
  • B.R. Stinner + 2 more
  • English
  • eBook
    9 7 8 - 0 - 4 4 4 - 5 9 7 9 5 - 3
The increased use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides in crop production has adversely affected both the environment and the agricultural economy. Not only has it led to environmental pollution, but also the increasing costs of chemical inputs and the low prices received for agricultural products have contributed to economic unprofitability and instability.The International Symposium on Agricultural Ecology and Environment was organised in order to discuss ways of achieving the goals of economically and environmentally sustainable agriculture. It is apparent that a truly multidisciplinary effort is required and for this reason the meeting was attended by authors from many different disciplines and geographical locations. Although their papers reflect a wide diversity of agroecosystem types and examples, several common themes emerge: the increased importance of biotic control of ecosystem processes in lower input systems; the key role of soil organic matter in stabilizing nutrient cycling; the importance of agricultural landscape diversity and complexity; the importance of studying ecological processes in natural and agricultural ecosystems; the critical need to integrate socio-economic and ecological approaches.

Energy in Farm Production

  • 1st Edition
  • December 2, 2012
  • R.C. Fluck
  • English
  • eBook
    9 7 8 - 0 - 4 4 4 - 5 9 7 8 1 - 6
This last volume of the Energy in World Agriculture series is in many ways the series' Alpha and its Omega. It addresses the broad issues related to the use of energy in agricultural production, and also characterizes and quantifies the energy involvements of many agricultural production technologies. It is a compilation of descriptive and analytical information and design principles and data of energy use in this field. A significant aspect is the relationship between energy and agricultural productivity, increased knowledge and resulting improved management of energy-consuming operations on the farm. Information provided here has not been published elsewhere before. Throughout the book are examples of the important role that energy inputs have played in increasing productivity of the world's agricultural systems. Together with a revived interest in energy for agricultural production due to increases in energy costs, this volume meets that interest with valuable information and insights.

Biotic Interactions and Soil-Borne Diseases

  • 1st Edition
  • Volume 23
  • December 2, 2012
  • A.B.R. Beemster + 5 more
  • English
  • eBook
    9 7 8 - 0 - 4 4 4 - 5 9 9 2 5 - 4
This volume contains a collection of all the papers presented at the founding conference of the European Foundation for Plant Pathology, held from 26th February to 2nd March 1990 at Wageningen, The Netherlands. It focusses on the theme of "Biotic Interactions and Soil-Borne Diseases", on which there are contributions from leading European scientists in the field of soil-borne diseases. Ways of exploiting biotic processes and phenomena which result in plant production harmless to the environment are explored.

Agriculture in Dry Lands

  • 1st Edition
  • Volume 26
  • December 2, 2012
  • I. Arnon
  • English
  • eBook
    9 7 8 - 0 - 4 4 4 - 5 9 9 5 6 - 8
Throughout history, man has, by over-use, consistently reduced the productive capacity of dry lands. This degradation of one-third of the land area of the globe is, unfortunately, increasing. In recent years, world interest has turned to the problems of pollution of the environment and the impending food shortage as world population grows explosively. Thus the attention of international and other agricultural bodies has turned to the need for preserving and developing more effectively the agricultural potential of these areas.This book provides a comprehensive review of present knowledge of the agriculture of dry lands, with special emphasis on measures for conserving their natural resources. Management practices are described which aim at optimizing productivity of rainfed and irrigated agriculture without adverse effects on sustainability. Land use in the dry regions, and its evolution throughout history is described and analysed, and the lessons to be learnt from destructive technologies are stressed. In particular, current proposals for an alternative agriculture are discussed and their justification is questioned. This is a generalist work, which specialists can also find interesting, not only in their own discipline but as a concise way of acquainting themselves with the state-of-the-art in associated fields. Increasing specialisation with each discipline using its own vocabulary leads inevitably to communication problems, and the need for multi-disciplinary teams makes inter-discipline communication indispensible.

Plant Roots and Their Environment

  • 1st Edition
  • Volume 24
  • December 2, 2012
  • B.L. McMichael + 1 more
  • English
  • eBook
    9 7 8 - 0 - 4 4 4 - 5 9 8 4 2 - 4
Scientists, within a wide field, ranging from applied forestry and agriculture to physiology, ecology and the environmental sciences, are today more than ever involved in root and mycorrhizal research. New problem-oriented research fields have arisen such as the effects of fertilizers and pesticides, forest management and regeneration etc. At a time when root research is expanding into different areas, it is much more difficult for the root scientist to penetrate all the new information appearing in literature.The contributors of this volume are leading scientists from different fields of root research. The ISRR-symposium in Uppsala clearly demonstrated that there are new techniques in progress, in particular with regards to video recording of plant root systems and digital image processing. The main objectives of the symposium were (i) to provide a forum for communication between scientists from different disciplines working with root research problems, (ii) to contribute to an expansion of root studies into new areas, (iii) to use current estimates of root turnover for charting the upper and lower limit of below-ground production, and (iv) to spread knowledge of new findings and techniques of the importance of root research.This book is aimed at serving as a vehicle for improving the coherence of root research, for harmonizing methods and establishing overall objectives and gaps in the knowledge of rhizosphere dynamics.

Kuwaiti Plants

  • 1st Edition
  • Volume 2
  • December 2, 2012
  • B.S. Middleditch
  • A.M. Amer
  • English
  • eBook
    9 7 8 - 0 - 4 4 4 - 5 9 8 4 9 - 3
The people of Kuwait have in the past depended almost entirely on the sea trade giving its boat builders and sailors a good reputation. Plants in Kuwait were valued only as forage and fodder and for subsistence-level farming.Although oil was discovered in 1938, production of oil did not commence until after the second world war. Coupled with recent unrest in the region, extensive damage has been caused to many of Kuwait's plants and a good review of information on them became necessary. The book contains information on all of the dicothyledonous plants (except the Compositae) known to grow in Kuwait. Many of the species of plants are reviewed in their traditional uses in Kuwait and elsewhere. Extensive searches of scientific literature were carried out on phytochemistry, pharmacology, contemporary economic value of the plants. Brief notes are also provided on the utility of related species. The distribution of the 118 species covered is illustrated on maps of Kuwait and the Middle East.

Structure and Functioning of Seminatural Meadows

  • 1st Edition
  • Volume 27
  • December 2, 2012
  • M. Rychnovská
  • English
  • eBook
    9 7 8 - 0 - 4 4 4 - 5 9 9 6 4 - 3
Twelve years' analysis of natural grassland and experimentally managed meadows have produced this unique set of data on the structures and physiological functions of primary producers, consumers and decomposers. Obtained during the 1973-1985 Ecosystem Study on Highland Meadows in Czechoslovakia, such original information is rare in scientific literature. The aim of the study was to define the functioning of these grasslands and their changes under different impact of man, and to examine the ecological function of those ecosystems in the intensively managed catchment area. Hence, this book contains deep analyses of soil microorganisms, their functions in decomposition and soil forming processes - leading to the evaluation of the whole carbon cycle - as well as dealing with nitrogen pathways in the experimental plots - resulting in precise determination of the full nitrogen cycle. Procedures used in practical agriculture, such as cutting, fertilization and renovation, have also been applied, producing evaluations from both ecological and economical view-points.The book's integrated ecosystem approach to grasslands, its deep professional analyses in each section, along with the synthesis on each particular level and across all levels, renders it an invaluable, informative text, comprising extensive figures and tables and a substantial bibliography of world-wide sources.

Dolichopodidae-Platypezidae

  • 1st Edition
  • December 2, 2012
  • Bozzano G Luisa
  • English
  • eBook
    9 7 8 - 0 - 4 4 4 - 5 9 9 9 4 - 0
Catalogue of Palaearctic Diptera, Volume 7: Dolichopodidae-Platypezidae offers information on family Dolichopodidae and family Platypezidae, including type-species designation, authors, and proposed names. The catalogue first elaborates on family Dolichopodidae, including subfamily Sciapodinae, Rhaphiinae, Peloropeodinae, Diaphorinae, Hydrophorinae, and Peloropeodinae. The book then examines family Lonchopteridae and family Phoridae. Topics include Dohrniphora, Megaselia, Chaetopleurophora, Gymnophora, Beckerina, and Aenigmatias. The book takes a look at family Opetiidae and family Platypezidae, as well as subfamily Microsaniinae, subfamily Callomyiinae, and subfamily Platypezinae. The catalogue is a valuable source of information for researchers interested in family Dolichopodidae and family Platypezidae.

Handbook of Energy for World Agriculture

  • 1st Edition
  • December 2, 2012
  • B.A. Stout
  • English
  • eBook
    9 7 8 - 0 - 4 4 4 - 5 9 8 5 4 - 7
Adequate food supplies and a reasonable quality of life require energy - both in commercial and non-commercial forms. This handbook is intended as a reference for individuals who want a comprehensive overview of energy for agriculture, many of whom are located in remote areas with limited library resources. The purpose is to put energy for agriculture in perspective by presenting numerous national and regional examples of energy usage.Since the early 1970s, world petroleum prices have fluctuated from US$3/barrel to more than US$40/barrel in 1981, and then back to one-third of the peak price today. Consequently, the rural sector depends heavily on non-commercial energy sources. Availability of such energy is highly site-specific. This handbook deals extensively with non-commercial energy - its sources, the technologies for converting energy to more useful gaseous and liquid forms, and its ultimate end-uses.Photographs, tables, line drawings and graphs are used extensively. Over 600 references are listed along with agency names and addresses for obtaining further information.

Experimental Morphogenesis and Integration of Plants

  • 1st Edition
  • Volume 18
  • November 21, 2012
  • J. Sebanek + 5 more
  • English
  • eBook
    9 7 8 - 0 - 4 4 4 - 5 9 9 5 1 - 3
In 1983, the book ``Experimental Plant Morphology'' was written in Czech by the above named authors. Widespread interest in the publication outside Czechoslovakia encouraged the authors to prepare this new English edition, ``Experimental Morphogenesis and Integration of Plants''. It is more than a mere translation of the original: the contents have been extended and further aspects of structural integrity and regulation in plants have been included, especially on the molecular, cellular and tissue level. The overall concept of the book is new and has been supplemented with the latest information on the subject.It aims to inform the scientific public, of current studies on morphogenesis and structural integration in plants. In addition, this book will show the possible way of regulating morphogenesis and structural integrity in plants with regard to the practical needs of agriculture, horticulture and silviculture.

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