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Books in Agricultural and biological sciences

The Agricultural and Biological Sciences collection advances science-based knowledge for the improvement of animal and plant life and for secure food systems that produce nutritious, novel, sustainable foods with minimal environmental impact. Food Science titles include not only those products from agriculture but all other aspects from food production to nutrition, health and safety, chemistry to security, policy, law and regulation. Biological Sciences address animal behaviour and biodiversity, organismal and evolutionary biology, entomology, marine biology and aquaculture, plant science and forestry.

  • Strigolactones

    Synthesis, Application and Role in Plants
    • 1st Edition
    • Gausiya Bashri + 2 more
    • English
    Strigolactones: Synthesis, Application and Role in Plants presents the current state of the science for this recently discovered class of plant hormones, offering foundational insights. The book covers the structure of natural and synthetic SLs, synthesis, transport, signaling, and their application, role in the growth and development of plants like seed germination, root growth, and stem branching plant architecture. Further, the crosstalk of SLs with other plant hormones and signaling molecules are discussed. Finally, the role of SLs in plant defense systems, particularly in biotic and abiotic stresses, heavy metals, salt, temperature, radiation, pesticide drought, and flood stress on plants.Concluding with the latest discoveries, future perspectives, and challenges in plant biology, this book will be a valuable reference for those in plant and agricultural sciences.
  • Nanofertilizer Synthesis: Methods and Types

    • 1st Edition
    • Kamel A. Abd-Elsalam
    • English
    Nanofertilizer Synthesis: Methods and Types discusses the production of a variety of nano-fertilizers, including biological, chemical, and mechanical types. The book presents the latest information, highlights the benefits and impacts of each, and provides a single-volume resource to help effectively and efficiently identify options based on use-case. Exploring the topic from the various mechanistic types to the relevant regulatory, safety, and economic aspects, this volume will be appropriate for those working with and researching new nano-fertilizers which aid in nutrition control by increasing nutrient consumption efficiency as nutrients are bonded to nano-dimensional adsorbents, which in turn release nutrients considerably more slowly than traditional fertilizers. As the nano-fertilizer sector advances, one approach is to concentrate on macro elements (N, P, K), as switching to nano-fertilizers may result in significant environmental benefits by replacing the majority of these nutrients. Furthermore, the biosynthesis of nanomaterials employing bacteria, algae, yeast, fungus, actinomycetes, and plants has opened up a new field of study for the creation of inorganic nanoparticles as environmentally benign fertilizers. Because of the several-fold increase in the surface-to-volume ratio of nano-forms of nutrients, and their appropriateness for foliar application, where environmental losses are further decreased, nano-fertilizers may achieve higher efficiency.
  • Sustainable Agricultural Practices

    • 1st Edition
    • Ajay Kumar + 2 more
    • English
    Sustainable Agricultural Practices, a volume in the Plant and Soil Microbiome series, presents foundational information into the successful utilization of different biocontrol agents (especially bacteria and fungi actinomycetes) under field conditions which can help relieve the pressure of overexploitation of synthetic pesticides in agriculture.The need for sustainable advancement in agriculture practices continues to increase. Traditionally, achieving optimum yields of crops has meant farmers continuously using large amounts of chemical fertilizers or pesticides, but the indiscriminate use of these pesticides has adversely affected the environment, nontarget microorganisms, soil textures, and human health. As many microorganisms, including nitrogen-fixing bacteria and cyanobacteria, can be used as bioinoculants, they offer opportunities not only to enhance the crop productivity but also to maintain the natural properties of agricultural soils.Sustainable Agricultural Practices explores the multifaceted benefits derived from varieties of microorganisms existing in different components of the ecosystem, many of which could potentially be employed as probiotics for improved human and livestock health.Researchers seeking to expand their understanding of related fields and students seeking foundational concept coverage will find this volume valuable.
  • Organic Agriculture and Biodiversity in China

    • 1st Edition
    • Xiao Han + 1 more
    • English
    Organic Agriculture and Biodiversity in China provides a comprehensive introduction to the development of organic agriculture in China, covering its origins, government policies, management and institutional systems, and socio-economic benefits. It also provides insights into China's policies on biodiversity conservation and the implementation of biodiversity conventions. Through the use of case studies, the book showcases the role and effectiveness of organic agriculture in conserving biodiversity. Additionally, it presents an outlook on the future development of organic agriculture and biodiversity conservation in China. Written by experts from the Nanjing Institute of Environmental Science, Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE), Jiangsu Vocational College of Agriculture and Forestry, Hebei University of Engineering, and other esteemed institutions, this book explores the role that organic agriculture plays in protecting biodiversity and how the government can support or hinder organic agriculture. Through the utilization of in-depth interviews with farmers and government agencies, field surveying, and literature review, the book critically reviews novel research to provide a systematic comparison of biodiversity between organic and conventional agriculture. Organic Agriculture and Biodiversity in China is an important resource for researchers, students, policymakers, and the general public seeking to understand the environmental impact of organic agriculture.
  • The Lateralized Brain

    The Neuroscience and Evolution of Hemispheric Asymmetries
    • 2nd Edition
    • Sebastian Ocklenburg + 1 more
    • English
    The second edition of The Lateralized Brain: The Neuroscience and Evolution of Hemispheric Asymmetries provides for readers a volume detailing the functional and structural differences between the left and right hemispheres of the brain, highlighting how the widespread use of modern neuroimaging techniques such as fMRI and DTI have completely changed the way hemispheric asymmetries are currently investigated.In this new edition, all chapters have been updated with recent advances in the field, and a new chapter on hemispheric asymmetries in development and aging has been integrated. Also featured is a new, larger section on laterality in social behavior, alongside a comprehensive overview about key topics in laterality research, including its history, evolutionary perspectives, brain structure, and the role of the corpus callosum. Chapters cover functional hemispheric asymmetries in language processing, motor behavior, spatial attention, self- and face-perception, emotion processing, and social behavior. Additional topics include the ontogenesis of hemispheric asymmetries and their development over the life span, as well as sex differences and associations with clinical syndromes. This volume can be used by anyone working on hemispheric biology or in courses on hemispheric asymmetries.
  • Biocontrol Agents for Improved Agriculture

    • 1st Edition
    • Ajay Kumar + 3 more
    • English
    Biocontrol Agents for Improved Agriculture, a volume in the Plant and Soil Microbiome series, presents both an advanced and current description of the important role of plant and soil microbiome in plant disease management. Including the latest biotechnological interventions for harnessing plant and soil microbiome and their potential in controlling plant pathogen/ disease, as well as the commercialization of biocontrol products and exploration of microbial derived bioactive compounds, this book provides an important reference on the challenges of biocontrol products. Sections explore the bacterial and fungal species successfully applied as plant and soil inoculant for the effective management of plant diseases. As these microbial biocontrol agents not only suppress the plant disease, but also enhance the growth or agricultural production in sustainable ways, the book focuses on the molecular aspect of plant- pathogen interactions and their biocontrol strategies via the use of plant and soil microbiome. This book is an important reference for those seeking sustainable, safe options for protecting against microbial agricultural loss and environmental damage.
  • Fundamentals of Weed Science

    • 6th Edition
    • Robert L Zimdahl + 1 more
    • English
    Fundamentals of Weed Science, Sixth Edition, places weed management in the context of weed research and science, presenting the latest advances in the role, control, and potential uses of weed plants. This book uses an ecological framework to explore the role of responsible and effective weed control in agriculture from the emergence and genetic foundation of weeds to the latest means of control and environmental effects.Fully revised, updated, and expanded, Fundamentals of Weed Science now includes insights into international trad eand consumer preferences, weed seedbanks, advancements in robotic weeding, weed flaming, and the potential of precision agriculture in weed science.
  • Advances in Agronomy

    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 184
    • English
    Advances in Agronomy, Volume 184, the latest release in this leading reference on agronomy, contains a variety of updates and highlights new advances in the field. Each chapter is written by an international board of authors, with this new release including new chapters on The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Crop Improvement, Dealing with the Impact of Climate Change-Induced Drought on the Management of Soil, Challenges and Emerging Opportunities of Weed Management in Organic Agriculture, The Broadbalk Wheat Experiment, Rothamsted, UK: Crop Yields and Soil Changes During the Last 50 Years.
  • Development of Gluten-Free Pasta

    • 1st Edition
    • Amir Gull + 2 more
    • English
    Development of Gluten-Free Pasta summarizes current progress in the development of gluten-free (GF) products, focusing particularly on pasta products. Presented in 11 chapters, the book focuses on the role of prebiotic fiber, hydrocolloids, fruit and vegetable by-product pomace and the physical, microstructural, sensory, and nutritional properties of the gluten-free pasta. The science of gluten intolerance is explained as well, with all relevant literature gathered and summarized in one place. Hence, this book lays a very solid foundation for the development of GF pasta which can be exploited as an essential therapeutic tool in the prevention of celiac disease. This comprehensive reference, written by world renowned scientists who elaborate on the study of different selected additives of plant origin, provides immense assistance in the field of research as many areas are still unexplored in the field of cereal science & technology.
  • Microbiome-Assisted Bioremediation

    Rehabilitating Agricultural Soils
    • 1st Edition
    • Javid A. Parray + 1 more
    • English
    Microbiome-Assisted Bioremediation: Rehabilitating Agricultural Soils provides a complete reference on the opportunities, technologies, and challenges of remediating contaminated soils through use of microbial means. Environmental pollution and human exposure associated with heavy metals are attributed to anthropogenic activities such as mining, industrial wastes, and metal containing compounds in domestic and agricultural systems. Addressing the foundational aspects of microbe-based approaches, this book provides a valuable gateway resource for those entering the field, as well as providing in-depth insights into the various tools and techniques for real-world application.Microbia... remediation has appeared as a promising approach to lessen the heavy metal concentration in the environment due to their sequestration and transforming ability of xenobiotic compounds. Microbial bioremediation is an efficient, economical, and environmentally-frie... procedure that reduces the cost of the cleanup process associated with heavy and toxic metal contamination.