This book comprises 31 chapters on advances in soil-plant systems for improving nutrient use efficiency with four major themes viz. 1. Introduction and Fundamentals of Soil Plant Atmosphere Continuum and nutrient use efficiency 2. Soil physical, chemical, biological and agronomic management for improving NUE 3. Plant physiological, genetic & molecular biological basis for improving nutrient uptake & use efficiency 4. Climate change aspects related to soil and plant systems for improving NUE. Besides the book also include few chapters on analytical techniques and instrumentation for the study of nutrient use efficiency with respect to physico-chemical and biological parameters.

In the present work, the authors have endeavored to bring out the information on various characteristics of morphological, taxonomical, economical importance of floriculture and landscaping in glossary format with illustrations and photographs. The book will prove useful to the students and researchers in horticulture, landscapists and botanists as it is for the first time that such information has been placed under a single roof.

The Produce Contamination Problem: Causes and Solutions, Third Edition is a fully revised resource on preventative controls at all stages of handling, including the use of new technologies for the inactivation of pathogens in both water and commodity. The book begins with an analysis of the contamination problem to identify novel research designed to understand the interaction of human pathogens. Outbreak characteristics vulnerable to contamination are discussed, along with global issues surrounding production. This new edition includes updates on regulatory issues and the newest advances in technologies for the detection of pathogens, whole genome sequencing, and utility in test and hold programs.

Understanding the basic principles of agronomy is as much important as that of knowing the latest developments scenario in the field of agriculture. It is strenuous strive to keep pace with the progress of such a vast subject like Agronomy which is in practice throughout the globe. The book is divided in to 15 chapters and which covers comprehensively the syllabus of the principles of agronomy.

Soil is the natural medium for the growth of plants and it is doubtful that soilless agriculture will ever be a cost effective alternative for the production of the bulk of the food and fiber needed. For at least the foreseeable future the world will continue to rely on soil for agriculture. It is therefore essential that the soil is kept healthy. The present book "Managing Soil Health for Maximising Crop Productivity" has 10 chapters with a bibliography. There is a outline of the role of cover crops, mulching and conservation tillage as forms of agriculture that can help reduce soil erosion. This compilation would be a ready reference and perfect guide to all those in the profession of teaching soil science, agronomy, environ-mentalists, policy planners, students and the farmers in general.

This book focuses on different practices of Integrated Farming System in and for scaling up the technology for community need. It provides a detailed account of principles, challenges and opportunities in simpler yet compact manner for better understanding of the researchers and policy makers.

This book is intended to cover all known abiotic stresses and their effects on the various aspects physiological processes in plants. The first chapter deals with introduction and the introductory remarks on abiotic stress and overall effects of different factors on crop. Second chapter deals with aspects of seed germination, seedling growth and root development under stressful condition for different factors of abiotic stress. Third chapter is a contributory chapter and deals with different aspects of biological nitrogen fixation under abiotic stress. Fourth chapter deals with growth, development and phenology of crop plants under environmental stress condition. Various aspects of photosynthesis under abiotic stress have been discussed in the fifth chapter. Mineral nutrition under abiotic stress condition and roles of different nutrient to overcome abiotic stress has been discussed in Sixth chapter. Seventh chapter discussions have been provided regarding transgenic approach to enhance drought tolerance and it is a contributory chapter. Eighth chapter is about the effects of different factors of abiotic stress on respiration processes of plant have been discussed. These review chapters addresses how knowledge of the physiological mechanisms of crops can improve crop yield. The study of crop physiology can assist cereal breeding by: i) improving our understanding of the factors that determine crop yield and adaptation through the syncretic concept of ideotype and, consequently, improve crop simulation models; ii) defining particular "secondary" traits to select (analytical breeding) when choosing: iii) indicating the kind of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) with potential for development and how to test them; and iv) phenotyping associated with marker-assisted selection.

The book entitled "Agroforestry for Increased Production and Livelihood Security" would help in understanding the issues and options for small and marginal land holders and ensuring their livelihood through agroforestry. The contributors of the manuscripts have vast working experience in different aspects of agroforestry and from different agro-ecological situations. This compilation would be a ready reference and perfect guide to all those in the profession of teaching agroforestry, environmentalists, policy planners, students and the farmers in general. This book can be used as supplementary reading material in graduate and post graduate courses of forestry, agroforestry and allied biological sciences. This voluminous compilation is likely to boost the cause of development and promotion of usage of agroforestry and encouraging the farmers to take up agroforestry as a sound land use to earn their livelihood.

Postharvest Technology of Perishable Horticultural Commodities describes all the postharvest techniques and technologies available to handle perishable horticultural food commodities. It includes basic concepts and important new advances in the subject. Adopting a thematic style, chapters are organized by type of treatment, with sections devoted to postharvest risk factors and their amelioration. Written by experts from around the world, the book provides core insights into identifying and utilizing appropriate postharvest options for maximum results.

The book has been written covering major aspect of field crop diseases. o Each chapter has further been divided into sub-heads such as introduction and economic importance, symptoms on different parts, causal organism, disease cycle and favorable conditions. o Symptoms of important diseases have been illustrated with colored photographs which will help in their correct and easy diagnosis. o Management practices including, cultural, physical, biological, host resistance leading to integrated disease management. This book will serve immensely for teachers and students in the field of plant pathology.

This collection features three peer-reviewed literature reviews on pesticide residues in agriculture. The first chapter outlines the ways in which pesticide use can lead to increased pest problems, such as pest resurgence and replacement, and the development of pesticide resistance. The chapter examines current strategies for mitigating the impacts of pesticides and refers to a detailed case study on the diamondback moth (DBM) to demonstrate the practical application of these strategies. The second chapter explores the threat of pesticide poisoning to human health, either via deliberate self-poisoning or via occupational exposure. It discusses how best to monitor exposure to pesticides, as well as how to minimize the human health risks that may arise as a result of their use/exposure. The authors refer to a case study on smallholder cotton farmers in the Republic of Benin to emphasise the global pesticide poisoning crisis. The final chapter reviews the environmental impacts of pesticide use in agriculture, focussing on their contribution to global human and ecological health issues. It provides an overview of how pesticides are currently addressed in emission inventory and impact assessment, and discusses the relevance of spatiotemporal variability in modelling emissions and the toxicity and ecotoxicity impacts of pesticides.

The book presents complicated statistical equations and formulae in the form of easily understandable text and simple formulae, so that large data gathered through the field experimentation could be properly analyzed and correct inferences may be drawn from it. The present book has been divided into seven chapters. First two chapters deal with the development of biometrics and basic statistics because biometrics cannot be understood properly without having knowledge of basic statistics. The third chapter deals with assessment of variability in a population which can be determined through different methods like D square statistics, Euclidean cluster analysis and meteroglyph analysis, however, range, standard deviation, variance and coefficient of variation are simpler statistics for assessment of variability. Fourth chapter deals with breeding methods which include selection process, heritability, and selection index. Fifth chapter deals with aids in selection and include important topics like correlation, path analysis, regression analysis, cluster analysis, PCA and discriminant function analysis. Sixth chapter deals with aids in selection which include diallel analysis and generation mean analysis. Seventh chapter is varietal adaptation which includes stability analysis of a variety.

Drought is considered to be a normal feature of climate especially in tropical countries where occurrence of periods of dry weather during rainy season is common. Virtually droughts can occur in all climates and they can also be witnessed when the air temperatures are higher than the normal for a longer period that increases both evaporation and water deficit. 1. The first deals with the introduction to the topic, historical evidences of drought and famines in India. 2. The definition of droughts, criteria for classification of droughts, drought indices based on rainfall, climate derivatives and remote sensing are covered under two. 3. Information on climate change with respects to climate trends, projections on temperature and rainfall at global as well at national level, consequences of climate change on droughts are presented in there. 4. Approaches on drought monitoring, adopted by various countries, international cooperation in drought monitoring and drought monitoring mechanism in India are presented in four. Decision Support Systems and applications of GIS for drought monitoring are also covered in this . 5. World food production and its variability, the impact of phenomenal drought during 2009 on food grain production in different countries, impacts of droughts on livestock, milk and fisheries production are covered under five. 6. Global surface waters, availability of surface waters in India, influence of drought on fauna and flora of surface waters and global warming on water resources at global and national level is discussed in - six. 7. Drought management strategies, drought planning and preparedness action plans at global as well at national level, indigenous knowledge on drought management, astrological techniques in weather forecasting and traditional wisdom on management of droughts in different nomadic communities in Asia and Africa are covered in seven. eight carries the conclusion of the entire book. Book will be useful to the students and research scholars of Agrometeorology, Meteorology and Geography and all Research Scientists dealing with NRM.

Biochemical methods are used in all branches of biological science including agriculture. Biochemical aspect is an integral part of plant physiology and this aspect is used to explain nearly all the phenomenon of physiological aspect of plant and/or crop. Technology and Methods for Biochemical Aspects of Plant Physiology is mainly intended for Post Graduate students and Researchers of Universities and of different Research Institutes. As it covers a broad range of subjects on the basic as well as the practical aspects of biochemical part of Plant Physiology, it is likely that it will be also useful for any student attending different theoretical or practical Plant Physiology as well as Biochemistry courses

Changing Climate and Resource Use Efficiency in Plants reviews the efficiencies for resource use by crop plants under different climatic conditions. This book focuses on the challenges and potential remediation methods for a variety of resource factors. Chapters deal with the effects of different climatic conditions on agriculture, radiation use efficiency under various climatic conditions, the efficiency of water and its impact on harvest production under restricted soil moisture conditions, nitrogen and phosphorus use efficiency, nitrogen use efficiency in different environmental conditions under the influence of climate change, and various aspects of improving phosphorus use efficiency. The book provides guidance for researchers engaged in plant science studies, particularly Plant/Crop Physiology, Agronomy, Plant Breeding and Molecular Breeding. In addition, it provides valuable insights for policymakers, administrators, plant-based companies and agribusiness companies.

Analytical Methods for Agricultural Contaminants provides proven laboratory practices and methods necessary to control contaminants and residues in food and water. This reference provides insight into good laboratory practices and examples of methods used in individual specialist laboratories, thus enabling stakeholders in the agri-food industry to appreciate the importance of proven, reliable data and the associated quality assurance approaches for end product testing for toxic levels of contaminants and contaminant residues in food. The book offers standard operating procedures and tools for researchers, practitioners and students to confidently engage in using research methods with the aim to control contaminants. Users in a laboratory setting will find this to be a practical and useful reference on how to detect and control agricultural contaminants for a safe food supply.

The first few s introduces the reader to the crop, its origin and distribution, varieties cultivated throughout the country and their characteristics. Later the trade of banana, both international and domestic, is explained along with the ways the fruit is consumed in different parts of the world. A exclusively deals with the nutritive and therapeutic values of banana followed by the post harvest aspects at length in seven s with all the latest scientific developments. The last three s explain about the processing and value addition including the waste/by-products utilization. The readers will find it comprehensive with all the information relevant to post harvest aspects of bananas and plantains.

Fruit Breeding is an art and science demanding prolonged time, space and intrinsic qualities. Seed propagation leads to heterogeneity and asexual propagation of elite clones' leads to newer and novel types. There are temperate, sub-tropical and tropical fruits differing in photo and thermo periodic requirements. There are also parthenocarpic and apomictic fruit trees demanding special breeding methods for improvement. Aroma, taste and flavor are unique to fruits unlike other horticultural crops like vegetables, spices, plantation crops and tubers. The book unravels history of fruit breeding, biodiversity, challenges approaches and prospects, apomixes, mutation breeding, role of insects in fruit production, molecular markers, statistical techniques, rootstock breeding, breeding of mango, citrus, banana, papaya, guava, sapota, jackfruit, sugarapple/sweetsop Indian jujube and jamun. The 20 s in the book authored by 15 scientists from six Research Institutes and Universities expose readers to a new world of fruit breeding, very seldom ventured by breeders.

Concise Oxford Dictionary defines Resilience as recoiling; springing back; resuming its original shape after bending, stretching, compression etc. With five components of crop production -space, water, energy, light, nutrients- limiting, there are stresses on crops to perform at threshold input yielding optimum output. Droughts and floods, cold and heat waves, forest fires, landslides and mud slips, ice storms, dust storms, hailstorms, thunder clouds associated with lightening and sea level rise are throwing new challenges to farming. This dangerously narrow level of food base prompts to widen the base of grains, vegetables, fruits, spices, industrial crops, mushrooms and aromatic plants. The emphasis so far was more on terrestrial plants, forest plants and lesser on lower plants. The aquatic plants-fresh water, brackish water, marine- were not much explored for edible use except by Chinese and Japanese. Halophytes, bryophytes, ferns and sea weeds are so far climate resilient. The Indo-Burmese Centre of origin (Hindustan centre including North East) is abode of several plants of possible vegetable, fruit and spicy value. The New Life styles consequent to migration for employment have brought newer food and dietary patterns. The urbanization and smaller family size are leading to pre-cooked foods and visitation to restaurants. s on bryophytes, halophytes, microalgae, chasmophytes, pseudocereals, medicinal mushrooms, speciality mushrooms, palmyrah palms, bramakamal, tropical tuber crops, dragon fruits, broad dhaniya, plants for dyes, kale and ornamental ginger are authored by eminent working scientists from 21 Universities and Research Institutes in Japan and India. The crops for the future especially climate resilient are to be identified and promoted in an emerging production scenario of new life style foods and convenient speciality foods getting attention by the new generation. The present book Climate Resilient Crops for the Future carries 17 s authored by men of eminence in respective areas concerning to the above areas.

The application of machines and better power sources to enhance agricultural production has been one of the most significant developments in agriculture. Mechanization of agriculture is needed for development and optimal utilization of natural resources leading to higher productivity and reduced cost of production for greater profitability, economic competitiveness and sustainability. Mechanization also imparts capacity to the farmers to carry out farm operations with dignity, comfort and freedom from drudgery, making the farming agreeable vocation for educated youth as well. It helps the farmers to achieve timeliness in farm operations and apply costly input with reduced quantity for better efficacy and efficiency. Small and marginal farmers can now make use of high capacity agricultural machines on custom hire basis. The results of this development can be seen in many aspects such as increase in productivity and production per worker, precision in application of crop inputs, increase in cropping intensity due to timeliness of operations, increase in the quality of produce, reduction in grain losses and increase in farm employment. Mechanization is particularly advantageous when it can minimize a high peak labour demand that occurs over a relatively short period of time each year. Mechanization also encourages better management of farm inputs, improvement in working conditions and performance of jobs that would otherwise be difficult by hand. It also helps in reducing the cost of production. This book 'Mechanization of Cultivated Crops' covers the farm tools and equipment used in different operations such as land development, tillage, seeding/planting, interculture, fertilizer application, plant protection, harvesting and threshing and residue management. The book can be referred as a textbook for the under graduate students of agriculture and under graduate and post graduate students of agricultural engineering.

The book Drip and Sprinkler Irrigation is intended as a text book of micro irrigation design and practices for the students of the agricultural sciences and the professionals and workers in the field of micro irrigation. The book discusses the type and components, hydraulics and design, installation and maintenance of micro irrigation system. It contains good number of numerical as example and task to get the students familiar to the requirements, complicacies, and possible remedies in actual working condition. In addition to conventional broad and short questions in every of the book there are multiple choice questions to assist the students in preparing the competitive examinations.