Plant Factory Basics, Applications, and Advances takes the reader from an overview of the need for and potential of plant factories with artificial lighting (PFALs) in enhancing food production and security to the latest advances and benefits of this agriculture environment. Edited by leading experts Toyoki Kozai, Genhua Niu, and Joseph Masabni, this book aims to provide a platform of PFAL technology and science, including ideas on its extensive business and social applications towards the next-generation PFALs. The book is presented in four parts: Introduction, Basics, Applications, and Advanced Research. Part 1 covers why PFALs are necessary for urban areas, how they can contribute to the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals, and a definition of PFAL in relation to the term "indoor vertical farm." Part 2 presents SI units and radiometric, photometric, and photonmetric quantities, types, components, and performance of LED luminaires, hydroponics and aquaponics, and plant responses to the growing environment in PFALs. Part 3 describes the indexes and definition of various productivity aspects of PFAL, provides comparisons of the productivity of the past and the present operation of any given PFALs, and compares PFALs with one another from the productivity standpoint by applying the common indexes. Part 4 describes the advances in lighting and their effects on plant growth, breeding of indoor and outdoor crops, production of fruiting vegetables and head vegetables, and concluding with a focus on a human-centered perspective of urban agriculture. Providing real-world insights and experience, Plant Factory Basics, Applications, and Advances is the ideal resource for those seeking to take the next step in understanding and applying PFAL concepts.

Agricultural biostimulants are a group of substances or microorganisms, based on natural resources, that are applied to plants or soils to improve nutrient uptake and plant growth, and provide better tolerance to various stresses. Their function is to stimulate the natural processes of plants, or to enrich the soil microbiome to improve plant growth, nutrition, abiotic and/or biotic stress tolerance, yield and quality of crop plants. Interest in plant biostimulants has been on the rise over the past 10 years, driven by the growing interest of researchers and farmers in environmentally-friendly tools for improved crop performance. Focusing on recent progress on biostimulants and their role in crop production and agricultural sustainability, this book includes: 31 chapters on a wide range of biostimulants and their role in plant growth stimulation and stress tolerance. Mechanism of actions of diverse groups of biostimulants, such as trace elements, plant and seaweed extracts, humic substances, polyamines, osmolytes, vitamins, nanoparticles and microorganisms. New promising biostimulants with novel modes of action. Improved crop production technologies are urgently needed to meet the growing demand for food for the ever-increasing global population by addressing the impacts of changing climate on agriculture. This book is of interest to researchers in agriculture, agronomy, crop and plant science, soil science and environmental science.

First published in 1958, as the third edition of a 1939 original, this book provides an account regarding the essential aspects of crop maintenance in Britain. Key technical details are discussed, including manuring, cleaning, tillage, preparing the seedbed, choosing and sowing the seed, after-cultivation, and harvesting corn and root crops. Illustrative figures are also included. This book will be of value to anyone with an interest in the development of arable farming in Britain and the history of agriculture.

Originally published in 1913, this book provides a comprehensive discussion of rubber cultivation and the rubber industry. The text was written to appeal to as wide a readership as possible, combining an accurate account of the scientific side of rubber planting with practical information for the prospective planter. Illustrative figures and a bibliography are included. This book will be of value to anyone with an interest in the rubber industry, botany and the history of science.

This book is a comprehensive and up-to-date resource covering the botany, production and uses of limes. The lime is an important fruit crop throughout citrus producing regions of the world, with its own specific benefits, culture and marketplace, but producers face issues affecting successful cultivation and production. The Lime: Botany, Production and Uses contains detailed information on: * Breeding, genetics and biodiversity of limes * Orchard establishment, management and precision agriculture * Pests and diseases, including the latest knowledge regarding current threats such as Witches' Broom Disease and Citrus Greening * Harvesting and postharvest management * Traditional and commercial uses of limes Authored by an international team of experts and presented in full colour throughout, this book is an essential resource for academic researchers and specialist extension workers, in addition to growers and producers involved in the citrus industry.

This book provides a comprehensive review of advances in breeding techniques for cereals such as wheat, barley maize and rye. Part 1 discusses ways of better exploiting genetic diversity through techniques such as trait introgression. Parts 2-3 then summarise developments in the use of doubled haploids and hybrid breeding methods. Parts 4-5 review advances in high throughput phenotyping and its use in identifying markers for breeding using techniques such as genome-wide association studies and nested association mapping.

Originally published in 1957, as number 14 in the Agricultural Research Council Report Series, this book was created in response to serious losses in brassica crop production caused by viral diseases. The text was the product of experiments and observations carried out under a wide range of conditions in various parts of Britain. Information is provided on the causes of disease and the reaction of plants to infection, together with practical methods for controlling the spread of viruses. Illustrative figures are also included. This book will be of value to anyone with an interest in the development of farming and the history of agriculture.

The cut flower and foliage industry is a global business with major production locations in North America, South America, Central America, East Africa, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Australia and New Zealand. Few other horticulture crops are as ubiquitous, yet the production techniques and challenges are universal. This book describes the main international production locations and markets, including current trends and directions. The focus is on production in protected cultivation. The major species - including rose, chrysanthemum, carnation, orchid and gerbera - dominate the global market and these are individually explored in detail. Specialty species and cut foliages are also addressed, as well as significant details of production, including irrigation and fertilization, disease and disease management, and biological control of pests. Finally, the postharvest chapter covers details of harvesting, transporting and delivering high quality flowers that provide an excellent vase life. Highly illustrated with color photos throughout, this is an essential resource for students and researchers in horticulture, growers and producers, and those in the floriculture industry.

Bio-inoculants in Horticultural Crops, Volume Three in the Advances in Bio-inoculant Sciences series, focuses on real-time application of novel microbes that have been proven to enhance and improve plant health and productivity. The book provides comprehensive information on a range of biological approaches and mechanisms for the improvement of horticultural crops being practiced in different production systems. Covering the subject from historical developments to recent advances in microbial interventions, it addresses the potential role and bio-mechanism of bio-inoculants for challenges including stress tolerance, production, commercialization, application methodology, challenges and future roadmap for sustainable production system of horticultural crops. This volume will be useful to scientists, academicians, and students of horticulture, agriculture microbiology, plant protection, and other related subjects.

First published in 1989, "Physiology of Crop Yield" was the first student textbook to digest and assimilate the many advances in crop physiology, within a framework of resource capture and use. Retaining the central core of the first edition, this long-awaited second edition draws on recent developments in areas such as phenology, canopy dynamics and crop modelling, and the concepts of sustainable crop production. A broad perspective is developed, from the gene through the plant and crop to the ecosystem, covering:

Advances in molecular biology relating to crop science
Limitation of crop yield by the supply of water or nitrogen
Global climate change and its impact on crop modelling
Physiological aspects of crop quality
A wider range of species, with emphasis on wheat, maize and soybean

This book will be a valuable tool for advanced undergraduate and postgraduate students of agricultural science, plant science, applied ecology and environmental science. It will be an essential addition to all libraries in universities and relevant research establishments.

First published in 1927 as the second edition of a 1914 original, this book examines the effect of various inorganic substances on the growth of plants. Brenchley performs experiments to prove that certain compounds then in use in artificial fertilisers, including arsenic compounds, sometimes had a deleterious effect on the plants to which they were applied in various settings. This book will be of value to anyone with an interest in the history of botany and of agriculture.

A little plant science grows a long way Plant Science for Gardeners empowers growers to analyze common problems, find solutions, and make better decisions in the garden for optimal plant health and productivity. Most gardeners learn by accumulating rules - water once a week, never dry out snowdrop bulbs, prune lilacs after flowering, plant garlic in October-the list is endless. Rules take years to learn and yet leave you floundering when the unexpected strikes and plants look unhealthy, produce poorly, or die. There is a better way. By understanding the basic biology of how plants grow, you can become a thinking gardener with the confidence to problem solve for optimized plant health and productivity. Learn the science and ditch the rules! Coverage includes: The biology of roots, stems, leaves, and flowers Understanding how plants function as whole organisms The role of nutrients and inputs Vegetables, flowers, grasses, and trees and shrubs Propagation and genetics Sidebars that explode common gardening myths Tips for evaluating plant problems and finding solutions. Whether you're a home gardener, micro-farmer, market gardener, or homesteader, this entertaining and accessible guide shortens the learning curve and gives you the knowledge to succeed no matter where you live.

The global population is projected to reach almost 10 billion by 2050, and food and feed production will need to increase by 70%. Wheat, maize and sorghum are three key cereals which provide nutrition for the majority of the world's population. Their production is affected by various abiotic stresses which cause significant yield losses. The effects of climate change also increase the frequency and severity of such abiotic stresses. Molecular breeding technologies offer real hope for improving crop yields. Although significant progress has been made over the last few years, there is still a need to bridge the large gap between yields in the most favorable and most stressful conditions. This book: - Provides a valuable resource for wheat, maize and sorghum scientists working on breeding and molecular biology, physiology and biotechnology. - Presents the latest in-depth research in the area of abiotic stress tolerance and yield improvements. - Contains the necessary information to allow plant breeders to apply this research to effectively breed new varieties of these crops. It provides a consolidated reference for plant breeders and crop scientists working on the challenges of enhanced crop productivity and climate change adaptability.

For centuries, bird guano has played a pivotal role in the agricultural and economic development of Latin America, East Asia and Oceania. As their populations ballooned during the Industrial Revolution, North American and European powers came to depend on this unique resource as well, helping them meet their ever-increasing farming needs. This book explores how the production and commodification of guano has shaped the modern Pacific Basin and the world's relationship to the region. Marrying traditional methods of historical analysis with a broad interdisciplinary approach, Gregory T. Cushman casts this once little-known commodity as an engine of Western industrialization, offering new insight into uniquely modern developments such as environmental consciousness and conservation movements; the ascendance of science, technology and expertise; international relations; and world war.

World population is forecast to grow from 7 to 9 billion by 2050, 1 in 6 is already hungry and food production must increase by 70-100% if it is to feed this growing population. No single solution will solve this problem but recent developments in the genetic technologies of plant breeding can help to increase agricultural efficiencies and save people from hunger in a sustainable manner, particularly in African nations where the need is greatest. These advances can rapidly incorporate new traits and tailor existing crops to meet new requirements and also greatly reduce the time and costs taken to improve local crop varieties. This book provides a collected, reliable, succinct review which deals expressly with the successful implementation of the new plant genetic sciences in emerging economies in the context of the interrelated key regulatory, social, ethical, political and trade matters.

This 1959 book takes as its starting point Sir George Watt's Wild and Cultivated Cotton Plants of the World published in 1907, and discusses the findings of the subsequent fifty years, updating, in the light of extensive subsequent work, the account given by Hutchinson, Silow and Stephens in The Evolution of Gossypium (1947). Sir Joseph reviews the range of the genus Gosgpium and the place in it of the four species which constitute the cotton of commerce. He traces the historical development of these species from the coarse, short, perennials grown over 4000 years ago to their more modern annuals. He describes the development of disease-resistant strains, by hybridisation of races from different parts of the world. The book constitutes a valuable account of the results which can be achieved in a relatively short time by the application of genetic and physiological studies to the problems of a commercial crop.

Including recipes for baking with Einkorn Wheat is the most widely grown crop on our planet, yet industrial breeders have transformed this ancient staff of life into a commodity of yield and profit-witness the increase in gluten intolerance and 'wheat belly'. Modern wheat depends on synthetic fertilizer and herbicides that damage our health, land, water, and environment. Fortunately, heritage 'landrace' wheats that evolved over millennia in the organic fields of traditional farms do not need bio-chemical intervention to yield bountifully, are gluten-safe, have rich flavor and high nutrition. Yet the robust, majestic wheats that nourished our ancestors are on the verge of extinction. In Restoring Heritage Grains, author Eli Rogosa of the Heritage Grain Conservancy, invites readers to restore forgotten wheats such as delicious gluten-safe einkorn that nourished the first Neolithic farmers, emmer-the grain of ancient Israel, Egypt, and Rome that is perfect for pasta and flatbreads, rare durums that are drought-tolerant and high in protein, and many more little known wheat species, each of which have a lineage intertwined with the human species and that taste better than any modern wheat. Restoring Heritage Grains combines the history of grain growing and society, in-depth practical advice on landrace wheat husbandry, wheat folk traditions and mythology, and guidelines for the Neolithic diet with traditional recipes for rustic bread, pastry and beer. Discover the ancient grains that may be one of the best solutions to hunger today, and provide resilience for our future.

D.A. Cooke and R.K. Scott Sugar beet is one of just two crops (the other being sugar cane) which constitute the only important sources of sucrose - a product with sweeten ing and preserving properties that make it a major component of, or additive to, a vast range of foods, beverages and pharmaceuticals. Sugar, as sucrose is almost invariably called, has been a valued compo nent of the human diet for thousands of years. For the great majority of that time the only source of pure sucrose was the sugar-cane plant, varieties of which are all species or hybrids within the genus Saccharum. The sugar-cane crop was, and is, restricted to tropical and subtropical regions, and until the eighteenth century the sugar produced from it was available in Europe only to the privileged few. However, the expansion of cane production, particularly in the Caribbean area, in the late seventeenth and the eighteenth centuries, and the new sugar-beet crop in Europe in the nineteenth century, meant that sugar became available to an increasing proportion of the world's population."

In relation to the origin and spread of grasses, domestication is a recent event confined to about the last ten thousand years and to relatively few grasses. Part I of Grass Evolution and Domestication considers, from an evolutionary point of view, grass taxonomy, the origin and diversification of C4 photosynthesis, S-Z self-incompatibility and apomixis. It also includes a discussion of how the grass inflorescence and the spikelet could have originated. In Part II the origins of domestication are explored, both for cereals and for grasses which have latterly come to have either amenity or ecological significance. For the major cereals, domestication now involves not only classical plant breeding but also the application of molecular techniques to obtain new varieties with desirable characteristics. The world's three most important cereals, wheat, maize and rice, are therefore presented as model systems in an attempt to explore the interaction of plant breeding, cytogenetics and molecular biology.

The work of Nickolay Ivanovich Vavilov has formed the basis of much of the study of plant genetic resources that is carried out. In recognition of his contribution to plant science, and to commemorate the centenary of his birth, a collection of all of Vavgilov's works on the origin and geography of cultivated plant species was published in Russian in 1987. This English translation sees the publication of these seminal papers in their original form, but not original language, for the first time. The structure of the book, with papers arranged in chronological order from 1920 to 1940, provides a unique opportunity to retrace both the development Vavilov's theories on cultivated plants and his gradual creation of a definite terminology. the book will be of great interest to all those concerned with the development of cultivated plant species, not only in terms of the history of this discipline and its status, but also its future direction.

Maize is the world's most productive food and industrial crop, grown in more than 160 countries and on every continent except Antarctica. If by some catastrophe maize were to disappear from our food supply chain, vast numbers of people would starve and global economies would rapidly collapse. How did we come to be so dependent on this one plant? Maize for the Gods brings together new research by archaeologists, archaeobotanists, plant geneticists, and a host of other specialists to explore the complex ways that this single plant and the peoples who domesticated it came to be inextricably entangled with one another over the past nine millennia. Tracing maize from its first appearance and domestication in ancient campsites and settlements in Mexico to its intercontinental journey through most of North and South America, this history also tells the story of the artistic creativity, technological prowess, and social, political, and economic resilience of America's first peoples.

One of the world centers of crop evolution and origin, Ethiopia has long been recognized as an important area of diversity for several major and various minor crops. Based on an international conference held in Addis Ababa, this book describes how plant genetic diversity in Ethiopia is of vital importance in breeding new varieties of crops with desirable characteristics, such as increased resistance to pests and diseases and greater adaptation to heat and drought. The three main sections in the book consider the Ethiopian center of diversity, germ plasm or genetic material collection and conservation in Ethiopia, and the evaluation and utilization of Ethiopian genetic resources. A broad range of food and feed crops and plants of medicinal and industrial importance are discussed, both at a national and international level. A brief account of conservation strategies and gene bank problems unique to Ethiopia is also given. The importance of Ethiopia's plant genetic resources to world agriculture has been demonstrated on more than one occasion. Plant breeders, geneticists, and botanists throughout the world will, therefore, find this unique book a valuable source of information and an essential reference work.

The development of transgenic crops is revolutionary, but what does it mean for food production, prices and the environment? This is the first book to examine the economic evidence in a methodical way. It initially describes the historical evolution of biotechnology and defines key terms, before moving on to explore transgenic technology and food regime concepts. The book analyzes genetically modified organism (GMO) policy as part of overall agrarian policy, considering neoregulation in the USA, the EU, Brazil, Russia, China, India, South Africa and Serbia; as well as discussing agricultural performance, support and trade relations. The effect of transgenic food production on world food prices is also examined, along with food security at global and regional levels, and the links between GMOs and world hunger. The environmental implications of transgenic technology are considered through analysis of pesticide and fertilizer usage and efficiency, and pesticide consumption in GMO and non-GMO producing countries. Finally, the book considers the entry of transgenic ingredients into the food chain and lists the products affected. Key features: - Detailed analysis of economic data. - Comparison of international trends, including BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) and Serbia. - Evaluation of environmental and food security implications. - Glossary of important terms. This book will be valuable for agricultural economists, including students at Masters and PhD level. It will also be of interest to agricultural engineers, food technologists, nutritionists, industry representatives, policy makers, policy advisers and analysts and NGOs.

Lacewings are predatory insects which attack and kill large numbers of insect pests. Lacewings in the Crop Environment addresses both the theoretical and practical aspects of lacewing biology and their use in crop protection. The book opens with a section on lacewing systematics and ecology. Next, lacewings as predators in a wide variety of commercially important crops are reviewed and this is followed by a section on the principles of using lacewings in pest control. The possible impact of genetically modified crops on lacewing populations is also discussed. Finally, a fascinating array of case studies of lacewing use in many crops from around the world is presented, and future uses of lacewings speculated upon. Lacewings in the Crop Environment is an essential reference work and practical handbook for students, researchers of biological control, integrated pest management and agricultural science, and for field workers using lacewings in pest management programmes worldwide.

During the 1970s and 1980s, the technique of mutation breeding made a substantial, although often poorly recognized, contribution to crop improvement. Later, as the techniques of molecular biology become more widely adopted by plant breeders, this comprehensive summary sets mutation breeding in that context and relates it to other breeding techniques, including those most recently developed. The book opens with a general introduction to plant breeding and a review of the development of mutation breeding, including consideration of the strengths and weaknesses of the technique. Chapters covering the underlying theory are followed by sections which consider more practical aspects such as in vitro techniques, techniques used for seed propagated crops and techniques used for vegetatively propagated crops. Case studies and examples are included throughout and a list of almost 1400 references provides a valuable resource for those new to the field.