"From the beginning of this book to the end, it has been Professor Hochmuth's intent to address and educate with a complete synopsis of what he calls '...the wealth of research addressing the challenges' in sustainable growth of vegetables... I believe he has succeeded." (Plant Science Bulletin - Botanical Society of America) Sustainability involves meeting current needs without compromising the ability to meet future requirements. Like other crops, vegetable cultivation faces a number of challenges in ensuring sustainable production. These challenges include the need to improve yields and quality to meet rising demand and higher consumer expectations, the need to reduce the ongoing threats from pathogens and pests. Focussing on temperate cultivation, Achieving sustainable cultivation of vegetables summarises the wealth of research addressing these challenges, from breeding improved varieties to better techniques for cultivation and crop protection. Part 1 reviews advances in physiology and breeding. Parts 2-3 summarise advances in cultivation and pest management. The final part includes case studies on the breeding and cultivation of key vegetables such as carrot, lettuce and cabbage. With its distinguished editor and range of expert authors, this will be a standard reference for horticultural scientists in universities, government and other research centres involved in supporting vegetable cultivation, as well as companies supporting the vegetable sector.

Since agriculture is one of the key parameters in assessing the gross domestic product (GDP) of any country, it has become crucial to transition from traditional agricultural practices to smart agriculture. New agricultural technologies provide numerous opportunities to maximize crop yield by recognizing and analyzing diseases and other natural variables that may affect it. Therefore, it is necessary to understand how computer-assisted technologies can best be utilized and adopted in the conversion to smart agriculture. Modern Techniques for Agricultural Disease Management and Crop Yield Prediction is an essential publication that widens the spectrum of computational methods that can aid in agriculture disease management, weed detection, and crop yield prediction. Featuring coverage on a wide range of topics such as soil and crop sensors, swarm robotics, and weed detection, this book is ideally designed for environmentalists, farmers, botanists, agricultural engineers, computer engineers, scientists, researchers, practitioners, and students seeking current research on technology and techniques for agricultural diseases and predictive trends.

Role of Plant Growth Promoting Microorganisms in Sustainable Agriculture and Nanotechnology explores PGPMs (actinomycetes, bacteria, fungi and cyanobacteria) and their multidimensional roles in agriculture, including their increasing applications in sustainable agriculture. In addition to their traditional understanding and applications in agriculture, PGPMs are increasingly known as a source of nano-particles production that are gaining significant interest in their ability to provide more economically, environmentally friendly and safe technologies to crop growers. The book considers new concepts and current developments in plant growth, thus promoting microorganisms research and evaluating its implications for sustainable productivity. Users will find this to be an invaluable resource for researchers in applied microbial biotechnology, soil science, nano-technology of microbial strains, and industry personnel in these areas.

This new volume, Biocatalysis and Agricultural Biotechnology: Fundamentals, Advances, and Practices for a Greener Future, looks at the application of a variety of technologies, both fundamental and advanced, that are being used for crop improvement, metabolic engineering, and the development of transgenic plants. The science of agriculture is among the oldest and most intensely studied by mankind. Human intervention has led to manipulation of plant gene structure for the use of plants for the production of bioenergy, food, textiles, among other industrial uses. A sound knowledge of enzymology as well as the various biosynthetic pathways is required to further utilize microbes as sources to provide the desired products for industrial utility. This volume provides an overview of all these aspects along with an updated review of the major plant biotechnology procedures and techniques, their impact on novel agricultural development, and crop plant improvement. Also discussed are the use of "white biotechnology" and "metabolic engineering" as prerequisites for a sustainable development. The importance of patenting of plant products, world food safety, and the role of several imminent organizations is also discussed. The volume provides an holistic view that makes it a valuable source of information for researchers of agriculture and biotechnology as well as agricultural engineers, environmental biologists, environmental engineers, and environmentalists. Short exercises at the end of the chapters help to make the book suitable for course work in agriculture biotechnology, genetics, biology, biotechnology, and plant science.

The Solar Corridor Crop System: Implementation and Impacts presents a case-study format on the planning and implementation of alternative cropping systems designed to maximize incident sunlight and bio-support of all crops in a rotation system. The book describes the basic component of the system, an increased access point of incident sunlight between each row or pairs of rows that enables a more uniform vertical distribution of incident sunlight to chloroplasts within the entire corn leaf canopy. While the production environment and environment specific genetics determine the performance potential of this principle, by maximizing the principles that light is basic to crop yield, a solar corridor ultimately contributes to increased grain yield. Written by experts who were integral in the development of solar corridor systems, and providing real-world examples of the methods, challenges and future prospects, this book will be valuable for those seeking to increase yield-per-acre through both primary and cover-crops.

Irrigation of pear, raspberry and blueberry is less studied relative to apple and peach, for example. Various researchers have tried different techniques to reduce vegetative growth, but regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) and partial rootzone drying (PRD) are the most favourable and cost-effective techniques, maintaining and, in some cases, increasing yields because allocation of photosynthetic carbohydrates to fruits is favoured compared to vegetative growth. Good knowledge of phenological stages susceptible to water stress is a prerequisite for the successful application of RDI and PRD as various factors effect separately or together the application of RDI and PRD. It should be emphasised that plants grown in open fields are highly dependent to climatic factors, and this is demonstrated by the fact that the same researchers have gathered drastically different results in various environments. RDI is applied in countries in arid climates as it saves water more than in humid or temperate climates. Different cultivars and rootstocks have different response to RDI and PRD. Thus, the application time depends very much from the genotype, because application at early age of the tree may have negative consequences. Under the climatic conditions of Kosovo, which fluctuate year after year, application of regulated deficit irrigation may start at the end of May or beginning of June. While for early cultivars, may apply even after harvest. As in raspberries we have two types of cultivars, floricane and primocane. Therefore, cultivar also plays a crucial role in deficit irrigation. Under the conditions of our country, PRD application for floricane varieties may also be delayed because there is sufficient rainfall in spring, while for primocane varieties by the end of May - beginning of June, but the monitoring of raspberry orchards still indicates the right moment to begin. The correct application of RDI on pear increases flowering, number of fruits (reduces fruit size), yield and reduces vegetative growth including canopy size. The use of deficit irrigation in combination with mulching is a new technology and our preliminary results on pear have shown that it reduces canopy volume and trunk diameter, which is considered very positive, beside the positive advantages of mulching. RDI and PRD technique is being improved and adapted to different environmental conditions.

Climate Change and Agricultural Ecosystems explains the causative factors of climate change related to agriculture, soil and plants, and discusses the relevant resulting mitigation process. Agricultural ecosystems include factors from the surrounding areas where agriculture experiences direct or indirect interaction with the plants, animals, and microbes present. Changes in climatic conditions influence all the factors of agricultural ecosystems, which can potentially adversely affect their productivity. This book summarizes the different aspects of vulnerability, adaptation, and amelioration of climate change in respect to plants, crops, soil, and microbes for the sustainability of the agricultural sector and, ultimately, food security for the future. It also focuses on the utilization of information technology for the sustainability of the agricultural sector along with the capacity and adaptability of agricultural societies under climate change. Climate Change and Agricultural Ecosystems incorporates both theoretical and practical aspects, and serves as base line information for future research. This book is a valuable resource for those working in environmental sciences, soil sciences, agricultural microbiology, plant pathology, and agronomy.

The predicted depletion of fossil fuels has mobilised society and the scientific community towards the use of alternative and sustainable sources of energy. A promising alternative could be the valorisation of oil bearing crops via transesterification reactions towards the production of biodiesel. As such, the first chapter assesses the most significant contributions in the homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysed transesterification under acidic or alkaline conditions considering the parameters affecting the processes as well as biodiesel yields. The following chapter highlights the synthesis of copper soaps derived from edible oils, the synthesis of complexes with 2-amino-6-methyl Benzothiazole derived from already synthesised copper soaps for comparative studies, spectral studies, thermogravimetric analysis of copper soaps derived from groundnut, sesame, neem and karanja, and more. The authors go on to highlight biocidal studies performed to assess the comparative toxicity on two easily available fungi, Alternaria alternata and Aspergillus niger. The synthesis of copper soaps with increasing carbon atom p-substituted benzothiazoles is also examined. In the concluding chapter, the authors summarise the results of the microencapsulation technology of butylated hydroxyanisole carried out in their laboratory in recent years. Both free and microencapsulated butylated hydroxyanisole were in situ evaluated for controlling the mycoflora present in peanut stored in different systems intended for confectionery, seed and industry.

This book presents a selection of innovative postharvest management practices for vegetables. It covers technologies in harvesting, handling, and storage of vegetables, including strategies for low-temperature storage of vegetables, active and smart packaging of vegetables, edible coatings, application of nanotechnology in postharvest technology of vegetable crops, and more. It considers most of the important areas of vegetable processing while maintaining nutritional quality and addressing safety issues. Fruits and vegetables are important sources of nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, and bioactive compounds, which provide many health benefits. However, due to poor postharvest management-such as non-availability of cold chain management and low-cost processing facilities, large quantities of vegetables perish before they reach the consumer. Furthermore, higher temperatures in some regions also contribute to an increased level of postharvest losses. With chapters written by experts in the postharvest handling of vegetable, this volume addresses these challenges. It is devoted to presenting both new and innovative technologies as well as advancements in traditional technologies.

Since its inception in 1938, the program has evolved from an ancillary program with low participation to a central pillar of federal support for agriculture. As the program has grownin types of insurance policies, breadth of crops covered, and millions of acres enrolledso has the cost of the program to the federal government. The first two chapters provide an overview of the federal crop insurance program. Chapter 3 focuses entirely on delivery subsides and explains how delivery subsidies are calculated, the limitations of publicly available data on the actual delivery expenses of Approved Insurance Providers (AIPs), and how AIPs spend delivery subsidies. In 2010, USDA negotiated an agreement with insurance companies to set a national cap on the annual payments it makes to them for expenses and a target rate of return. Chapter 4 examines (1) the changes in expense payments to companies due to the cap, (2) the extent to which the programs target rate of return reflects market conditions, and (3) opportunities for the federal government to reduce its delivery costs for the program. Before the Agricultural Act of 2014 cotton was eligible for most Federal farm programs. The 2014 Farm Act eliminated multiple programs, including the Direct and Countercyclical Program, while introducing several new programs, including the Supplemental Coverage Option (SCO), and Stacked Income Protection Plan (STAX). Chapter 5 focuses on the two new programs for cotton and examines the mechanics of the programs and their revenue impacts. Catastrophic coverage for noninsurable crops, known as the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP), has been available since the Federal Crop Insurance Reform Act of 1994. Chapter 6 examines the effects of the 2014 NAP policy change. Crop insurance premium subsidies are an important part of Compliance incentives under the 2014 Act. Farm program benefits under the 2014 Act could be as high or higher than under the 2008 Farm Act; but for individual farms, the shift toward a crop insurance-oriented policy could increase or decrease Compliance incentives as reported in the last chapter.

Cd accumulation in rice grain is a world-wide problem because rice is the staple food of over half the worlds population. Over the past few decades, many authors have reported that Si-rich substances can mitigate the negative influence of Cd on the growth of various plants, including rice. The main aim of this research was to summarize the data from literature and the investigation to understand the mechanisms of the Si effect on the migration and transportation of Cd in the paddy soil-rice system. This system was separated into two parts the soil and the plant and each part was studied separately. Si-rich soil amendments, Si fertilizers, and Si-based biostimulators were used in laboratory, greenhouse, and field tests. Several mechanisms of Si-Cd interactions in the soil-plant system (precipitation and sorption in soil, accumulation in roots and reduction Cd transport in apoplast and symplast of roots, stem and leaves), were investigated in detail and knowledge about these mechanisls were used for elaborating the practical recommendation. The field tests demonstrated that the use of Si-rich materials can reduce Cd in the rice grain by 50 to 90%, and other pollutants, including As, Cu, Hg, and Pb, by 40 to 95%. The combination of Ca- and Si-rich substances reinforced the reduction of Cd mobility and grain accumulation and is a prospective soil decontamination and food safety technology. The foliar application of Se can also provide an additional reduction of Cd accumulation in the rice grain. Our field tests showed that the application of Si-rich substances makes it possible to reduce traditional NPK fertilizer application rates by 20 to 30% without reducing the rice yield. This effect will also reduce the amount of Cd entering the cultivated soil. The data from the tests provides a reason to strongly recommend the use of Si-rich materials for the reduction of Cd accumulation in rice grain. Si-rich materials can also be used to reduce Cd accumulation in fruits of other cultivated plants.

This book opens with an investigation on the effects of natural fermentation and drying methods on physicochemical properties of proso millet flour. Fermented proso millet flour is either oven dried or dried at room temperature, and its chemical content and characterization are ascertained using standard methods. Following this, the authors evaluate the forage production and chemical composition of two pearl millet cultivars fertilized with four doses of nitrogen with three cutting heights. Results are presented which indicate that ammonium sulfonitrate treated with nitrification inhibitor revealed possible toxic effects at lower doses and is recommended only when high nitrogen doses are used. One chapter is dedicated to Count Samuel TELEKI de Szek (1845-1916), a Hungarian explorer who was the first European to see and name Telekis Volcano (1888), Lake Rudolf (1888) (syn.: Lake Turkana; renamed in 1975) in Kenya; and Lake Stefanie (1888; named after Princess Stephanie of Belgium; now called Lake Chew Bahir) in Ethiopia. S. Teleki was among the first in the World to attempt to climb the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro. In closing, the authors concluded that the use of pearl millet as forage is increasing in the Brazilian Cerrado due to its adaptability to harsh conditions and high protein and digestibility levels. There are very few studies evaluating the animal performance in Brazil, especially related to silage use. Thus, there is a necessity for more research involving animal performance in order to recommend or discourage its use, especially as silage for dairy cows.

Among management systems that are intended to prevent soil erosion or degradation is the no-tillage system which allows for the accumulation of vegetal material of plant material on the surface, over which the next crop will be sown or planted. Agricultural Research Updates. Volume 25 opens with a presentation of the results of research on different sustainable systems of soybean and maize production in northwest Sao Paulo. Following this, the authors review the feasibility, convenience and challenges accompanying various drying technologie from conventional methods (sun drying, hot air-drying, vaccum drying and freeze drying) to smart drying technologies (hybrid drying, near infrared reflectance, refractance window drying amd ultrasonic drying). Other topics reviewed in this compilation include packaging antioxidant activity that prevents food tainting; packaging antimicrobial properties that prevent food contamination; and packaging biodegradability to meet environmental protection requirements. Next, the authors investigate the occurrence, characterization and survivability of two pathogenic vibrios, namely Vibrio cholerae and Vibrio parahaemolyticus in fish-based street food. The detection of these two pathogens is completed using Loop mediated isothermal amplification, multiplex polymerase chain reaction and thiosulphate citrate bile-salt sucrose. The following study aims to investigate the prevalence and characteristics of toxigenic Campylobacter jejuni in ulam (Malaysian salad vegetables) at retail outlets in Terengganu. The prevalence of these genes at retail outlets is determined by multiplex-PCR/the charcoal cefoperazone deoxycholate agar method for 123 vegetable samples. The authors close by describing a recent technology in stimulating glucosinolates concentrations in Brassica plants using recycled animal manures. This need for natural fumigants in horticultural crops has increased due to the national prohibition of synthetic soil fumigants such as methyl bromide and ethylene dibromide.

Organic Farming: Global Perspectives and Methods explores the core definition and concepts of organic farming in sustainability, its influence on the ecosystem, the significance of seed, soil management, water management, weed management, the significance of microorganisms in organic farming, livestock management, and waste management. The book provides readers with a basic idea of organic farming that presents advancements in the field and insights on the future. Written by a team of global experts, and with the aim of providing a current understanding of organic farming, this resource is valuable for researchers, graduate students, and post-doctoral fellows from academia and research institutions.

Molasses is obtained as a residue of the sugar industry. The major components of molasses are sucrose, glucose and fructose. In Molasses: Forms, Production and Uses, a study is presented wherein polyurethane foams were prepared using the hydroxyl group of mono- and di-saccharides as a reaction site for urethane synthesis. Molasses was dissolved in polyethylene glycol and polyols with various molasses contents were prepared. The following work contributes to the evaluation of processing technology and the quality characteristics of traditionally made carob molasses through a survey in Tunisia. Carob molasses, known locally as "Rub El Kharroub", is produced mainly by women using an artisanal process carried out with domestic equipment. Considering that molasses is produced at about 2a5% of the starting raw material, the authors suggest that depending on the raw material condition and applied processing operations, considerable amounts of sucrose can be recovered and an increase in the efficiency of the sugar factory may be achieved. Following this, the authors review the state of knowledge on the production, chemical composition and uses of sugar cane molasses in animal feeding in Cameroon and briefly examine its other uses. In this country, sugar cane molasses, the main sub-product of sugar industries, is mainly produced by the sugar company in Cameroon. The authors go on to review the latest advances on the potential of molasses as a source of functional ingredients as well as its application in various food products such as meat, vegetables and fruit. Molasses may have some other valuable functions such as shelf-life improvement, enhancement of leavening activity and buffering capacity. Lastly, an assessment was made regarding methane production from glycerin digestion and glycerin/molasses co-digestion under thermophilic conditions in a mechanically stirred anaerobic reactor, operated in sequencing batch and fed-batch.