The main effects of Seaweed extracts (Ascophyllum, Fucus, Sargassum, Saccorhiza, Laminaria, Gelidium and others), when used as agricultural fertilizers, are better seed germination and higher quality fruit production, with longer shelf life; better use of soil nutrients; more productive crops and plants with greater resistance to unfavorable environmental conditions. Algae also have a long history of use as animal feed. They have a highly variable composition depending on the species, collection season and habitat, and on external conditions such as water temperature, light intensity and nutrient concentration in water. In relation to ruminal fermentation, a high variability of the digestibility values was found among seaweed species and cannot be attributed only to the composition of different nutrients of the algae. The role of marine algae for reduction of methane production is discussed with particular emphasis on novel algae-based feed strategies that target minimal methane emissions without affecting the functionality of the microbiota and overall animal productivity. Key Features: Sustainable Agriculture Natural Feeding Nutrients Liquid Seaweed Agricultural Biostimulants Natural Pesticides

There is more sugar in the world's diet than ever before, but life is far from sweet for the exploited producers making nature's 'white gold' and the unhealthy consumers eating it. Why has the billion-dollar sugar trade created such inequities? In this insightful analysis, Ben Richardson argues that the most compelling answers to this question can be found in the dynamics of global capitalism. Led by multinational companies, the mass consumption of sweetened snacks has taken hold in the Global South and underpinned a new wave of foreign investment in sugar production. The expansion of large-scale and highly-industrialised farms across Latin America, Asia and Africa has kept the price of sugar down whilst pushing workers out of jobs and rural dwellers off the land. However, challenges to these practices are gathering momentum. Health advocates warning against costly diseases like diabetes, trade unions fighting for better pay, and local residents campaigning for a cleaner environment are all re-shaping the way sugar is consumed and produced. But to truly transform sugar, Richardson contends, these political activities must also address the profit-driven nature of food and farming itself.

The common fig (Ficus carica L.) is one of the oldest fruits domesticated by humans, and is native to southwest Asia and the Mediterranean. Figs have been associated with health and prosperity since ancient times. They are rich in fibre, potassium, calcium, and iron, as well as being an important source of vitamins, amino acids, and antioxidants. In recent years, increased consumption has caused fig production to shift to new countries such as Mexico, Brazil, India, and China. However, fig is a challenging fruit crop to grow. It is susceptible to insect pests and diseases as well as injuries from abiotic stress during fruit development and ripening. As a delicate fruit it also requires complicated postharvest procedures and climate change presents additional challenges. Comprising 29 chapters written by international experts, the book includes sections on: History Biology and Orchard Management Fruit Ripening and Postharvest Management Pests and Diseases Omics Analysis Cultivars and Breeding Products and Trade. This volume serves as a comprehensive reference for current and future practices of fig production, consumption, research and innovation, and is essential for academic researchers, and those involved in research and development in the fig industry.

Die zweite Auflage des umfassendsten massgeblichen Referenzwerks zu Erzeugung, Verarbeitung und Nahrwert von Trockenbohnen ist jetzt erhaltlich. Seit dem Erscheinen der ersten Auflage von Dry Beans and Pulses: Production, Processing, and Nutrition im Jahr 2012 hat die Beliebtheit von Hulsenfruchten ? uber die traditionelle Nutzung hinaus ? als nachhaltige, nahrstoffreiche Zutat fur Fleischalternativen und andere Lebensmittelprodukte betrachtlich zugenommen. In der vollstandig uberarbeiteten Neuauflage wird das Thema weiterhin unter Berucksichtigung der gesamten Wertschoepfungskette betrachtet. Die Leserinnen und Leser erhalten aktuelle Informationen uber Zuchtung, Zusammensetzung, Qualitat, Nahrwertprofile, Nachernte- und Verarbeitungstechniken, Lebensmittelsicherheit, die Bedeutung fur die menschliche Gesundheit und viele weitere Aspekte. Ein Team von mehr als funfzig Autoren betrachtet die aktuellen Forschungsergebnisse, Verbrauchertrends, neue Produkte und Fragen der Lebensmittelsicherheit bei der Verarbeitung von Trockenbohnen und Veredelungstechniken. Neu hinzugekommene Kapitel beschaftigen sich mit dem Hard-to-cook-Phanomen und anderen lagerungsbedingten Qualitatsmangeln, einer Qualitatsbewertung roher und verarbeiteter Hulsenfruchte mit innovativen Technologien, der Nutzung von Trockenbohnen und Hulsenfruchten als Zutat in verschiedenen Lebensmittelprodukten sowie der Produktion, Verarbeitung und dem Nahrwertprofil von Faba-Bohnen, Kichererbsen und Linsen. Dieses umfassende Werk, das sich sowohl mit herkoemmlich verwendeten als auch mit anderen Bohnenarten befasst, bietet den Leserinnen und Lesern: * Neue Themen, erweiterte Betrachtungen, durchgangig aktualisierte Referenzen sowie zusatzliche Abbildungen und Tabellen * Ausfuhrliche Informationen zu den wichtigsten Aspekten der Produktionstechnologien, der Veredelung und der Kulinologie * Eine Analyse von Produktion und Verbrauch auf globaler Ebene, von Verpackung und Vertrieb sowie der Bioverfugbarkeit der bioaktiven Substanzen im Rahmen der Ernahrung * Eine Darstellung der weltweiten Bemuhungen zur Verbesserung der Qualitat und Nutzung von Trockenbohnen und Hulsenfruchten * Eine Besprechung der aktuellen Trends und neuer Anwendungen der antioxidativen Eigenschaften von Trockenbohnen als Functional Food * Kapitel aus der Feder von Experten in Fachbereichen wie Pflanzenbau, Gartenbau, Lebensmittelwissenschaft und -technologie, Lebensmittelbiochemie und -technik sowie Ernahrungs- und Umweltwissenschaften Die zweite Auflage von Dry Beans and Pulses: Production, Processing, and Nutrition ist eine Pflichtlekture fur Lebensmittel- und Ernahrungswissenschaftler, Agronomen, Forscher, Fachleute fur Lebensmittelverarbeitung und Lebensmittelsicherheit sowie Lebensmitteltechniker und -chemiker, die sich mit der Verarbeitung von Trockenbohnen und Veredelungstechnologien beschaftigen.

The development of computer simulation models is an important growth area in both pure and applied ecology. The opportunity that mathematical models provide to integrate the components of an ecosystem, results in the ability to make quantitative predictions about the future behaviour of that system, or of elements within it. This means that they are powerful tools with wide applications and enormous potential for increasing our understanding of natural systems and our ability to use them in a sustainable way. This book is, almost uniquely, a complete account of one such model, the Hurley Pasture Model, a dynamic, deterministic, mechanistic simulation model for grassland, which has been developed by the author over some twenty years, in collaboration with scientists at several centres. Firstly, the rationale and theoretical elements of this type of model are described. An overview of the Hurley grassland simulator and the derivation and construction of its plant, animal, soil and litter, water, and environment and management components is then given. Next, the model is evaluated by a series of long and short-term dynamic simulations and steady state responses, which demonstrate how predictions can be made about the effects of, for example, climate change or particular regimes of fertilizer application, grazing or cutting. This book will be of great value to grassland agronomists and modellers, crop physiologists and plant ecologists, and to students of ecology as a case study of a plant ecosystem model. It will also be of interest to other ecologists and environmentalists and those in the field of computer modelling and its applications.

Plants are frequently exposed to unfavorable and adverse environmental conditions known as abiotic stressors. These factors can include salinity, drought, heat, cold, flooding, heavy metals, and UV radiation which pose serious threats to the sustainability of crop yields. Since abiotic stresses are major constraints for crop production, finding the approaches to enhance stress tolerance is crucial to increase crop production and increase food security. This book discusses approaches to enhance abiotic stress tolerance in crop plants on a global scale. Plants scientists and breeders will learn how to further mitigate plant responses and develop new crop varieties for the changing climate.

Capsicum, more commonly as chili or chili pepper, is an important global vegetable and spice crop. Anthracnose disease, caused by a complex of Colletotrichum species, is the major biotic stress limiting chili production in tropical and subtropical countries. Anthracnose disease mainly manifests itself as a post-harvest disease, resulting in large necrotic lesions on the fruit. This disease is mainly controlled by the application of a "cocktail" of fungicides as commercial resistant cultivars are not available. In recent years, insights into the complexity of the pathogen and the genomics of the host have been accomplished using cutting-edge molecular technologies. The author has been at the forefront of this technology revolution in Capsicum breeding through her research to understand the host and pathogen which has led to the development of new anthracnose resistant genotypes. Capsicum: Breeding Strategies for Anthracnose Resistance is structured based on a review of the origin and evolution of Capsicum, Capsicum genetic diversity and germplasm resources, the latest research in the biology and taxonomy of Colletotrichum pathogens of Capsicum, and the classic and molecular breeding for resistance in Capsicum to the suite of Colletotrichum pathogens that infect Capsicum globally. This book brings together knowledge on both the pathogen and the host, which is often overlooked when reviewing the breeding and genetics of a crop plant. It informs the facts behind breeding for resistance from both the host and pathogen perspectives.

This book discusses the causes and effects of crisis and conflict within an agricultural and rural context. It explores issues such as competition over resources, and looks at how crisis and conflict impact upon developing country agriculture for both the physical and human agricultural landscape. It reviews crises stemming from politically-driven violence, natural disasters and climate change. Exploring the relationship between agriculture and conflicts and crises before, during and after crisis periods, this book: - Evaluates controversial issues such as land-grabs and the growing of illegal crops; - Covers methodological approaches including GIS-based studies, ethnographic studies and the blending of methods; - Includes numerous case studies on developing countries within Asia, Latin America, Middle East-North Africa, and Sub-Saharan Africa. Providing detailed knowledge about the interactions of agriculture, conflict and crisis, this book aims to inform future policymaking for reconstruction and to foster resilience in the agricultural sector. An important resource for researchers of agricultural economics, development studies, sustainable agriculture and food security, it is also an illuminating read for students of these disciplines and agricultural extension workers.

This new 2-volume set discusses the importance of fodder production of the minor fodder crops for animals. The volumes focuses on fodder production for forage crops, cover 17 major forage crops and 25 minor forage crops. The volumes discuss crop production methodology and agronomic management in a systemic way, providing an abundance of information on each type of forage crop discussed, including preferred soil type, land capability, cropping patterns, climate, and socioeconomic conditions. They also address pests of the various forage crops, disease management, agroforestry in fodder and forage crops, preservation of forage crops, and forage production and climate change. Forage crops are very essential for quality milk and meat production. Farm animals are normally fed fodder available from cultivated areas, supplemented by a small extent with harvested grasses and top feeds. The three major sources of fodder are crop residues, cultivated fodder, and fodder from trees, pastures, and grazing lands. The patterns and types of fodder crops vary by geographical location.

Sugarcane is the most important plant source for sugar and alcohol production and is cultivated in more than 80 countries in tropical and subtropical areas. However, environmental factors negatively influence its yield and jeopardize the prospect to meet the increasing demand for sugar, other sugarcane derived by products and bioethanol. The development of stress tolerant plants is fundamental for the maintenance and increase of crop yields. Biotechnology to Enhance Sugarcane Productivity and Stress Tolerance provides a comprehensive account of both theoretical and practical aspects of sugarcane production. It contains extensive coverage of genome mapping and molecular breeding in sugarcane and presents the status of the elucidation and improvement of plant genomes of economic interest. Through 14 chapters written by eminent scientists with global influence, this book examines various methods for sugarcane improvement through biotechnology. The book focuses on genetic and physical mapping, positioning, cloning, and monitoring of desirable genes using biotechnological approaches for high sugarcane productivity and the development of stress tolerance. Additional information includes the bioengineering of sugarcane, procedures to boost productivity, genetics and assessments for resistance to drought and salinity, genetics for high yields, and various topics of research on sugarcane genetics. It serves as a detailed reference source for cane growers, sugar and sugarcane technologists, students, and professors.

Human excreta is a valuable fertilizer for improving soil quality and crop productivity, with a potential to replace or complement the mineral fertilizers. The main challenges related to human excreta regarding agricultural applications are microbial contamination risks, loss of nutrients, and odor issues. Fertilization by lacto-fermented faeces supplemented by biochar has benefits such as improved soil bulk density, nitrate and potassium concentrations as well as the yield and yield components of corn, compared to untreated, simple stored faeces, urine, cattle manure, and unfertilized controls. Even though the mineral fertilizer produced corn with significantly higher height and leaf length, it did not add significantly higher yields than lacto-fermented faeces supplemented by biochar. A faeces treatment process by combined lacto-fermentation with thermophilic composting and biochar supplementation had better reduction of coliforms, Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecalis and Clostridium perfringens, and higher germination of radish and growth of tomatoes than combined lacto-fermentation with vermicomposting. Urine lacto-fermentation contributed to a pH reduction below 4, a decrease in the ammonium concentration and odor strength, as well as an increase in the germination rates compared to untreated stored urine. The results of this study provide important information that can set the basis for scaling up a sustainable technology for the treatment of source separated human excreta while improving its potential for resource recovery.

Millets are small-grained, annual, warm weather cereal. The millets offer both nutritional and livelihood security of human population and fodder security of diverse livestock population in dryland region of India. Millets are highly nutritious, they are known as health foods especially for control of diabetes and mineral deficiencies. One of the major factors for declining consumption of millets is the lack of awareness of their nutritive value and inconvenience of their preparation. This book covers both, chemistry and novel technology for millet processing and development. It summarizes the latest information on millets, their nutritional and health benefits, historical perspective, utilization, R&D efforts, present status and the importance being given by policy makers for promoting millets for sustainable agriculture and healthy society. The book is compiled by various experts keeping in view syllabi of different research institutions, researchers, students as well requirement of the industry. It will serve as instructional material for researchers in food science, microbiology, process engineering, biochemistry, biotechnology and reference material for those working in industry and R & D labs.

This book is the first comprehensive assemblage of contemporary knowledge relevant to genomics and other omics in date palm. Volume 2 consists of 11 chapters. Part I, Nutritional and Pharmaceuticals Properties, covers the utilization of date palm as an ingredient of various food products, a source of bioactive compounds and the production of nanomaterials. Part II, Omics Technologies, addresses omics resources, proteomics and metabolomics. Part III, Molecular Breeding and Genome Modification, focuses on genetic improvement technologies based on mutagenesis, quantitative traits loci and genome editing. Part IV, Genomics of Abiotic and Biotic Stress, covers metagenomics of beneficial microbes to enhance tolerance to abiotic stress and the various genomics advances as they apply to insect control. This volume represents the efforts of 34 international scientists from 12 countries and contains 65 figures and 19 tables to illustrate presented concepts. Volume 1 is published under the title: Phylogeny, Biodiversity and Mapping.

Bananas and plantains are major fruit crops in the tropics and subtropics, making a vital contribution to the economies of many countries. In the last 15 years, substantial changes have occurred in banana production, among them the increased importance of fungal and viral diseases and their serious impact on Cavendish export cultivars, smallholder plantains and cooking bananas. Changes in production systems such as protected greenhouse cultivation, organic, fair-trade and integrated cultivation and their respective certification schemes have also become prominent. This book provides an accessible review of the scientific principles of banana production and how these relate to field practices. Revised and updated with expanded coverage of world trade statistics and policies, breeding of new cultivars in relation to disease resistance and markets, prospects for genetically-modified bananas and the increasing role of endophytes in controlling pests and diseases, this new edition is an essential resource for researchers and students in horticulture.

Seeds are nature's consummate survivors. The next time you admire a field of waving green grassland or a stunning grove of acacia, stop to consider how it got that way--often against incredible odds. Seeds can survive freezing temperatures and drought. They can pass through our digestive systems without damage and weather a trip across the ocean, hitching a ride on marine debris. They can even endure complete desiccation, a feat taken to extraordinary lengths by the date palm, a seed from which was recovered from the palace of Herod the Great was germinated after some two thousand years. The Book of Seeds takes readers through six hundred of the world's seed species, revealing their extraordinary beauty and rich diversity. Each page pairs a beautifully composed photo of a seed--life-size, and, in some cases, enlarged to display fine detail--with a short description, a map showing distribution, and information on conservation status. The whole spectrum of seeds is covered here. There are prolific species like corn and less widely distributed species, like the brilliant blue seeds of the traveler's palm or the bird of paradise flower, aptly named for its distinctive orange coiffure. There are tiny seeds and seeds weighing up to forty pounds. And while seeds in all their shapes, sizes, and colors grant us sustenance, there are even some we would be wise to treat with caution, such as the rosary pea, whose seeds are considered more toxic than ricin. The essential guide to these complex plant creations, The Book of Seeds offers readers a rare, up-close look that will inspire scientists and nature lovers alike.

As global pressure on water resources intensifies, it is essential that scientists understand the role that water plays in the development of crops and how such knowledge can be applied to improve water productivity. Linking crop physiology, agronomy and irrigation practices, this book focuses on eleven key fruit crops upon which millions of people in the tropics and subtropics depend for their livelihoods (avocado, cashew, Citrus spp., date palm, lychee, macadamia, mango, olive, papaya, passion fruit and pineapple). Each chapter reviews international irrigation research on an individual fruit crop, identifying opportunities for improving the effectiveness of water allocation and encouraging readers to link scientific knowledge with practical applications. Clearly written and well illustrated, this is an ideal resource for engineers, agronomists and researchers concerned with how the productivity of irrigated agriculture can be improved, in the context of climate change, and the need for growers to demonstrate good irrigation practices.

Temperature and Plant Development provides a detailed analysis of the role of temperature fluctuations and stressors in plant development. Renowned experts in plant biology outline plant adaptation to high and low temperature stress, whole plant psychological adaptations, and temperature-regulated gene networks. A hot and interdisciplinary issue, climate change has a tremendous effect on crop production and global food security, and this book actively tends to predictions and fears surrounding those issues. It is a handy resource not only for plant biologists and students, but also for environmentalists and policy makers examining climate change effects.

New technologies are becoming available for managing glyphosate resistant (GR) weeds and reducing their spread. GR crop technology has revolutionized crop production in the developed world and the benefits are gradually spilling over to the developing world. In order to sustain an effective, environmentally safe herbicide such as glyphosate and the GR crop technology well in to the future, it is imperative that the issue of GR weeds be comprehensively understood. This book provides such an essential, up-to-date source of information on glyphosate resistance for researchers, extension workers, land managers, government personnel, and other decision makers. * Provides comprehensive coverage of the intensely studied topic of glyphosate resistant (GR) in crops * Details the development of glyphosate resistance and how to detect and manage the problem in crops * Helps standardize global approaches to glyphosate resistance * Encompasses interdisciplinary approaches in chemistry, weed science, biochemistry, plant physiology, plant biotechnology, genetics, ecology * Includes a chapter on economic analysis of GR impact on crops

This volume responds to the growing interest in adopting aerial robots (UAVs, or drones) for agricultural crop production, which are revolutionizing farming methods worldwide. The book provides a detailed review of 250 UAVs that examines their usefulness in enhancing profitability, yield, and quality of crop production. Recent trends indicate an increase in agricultural drone production and use. Millions of dollars have been invested in start-ups that produce agro-drones in the past several years. North America, Europe, China, and the Far East have excelled in offering a large number of UAV models. Some of them are versatile, a few are specific, and many of them are low cost. With so many drone models (over 1200) available, how do farmers and agricultural specialists choose the models best for them? This compendium examines the most useful drones and provides the pertinent details about each drone, its producer, cost incurred, and its pros and cons. It covers their technical specifications, suitability for various purposes, previous performances in farms, and possible benefits to farmers. It covers fixed-wing drones, fixed-winged (hybrid) VTOL helicopters, multi-copters, tilted-wing drones, etc. The book includes a few drones meant more for military or other purposes (e.g. recreation/fun) but that could be easily modified and adapted for the farming sector. The reviews compare activities among the UAVs, such aerial imagery of crops, ability to provide spectral analyses to collect useful data about a crop's growth patterns, and how they can be used to gauge crop canopy temperature (i.e. water stress index), determine grain maturity, and much more.

Harnessing fungi's enzymatic ability to break down lignocellulolytic biomass to produce ethanol more efficiently and cost-effectively has become a significant research and industrial interest. "Fungi and Lignocellulosic Biomass "provides readers with a broad range of information on the uses and untapped potential of fungi in the production of bio-based fuels.

With information on the molecular biological and genomic aspects of fungal degradation of plant cell walls to the industrial production and application of key fungal enzymes, chapters in the book cover topics such as enzymology of cellulose, hemicelluloses, and lignin degradation. Edited by a leading researcher in the field, "Fungi and Lignocellulosic Biomass "will be a valuable tool in advancing the development and production of biofuels and a comprehensive resource for fungal biologists, enzymologists, protein chemists, biofuels chemical engineers, and other research and industry professionals in the field of biomass research.

Cereal grains like wheat and rice are important, because they are the basis of most food supplies. Yields of such crops have increased dramatically during the past 100 years and especially since 1950, leading to what was often called the Green Revolution. This book examines why the United States, India, Britain and Mexico each sought to develop high yield wheat production. Although the increase in yield has been attributed to plant breeding science, security concerns and management of foreign exchange were prime motivators of the new technologies. This relationship has not been previously developed in studies of agricultural modernization, and will plague future efforts to make agriculture equitable and sustainable.

There are many current threats to the citrus industry, this is a timely effort to publish a book covering recent challenges and progress to their approaches to improve conditions. This book is useful to researchers, academicians, scientists to enhance and boost their knowledge for further research on citrus. There are few reviews and books dealing with various aspects of citrus industry. Existing publications are over 10 years old and do not have recent updated knowledge of citrus industry. Global appeal - Citrus is mainly produced commercially in 140 countries, primary producers are Brazil, China, United States, and Mexico.

Soil and Fertilizers: Managing the Environmental Footprint presents strategies to improve soil health by reducing the rate of fertilizer input while maintaining high agronomic yields. It is estimated that fertilizer use supported nearly half of global births in 2008. In a context of potential food insecurity exacerbated by population growth and climate change, the importance of fertilizers in sustaining the agronomic production is clear. However, excessive use of chemical fertilizers poses serious risks both to the environment and to human health. Highlighting a tenfold increase in global fertilizer consumption between 2002 and 2016, the book explains the effects on the quality of soil, water, air and biota from overuse of chemical fertilizers. Written by an interdisciplinary author team, this book presents methods for enhancing the efficiency of fertilizer use and outlines agricultural practices that can reduce the environmental footprint. Features: Includes a thorough literature review on the agronomic and environmental impact of fertilizer, from degradation of ecosystems to the eutrophication of drinking water Devotes specific chapters to enhancing the use efficiency and effectiveness of the fertilizers through improved formulations, time and mode of application, and the use of precision farming technology Reveals geographic variation in fertilizer consumption volume by presenting case studies for specific countries and regions, including India and Africa Discusses the pros and cons of organic vs. chemical fertilizers, innovative technologies including nuclear energy, and the U.N.'s Sustainable Development Goals Part of the Advances in Soil Sciences series, this solutions-focused volume will appeal to soil scientists, environmental scientists and agricultural engineers.