Until recently, historians tended to stress the perceived technological and ecological shortcomings of medieval agriculture. The ten essays assembled in this volume offer a contrary view. Based upon close documentary analysis of the demesne farms managed for and by lords, they show that, by 1300, in the most commercialized parts of England, production decisions were based upon relative factor costs and commodity prices. Moreover, when and where economic conditions were ripe and environmental and institutional circumstances favourable, medieval cultivators successfully secured high and ecologically sustainable levels of land productivity. They achieved this by integrating crop and livestock production into the sort of manure-intensive systems of mixed-husbandry which later underpinned the more celebrated output growth of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. If medieval agriculture failed to fulfill the production potential provided by wider adoption of such systems, this is more appropriately explained by the want of the kind of market incentives that might have justified investment, innovation, and specialization on the scale that characterized the so-called 'agricultural revolution', than either the lack of appropriate agricultural technology or the innate 'backwardness' of medieval cultivators.

Conventional agriculture destroys our soils, pollutes our water and is a major contributor to climate change. What if our agricultural practices could stabilise, or even reverse these trends? This book explores the dual function of biochar as a carbon-negative energy source and a potent soil-builder. Created by burning biomass in the absence of oxygen, this material has the unique ability to hold carbon back from the atmosphere while simultaneously enhancing soil fertility. Author Albert Bates traces the evolution of this extraordinary substance from the ancient black soils of the Amazon to its reappearance as a modern carbon sequestration strategy. Combining practical techniques for the production and use of biochar with an overview of the development and future of carbon farming, this book describes how a new agricultural revolution can reduce net greenhouse gas emissions to below zero while increasing world food reserves and creating energy from biomass wastes. Biochar and carbon farming can: reduce fossil fuels inputs into our food system; bring new life to desert landscapes; filter and purify drinking water; and, help build carbon-negative homes, communities and nations. Biochar is not without dangers if unregulated, and it is not a panacea, but if it fulfills its promise of taking us back from the brink of irreversible climate change, it may well be the most important discovery in human history.

The increased efficiency and profitability that the proper application of technology can provide has made precision agriculture the hottest developing area within traditional agriculture. The first single-source volume to cover GIS applications in agronomy, GIS Applications in Agriculture examines ways that this powerful technology can help farmers produce a greater abundance of crops with more efficiency and at lower costs.

Each chapter describes the nature of a problem, examines the purpose and scope of a GIS application, presents the methods used to develop the application, and then goes on to provide results and offer a conclusion as well as supporting information. When appropriate, the chapters present the underlying statistical approach for the GIS software that is used. The text also includes a CD-ROM featuring data sets and color maps produced by the use of GIS.

Concentrating more on the approach and less on the specific software, the authors describe the methods used to develop an application and discuss limitations to the algorithms and the programming code used. They then summarize the application in terms of what it does, how it works, its limitations, and its potential uses. The book provides a toolkit for the acquisition, management, and analysis of spatial data throughout the agriculture value chain.

This volume, the first in the One World Archaeology series, is a compendium of key papers by leaders in the field of the emergence of agriculture in different parts of the world. Each is supplemented by a review of developments in the field since its publication.

Contributions cover the better known regions of early and independent agricultural development, such as Southwest Asia and the Americas, as well as lesser known locales, such as Africa and New Guinea. Other contributions examine the dispersal of agricultural practices into a region, such as India and Japan, and how introduced crops became incorporated into pre-existing forms of food production.

This reader is intended for students of the archaeology of agriculture, and will also prove a valuable and handy resource for scholars and researchers in the area.

'Read this book, then look and wonder' Sunday Times We have to learn to live as part of nature, not apart from it. And the first step is to start looking after the insects, the little creatures that make our shared world go round. Insects are essential for life as we know it - without them, our world would look vastly different. Drawing on the latest ground-breaking research and a lifetime's study, Dave Goulson reveals the long decline of insect populations that has taken place in recent decades and its potential consequences. Eye-opening and inspiring, Silent Earth asks for profound change at every level and a passionate argument or us to love, respect and care for our six-legged friends. 'Compelling - Silent Earth is a wake-up call' Isabella Tree, author of Wilding 'Enlightening, urgent and funny, Goulson's book is a timely call for action' New Statesman

Drawing on the authors' background in education and policy development, "Agricultural and Food Policy, Sixth Edition "provides a comprehensive treatment of domestic and international policy setting, process, options and consequences. This book goes beyond the traditional discussion of farm programs, and gets readers thinking in broader terms, by considering the many forces-globalization, technology, food safety, environment-that influence policy change. Taking an unbiased approach, this edition includes more economic theory, a new chapter on government involvement, current policy issues, and a chapter devoted to the future of agricultural and food policy. Informs readers of the most recent policy issues, such as the Doha Round of WTO negotiations, food terrorism, and budget deficits, in an objective manner. Creates an understanding of how U.S. policy affects stakeholders in other countries. Shows the importance of current WTO negotiations to policy outcomes. Gives readers a deeper understanding of the conditions leading to government involvement, the constraints on government involvement, the role of economists and the limits of economics. Explains concepts using graphs and helps readers understand the underlying theory driving policy decisions. Examines the impact of constituency groups and encourages readers to consider the future of agriculture and food policy. Those interested or involved in agricultural and food policy.

Maize has been described as a primary catalyst to complex sociocultural development in the Americas. State of the art research on maize chronology, molecular biology, and stable carbon isotope research on ancient human diets have provided additional lines of evidence on the changing role of maize through time and space and its spread throughout the Americas. The multidisciplinary evidence from the social and biological sciences presented in this volume have generated a much more complex picture of the economic, political, and religious significance of maize. The volume also includes ethnographic research on the uses and roles of maize in indigenous cultures and a linguistic section that includes chapters on indigenous folk taxonomies and the role and meaning of maize to the development of civilization. Histories of Maize is the most comprehensive reference source on the botanical, genetic, archaeological, and anthropological aspects of ancient maize published to date. This book will appeal to a varied audience, and have no titles competiting with it because of its breadth and scope. The volume offers a single source of high quality summary information unavailable elsewhere.

Written to meet the needs of both students and applied researchers, Design of Experiments for Agriculture and the Natural Sciences, Second Edition serves as an introductory guide to experimental design and analysis. Like the popular original, this thorough text provides an understanding of the logical underpinnings of design and analysis by selecting and discussing only those carefully chosen designs that offer the greatest utility. However, it improves on the first edition by adhering to a step-by-step process that greatly improves accessibility and understanding. Real problems from different areas of agriculture and science are presented throughout to show how practical issues of design and analysis are best handled.

Completely revised to greatly enhance readability, this new edition includes:

A new chapter on covariance analysis to help readers reduce errors, while enhancing their ability to examine covariances among selected variables

Expanded material on multiple regression and variance analysis

Additional examples, problems, and case studies

A step-by-step Minitab® guide to help with data analysis

Intended for those in the agriculture, environmental, and natural science fields as well as statisticians, this text requires no previous exposure to analysis of variance, although some familiarity with basic statistical fundamentals is assumed. In keeping with the book's practical orientation, numerous workable problems are presented throughout to reinforce the reader's ability to creatively apply the principles and concepts in any given situation.

Table of Contents

The Nature of Agricultural Research. Key Assumptions of Experimental Designs. Designs for Reducing Error. Single-Factor Experimental Designs. Two-Factor Experimental Designs. Three (or More)- Factor Experimental Designs. Treatment Means Comparison. Sample Designs Over Time. Regression and Correlation Analysis. Covariance Analysis. Appendices.

More than a textbookit's also a valuable reference book for researchers and crop science professionals! The Handbook of Statistics for Teaching and Research in Plant and Crop Science presents the fundamental concepts of important statistical methods and experimental designs to the students and researchers who need to apply them to their own specific problems. This comprehensive handbook takes what can be the difficult and confusing topics of statistics and experimental design and explains them in easily understandable terms, making them accessible to nearly every reader. More than a student textbook, it is an essential reference for researchers and professionals in a multitude of fields. Designed as a two-semester statistical textbook, the first section of the Handbook of Statistics for Teaching and Research in Plant and Crop Science focuses on statistical concepts, providing a foundation of useful knowledge on which you can base your own research. The second section concentrates on experimental designs in plant and crop sciences. The material is presented in a way that helps readers with a minimum of mathematical background to understand important theories and concepts. Derivations of formulas are avoided, and mathematical symbols are used only when essential. To illustrate the computational procedures, data is drawn from actual experiments. At the end of each chapter, examples and exercises are given to provide clear insight into real-life problems. A comprehensive appendix of clearly presented statistical tables is included. Part One of Handbook of Statistics for Teaching and Research in Plant and Crop Science focuses on statistical methods, principles, and procedures, exploring: methods of display of statistical information, such as tables, diagrams, graphs, etc. symbols and their use in denoting variables descriptions of types of statistical data methods of computation from raw and graphed data the importance of studying variables and dispersion in research the use of normal probability integral tables and their application to practical problems descriptions of different types of experiments, such as determinate and nondeterminate the significance of expected value in research special techniques in descriptive statistics explanations of population, sample, and statistical inference the significance of null hypothesis in research methods of correlation studies assumptions and principles in regression analysis Part Two concentrates on experimental design, principles and procedures, exploring: basic principles of experimental design the fundamental concepts of linear models and analysis of variance method and layout of Completely Randomized Design (CRD) the advantages and disadvantages of Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) methods and procedures for comparison of several treatment means the important features of Latin Square Design factorial experiments split plot design completely confounded design analysis of covariance the Chi Square Test of Significance the transformation of experimental data quality control and so much more! The Handbook of Statistics for Teaching and Research in Plant and Crop Science serves not only as a textbook for instructors and students in experimental design and statistics but also as a reference book on plant and crop sciences for professionals and researchers. The comprehensive text is also useful for professionals in other statistic-heavy fields.

The book is focused on Bioprodcuts derived from renewable resources processed by conventional catalytic thermochemical processes and or emerging bioprocessing techniques including fermentation and synthetic biology. It highlights some of these developments-from discovery, lab feasibility, scale up and eventual commercialization.

This book constitutes Part I of the refereed four-volume post-conference proceedings of the 4th IFIP TC 12 International Conference on Computer and Computing Technologies in Agriculture, CCTA 2010, held in Nanchang, China, in October 2010. The 352 revised papers presented were carefully selected from numerous submissions. They cover a wide range of interesting theories and applications of information technology in agriculture, including simulation models and decision-support systems for agricultural production, agricultural product quality testing, traceability and e-commerce technology, the application of information and communication technology in agriculture, and universal information service technology and service systems development in rural areas.

Since the advent of agriculture approximately 12,000 years ago, human activity has created a unique set of ecosystems. However, the recent development of world markets, rapid technological advances, and other changes to farming practices have led to hugely increased pressures on farm habitats and organisms. Global human populations are rising and diets are becoming ever more complicated, leading to unrelenting requirements for increased levels of food production. Natural biotopes are becoming increasingly fragmented as agricultural activities expand around them. "Agroecosystems" now occur from the tropics to subarctic environments and comprise systems as varied as annual crops, perennial grasslands, orchards, and agroforestry systems. They presently cover almost 40% of the terrestrial land surface and significantly shape landscapes at a global scale. This key addition to the OUP Biology of Habitats Series provides a novel perspective on agroecosystems, summarising our current understanding of the basic and applied aspects of these important and complex habitats, whilst focusing on environmental concerns in the context of global change. The Biology of Agroecosystemsis is for both senior undergraduate and graduate students taking courses in agroecology, farmland ecology, conservation, and agriculture as well as the many professional ecologists, conservation biologists, and land managers requiring a concise overview of agroecology.

Make the right decisions when it comes to pest control in agriculture
"Bacillus thuringiensis" A Cornerstone of Modern Agriculture explores the impact that one of the most prominent biologically based pesticides has had on pest control technology--and the issues that surround its use. The book examines the development, use, and management of technologies derived from "Bacillus thuringiensis" ("Bt"), addressing the health, economic, environmental, and social concerns generated by the deployment of genetically engineered crops. Authors representing a diverse cross section of the international scientific community contribute review articles and research findings that address the use of "Bt" in microbial formulations and transgenic crops, technological advances in the genetic engineering of plants, advances in methodologies, and improved agricultural practices and productivity through the use of "Bt" cotton.
"Bacillus thuringiensis" A Cornerstone of Modern Agriculture examines the vital issues surrounding this Gram-positive bacterium. Contributors from academia, government, and industry address the safety of "Bt" for human consumption, its effects on non-target organisms, the role of microbial "Bt" products in crop production in the United States, and the utility and management of transgenic plants. The book also explores: engineering "Bt" transgenic rice for insect pest protection the "Bt" potato in developing countries Bt expression in sugarcane and cauliflower a comparative analysis of "Bt" cotton in Argentina the ecological impact, gene expression, and current resistance management requirements of "Bt" cotton in the United States and much more "Bacillus thuringiensis" A Cornerstone of Modern Agriculture is an essential resource for advanced students and technical specialists working in agriculture, biotechnology, entomology, pest management, and crop sciences. Stakeholders will also find it invaluable in regulatory decision making about genetically engineered crops, pesticide use, and crop protection.

This book meets the needs of teachers and students of agriculture and rural development project and programme planning, planners employed by governments in developing countries and by external financing agencies. Project planners must understand the aspirations of rural families and their local leaders, the national development and sector planning goals and policies of their governments and the development goals and policy priorities perceived by external financing agencies in relation to their countries. These areas are not always consistent and trade-offs may be required. However it is recognised that poor project planning is a major constraint to the sustainable realization of project and programme objectives and sector goals. Illustrated with case studies and logical framework matrices, this book presents well-established and relatively new practices followed in the context of agriculture and rural development project and programme planning. Although based on experiences gained in Africa, the issues described are relevant to planning problems encountered in other developing regions of the world. It addresses the main factors which affect the success of planning such as a government's ability to guarantee macro-economic stability and sound sector development policies; the shift from 'top-down', bureaucratic to 'bottom-up', participatory planning approaches and the roles played by external financing agencies. It explains key technical, financial, economic, environmental, socio-cultural, equity, gender and institutional-strengthening issues concerning planning in rural areas and reviews the planning tools and approaches available. The procurement of goods and services, the disbursement of funds and monitoring and evaluation requirements are examined in detail.

Learn to create and use simulation modelsthe most reliable and cost-effective tools for predicting real-world results! The Handbook of Processes and Modeling in the Soil-Plant System is the first book to present a holistic view of the processes within the soil-plant-atmosphere continuum. Unlike other publications, which tend to be more specialized, this book covers nearly all of the processes in the soil-plant system, including the fundamental processes of soil formation, degradation, and the dynamics of water and matter. It also illustrates how simulation modeling can be used to understand and forecast multiple interactions among various processes and predict their environmental impact. This unique volume assembles information that until now was scattered among journals, bulletins, reports, and symposia proceedings to present models that simulate almost all of the processes occurring in the soil-plant system and explores the results that these models are capable of producing. With chapters authored by experts with years of research and teaching experience, the Handbook of Processes and Modeling in the Soil-Plant System examines: physical, chemical, and biological soil processes the soil formation and weathering process and its modeling the impact of radioactive fallout on the soil-plant system soil degradation processes and ways to control them water and matter dynamics in the soil-plant system growth and development of crops at various levels of production the potentials and limitations of using simulation models Students, educators, and professionals alike will find the Handbook of Processes and Modeling in the Soil-Plant System an invaluable reference on the soil-plant-atmosphere system and an ideal tool to help develop an effective decision support system.

A wave of innovation driven by the convergence of digital and molecular technologies is transforming food production and ways of eating in the US, Western Europe and Australasia. This book explores a range of contemporary agri-food issues, such as the digitalisation of farm production, aka Precision Agriculture, farmer independence, gene editing, alternative proteins and the rise of app-based home food deliveries. This is the first book to provide a systemic analysis of technological innovation and its socio-economic consequences in modern food systems, including the ‘hollowing out’ of rural communities and pronounced industrial concentration. The food system is under growing public pressure to respond to global climate change, but this book finds little evidence of transition to sustainable low-carbon trajectories.

A simple solution to complicated statistical techniques and formulas! The Handbook of Formulas and Software for Plant Geneticists and Breeders is an up-to-date reference source that eliminates the need for hand calculations of complicated genetic formulas and equations. Contributions from members of the C1 Division of the Crop Science Society of America include computer program codes not found in Statistical Analysis System (SAS) and other commonly available statistical packages. The book provides an invaluable shortcut to sorting through piles of literature in search of programs that may have been published in abbreviated forms or never at all. The Handbook of Formulas and Software for Plant Geneticists and Breeders puts full-fledged program codes of specialized statistical and genetics-related software programs at your fingertips. It shows practicing geneticists, breeders, and students how to use specialized software through practical examples. The book is an excellent research and teaching tool in quantitative genetics and plant breeding, providing definitions of key terms and information on how to obtain desired software and key references. It also includes an extensive listing of programs available for linkage and mapping software that can be accessed through the Internet. The Handbook of Formulas and Software for Plant Geneticists and Breeders presents, among others, programs related to: genotype-by-environmental interaction (GEI) and stability analysis genetic diversity estimation best linear unbiased predictors (BLUPs) principal component and additive main effects and multiplicative interaction (AMMI) analyses quantitative trait loci -by-environment (QTL x E) analysis GGE biplot analysis diallel analyses path analysis trend analysis field plot technique The Handbook of Formulas and Software for Plant Geneticists and Breeders is essential for academics and researchers working in genetics, breeding, and genomics, and as a supplement for coursework in quantitative genetics and plant breeding.

A detailed assessment of the long-term outlook for the world's food supplies, nutrition and agriculture from the UN's agricultural research institute. Examining outcomes from 2015 to 2030, the book covers supply and demand for all major agricultural commodies and sectors. From this analysis, it examines the implications for trade, for nutrition and for undernourishment, the impact of future production on the environment and resource base, and how technology can contribute to a more sustainable development.

Throughout the tropical world, especially in South and Southeast Asia, tropical America, Africa and Oceania, there exists a range of forest garden farming systems. These are small, low-input, but productive and sustainable family units of highly diversified trees, palms, bushes and vines, with few conventional field crops or livestock. Providing a survey of these systems around the world and an in-depth analysis of the farms around Kandy, Sri Lanka, this book offers an economic and ecological description and evaluation of this ancient agroforestry system and its relationship to a wide range of global agro-development and environmental problems. Guided by a table that lists some 30 socio-economic and social criteria by which all farming systems can and should be evaluated, the book presents persuasive evidence supported by comprehensive references. It also examines historical and archaeological findings in order to assess the role these tropical forests played in the general adoption of agricultural farming.

Today the use of the term countryside reflects a dual historical shift due to the decreasing importance of agriculture - both in terms of employment and production - in European economies and the shift toward the environment. An increasing part of rural populations is being drawn into non-agricultural sectors such as tourism, construction, manufacturing, and the conventional and innovative services, thereby granting a more diversified and contemporary role to the countryside. The environmental shift has questioned many of the very fundamental premises governing the relationship between social practices and nature. Agenda 2000 and the ongoing debate concerning the CAP reforms are connected to a large extent with these new realities. This engaging book focuses on the prospects for the development of the Southern European countryside during a transitional period of a major policy paradigm shift. Bringing together case studies from Portugal, Spain, France, Italy and Greece, the book discusses the key issues mentioned above, as well as the restricting factors and prospects of the adjustments required.