Currently, there is a need for new management practices for fruit orchards in order to sustain the growth and productivity of various fruit crops. In addition, due to the continuous growth in the world's population, there is a demand for adequate food which is produced from the same sources of water and soils. The main factors limiting agricultural production are droughts and the population growth; this makes it important to prevent fruit production from being subject to climatic hazards. This book enhances the growth and productivity of fruit trees through different techniques, such as artificial intelligence optimization for soil conditioner, site-specific nutrient management in orchards in fertilizing as an application of smart agriculture, irrigation, modeling of parameters of water requirements in fruit orchards, and up-to-date trends in vineyard practices. The book also explores pest control on orchards to increase the efficiency of pesticides and protect the environment and discusses the shading of citrus orchards to avoid negative impacts such as rising temperatures and heatwaves on citrus productivity. Finally, the book discusses the carbon and water footprint for various fruit orchards. This book is ideal for researchers and academics of horticultural science, agricultural organizations, fruit growers, and economics and data analyzers.

This comprehensive study explores the influence and organization of the Swedish farmers' movement in the 20th century. The first such study of its kind to appear in print, the analysis focuses on the ways in which the movement has represented its members in light of the myriad social, political, and economic changes that have affected its strategy, tactics, and overall position within the Swedish economy. Writing for scholars of political economy in general and Scandinavian area studies in particular, the author both explains the history of the incorporation of the interest organizations of farmers into the Swedish state and fully examines the effect of current reforms that are forcing the farmers' movement to change its traditional structures and ways of thinking.

Among the issues addressed by the author are the advantages and disadvantages of the corporatist exchange for the farmers' movement and the important role played by farmers in the electoral politics of Sweden's political parties. Micheletti concludes that vote maximization is an important reason for the concern shown by the parties for the interests of farmers. She further discusses the development of Swedish agricultural policy, the changes in policy resulting from social democracy, and the role played by consumer interest organizations within the Swedish social democratic system. Throughout, Micheletti emphasizes the influence of Swedish political traditions and the prevailing political culture as well as the impact of international developments in the current reform of agriculture in Sweden. How the farmer's movement copes with the changes and the new issues of the environment and deregulation are also a key focus of inquiry.

Freedom Mazwi examines patterns of agricultural finance in Zimbabwe since the radical Fast Track Land Resettlement Programme (FTLRP) was implemented in 2000-and, especially, the varying impact that the FTLRP reforms have had not only on land use, but also on the well-being of farmers.Focusing on contract farming in the tobacco and sugarcane sectors, Mazwi offers penetrating insights into social contradictions and power relations in Zimbabwe's rural areas. He also assesses the institutional finance mechanisms that have emerged in response to the radical land reforms and reflects on the related political and economic isolation of the country since 2000. Not least, he suggests how agrarian policy could be restructured to better benefit small-scale farmers.

Silk is an expensive fabric that is valued for its texture and durability. Learn how silk is harvested from silkworm cocoons with this STEAM book that will ignite a curiosity about STEAM topics through real-world examples. Created in collaboration with the Smithsonian Institution, this book features a hands-on STEAM challenge that is perfect for makerspaces and that guides students step-by-step through the engineering design process. Make STEAM career connections with career advice from actual Smithsonian employees working in STEAM fields. Introduce early science topics to young readers with this book that is ideal for 1st grade students or ages 5-7.

In the current era, there are many environmental and energy challenges facing the agricultural sector, which negatively impact the climate, business, industry, and society. Through modern technologies and engineering, however, these challenges are now able to be met with solutions. There is a need for research in this area so that the industry can continue to be sustainable. Human Agro-Energy Optimization for Business and Industry presents research on humanized optimization approaches for smart energy and the agro-business industry. It is a critical scholarly resource that examines the efficient use of modern smart farming and renewable energy sources, which have a positive impact on sustainable development. Covering topics such as biomass characterization, energy efficiency, and sustainable development, this premier reference source is an essential resource for agricultural scientists, engineers, government officials, software developers, managers, business leaders, executive officers, students and educators of higher education, librarians, researchers, and academicians.

The Author of this book sets out to show how a fascinating hobby can become a profit making pursuit. He does not attempt to encourage new Apiarists to take up the hobby primarily to make money, but he demonstrates from much experience that careful Bee-Keeping inevitably means good results. He is an enthusiast who describes with relish the various phases of the Bee-Keeper's year. He imparts hints to others as gleaned from his own hives and points out the many pitfalls that beset both the Amateur and even the Apiarist of some experience. The scope of this carefully detailed work can be estimated from the following selection from its contents list: Hives, purchase and construction Apparatus and Protective Clothing Purchase of Bees Manipulation Supers and Sections Swarms Queen Bees and Queen Cells Heather Honey Robbing and it's Prevention Extraction of Honey Bottling and Storing Marketing of Honey Bee Diseases The Year's Work Month by Month. Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. Hesperides Press are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork.Stuart, F.S.Hesperides Press5.5 x 8.5 in or 216 x 140 mm (Demy 8vo) Perfect Bound15.9525%27.4525%228TEC003020

This book analyses the decollectivization reform in China during the early 1980s in order to gauge the impact of post-Mao decentralization on central control and provincial discretion. The volume challenges the notion that the decision to decentralize administrative authority ipso facto produces local discretion properly keyed to local conditions. In fact, outcomes often differ from the intended goals. While, generally, local interests and central-local clientilistic networks determine the policy responses of the provinces, bureaucratic careerism also plays a crucial role. In the case of post-Mao decollectivization, national-level analyses suggest that a majority of provinces adopted household farming neither too quickly nor too slowly, since both 'pioneering' and 'resisting' entailed potentially enormous political risks. Once Beijing's preference appeared firmly fixed, however, they all quickly bandwagoned by popularizing the policy as swiftly as possible. Three detailed case studies of Anhui as a pioneer, Shandong as a bandwagoner, and Heilongjiang as a resister further highlight the evolutionary process in which provincial variations came to be replaced by uniform compliance imposed by Beijing. Theoretically, this study contends that the overall scope of local discretion is circumscribed by the dominant norms and incentive relations embedded in the implementation dynamics. Methodologically, the book employs a combination of aggregate analyses and comparative case studies. Empirically, on the basis of newly available materials (including classified documents) and interviews, it challenges the 'peasant-power' school which has somehow allowed local governments to evaporate in its descriptions of post-Mao decollectivization.

Explores soil as a nexus for water, chemicals, and biologically coupled nutrient cycling Soil is a narrow but critically important zone on Earth's surface. It is the interface for water and carbon recycling from above and part of the cycling of sediment and rock from below. Hydrogeology, Chemical Weathering, and Soil Formation places chemical weathering and soil formation in its geological, climatological, biological and hydrological perspective. Volume highlights include: The evolution of soils over 3.25 billion years Basic processes contributing to soil formation How chemical weathering and soil formation relate to water and energy fluxes The role of pedogenesis in geomorphology Relationships between climate soils and biota Soils, aeolian deposits, and crusts as geologic dating tools Impacts of land-use change on soils The American Geophysical Union promotes discovery in Earth and space science for the benefit of humanity. Its publications disseminate scientific knowledge and provide resources for researchers, students, and professionals. Find out more about this book from this Q&A with the Editors

A comprehensive guide to the management of bees and to the production of honey for home and market. Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. Hesperides Press are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork. Contents Include: Bee Keeping As a Practical Proposition - How Bees Work - The Modern Beehive - Frames and Comb Foundation - Other Essential Appliances - The Various Races of Honey Bees - Making a Start - Handling Bees - The Honey Harvest - Swarming - Feeding, Wintering, and Spring Management - Uniting and Increasing Stocks - Queen Rearing - Extracting and Handling Honey - Other Items of Importance - A Bee-Keeper's Calendar - Pests and Diseases - Marketing Honey