J.G. Boswell was the biggest farmer in America. He built a secret empire while thumbing his nose at nature, politicians, labour unions and every journalist who ever tried to lift the veil on the ultimate "factory in the fields." The King of California is the previously untold account of how a Georgia slave-owning family migrated to California in the early 1920s,drained one of America's biggest lakes in an act of incredible hubris and carved out the richest cotton empire in the world. Indeed, the sophistication of Boswell's agricultural operation -from lab to field to gin - is unrivaled anywhere.Much more than a business story, this is a sweeping social history that details the saga of cotton growers who were chased from the South by the boll weevil and brought their black farmhands to California. It is a gripping read with cameos by a cast of famous characters, from Cecil B. DeMille to Cesar Chavez.

'Transgenic Crop Protection' explores chiefly scientific issues regarding the development of pest and disease resistant crops using genes transferred from other sources. One paper looks at the impact of transgenic crops on non-target species and the final two papers discuss the social implications of this science.

Soil bioventing is one of the most popular modern techniques for removing contaminants from soil. It has recently emerged as one of the most cost-effective and efficient technologies available for vadose zone remediation of petroleum-contaminated sites. This book explains in practical terms how to carry out a bioventing program. It is an interdisciplinary treatment of the subject, covering everything from basic physical and chemical properties of soils to site evaluation, project design, and post-bioventing monitoring.
The wide breadth of coverage makes Soil Bioventing useful to a large audience, including consulting firms, students, contractors, environmental managers, and anyone who is responsible for supervision of soil cleanup for regulatory reasons.

First published in 1995. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.

The purpose of this book is to assess a variety of economic issues as they relate to agro-biodiversity and show how addressing these issues can assist in agro-biodiversity policy-making. This is illustrated using empirical data from some of the countries (Ethiopia, Nepal and Zambia) which are part of the Genetic Resources Policy Initiative. The empirical chapters apply the relevant economic methods, including regression analysis, choice experiments, hedonic pricing, contingent valuation and farm business income analysis. The authors discuss the economics of managing crop diversity on-farm in the context of crop variety attribute preferences, farmers' perception of agro-biodiversity loss, and value addition and marketing of the products of traditional crop varieties. The case studies include detailed analysis of traditional varieties of groundnut, maize, rice, sorghum, and teff. The results are relevant not only to GRPI countries but also to other countries concerned with the sustainable utilization of these resources. Overall, the studies illustrate how genetic resources issues can be integrated into rural development interventions.

This book includes 20 different chapters, where the authors have addressed various aspects of the cultivation, taxonomy, socio-economic importance and breeding and development as applied to neglected and underutilized crops. The first chapter deals with the more general aspects of the cultivation and propagation of these crops, thirteen chapters concentrate on specific neglected crops, nine of which focus on seed propagated crops and the remaining four on vegetatively propagated ones, while the last five chapters describe the uses, importance, propagation and improvement of neglected and under-utilized crops from different regions of the world.

Research data is expensive and precious, yet it is seldom fully utilized due to our ability of comprehension. Graphical display is desirable, if not absolutely necessary, for fully understanding large data sets with complex interconnectedness and interactions. The newly developed GGE biplot methodology is a superior approach to the graphical analysis of research data and may revolutionize the way researchers analyze data. GGE Biplot Analysis: A Graphical Tool for Breeders, Geneticists, and Agronomists introduces the theory of the GGE biplot methodology and describes its applications in visual analysis of multi-environment trial (MET) data and other types of research data.

The text includes three parts: I) Genotype by environment interaction and stability analysis, II) GGE biplot and multi-environment trial (MET) data analysis, and III) GGE biplot software and applications in analyzing other types of two-way data. Part I presents a comprehensive but succinct treatment of genotype-by-environment (G x E) interaction in order to provide an overall picture of the entire G x E issue and to show how GGE biplot methodology fits in. Part II describes and demonstrates the numerous utilities of a GGE biplot in visualizing MET data. Part III describes the "GGE biplot" software and extends its application to the analysis of genotype by trait data, QTL mapping data, diallel cross data, and host by pathogen data. Altogether, this book demonstrates that the GGE biplot methodology is a superior data-visualization tool and allows the researcher to graphically extract and utilize the information from MET data and other types of two-way data to the fullest extent.

GGE Biplot Analysis makes this useful technology accessible on a wider scale to plant and animal breeders, geneticists, agronomists, ecologists, and students in these and other related research areas. The information presented here will greatly enhance researchers' ability to understand their data and will make a significant contribution toward helping to meet the challenges of food production and food security that currently face the world. Readers will be amazed to see how much more they can extract from their data by implementing the new and easily understood GGE biplot methods presented here and will soon agree that any delay in using this technique is a loss to their research achievement.

Mr. Faulkner's masterpiece is recognized as the most important challenge to agricultural orthodoxy that has been advanced in this century. Its new philosophy of the soil, based on proven principles and completely opposed to age-old concepts, has had a strong impact upon theories of cultivation around the world. It was on July 5, 1943, when Plowman's Folly was first issued, that the author startled a lethargic public, long bemused by the apparently insoluble problem of soil depletion, by saying, simply, ""The fact is that no one has ever advanced a scientific reason for plowing."" With the key sentence, he opened a new era.For generations, our reasoning about the management of the soil has rested upon the use of the moldboard plow. Mr. Faulkner proved rather conclusively that soil impoverishment, erosion, decreasing crop yields, and many of the adverse effects following droughts or periods of excessive rainfall could be traced directly to the practice of plowing natural fertilizers deep into the soil. Through his own test-plot and field-scale experiments, in which he prepared the soil with a disk harrow, in emulation of nature's way on the forest floor and in the natural meadow, by incorporating green manures into its surface, he transformed ordinary, even inferior, soils into extremely productive, high-yield croplands.Time magazine called this concept ""one of the most revolutionary ideas in agriculture history."" The volume is being made available again not only because farmers, ranchers, gardeners, and agriculturists demanded it, but also because it details the kind of ""revolution"" which will aid those searching for the fruits of the earth in the emerging nations.

Sustainable Use of Nanoparticles in Agriculture explores the specific challenges of understanding and applying the catalytic efficacy of nanotechnology for agricultural crop improvement. Focusing specifically on the nanomaterial-based metal organic frameworks as single atom catalysis to improve their applicability through innovations in the makeup, style and structure of those catalysts. Nano-nutrition is the implementation of nanotechnology to provide nano-sized nutrients to grow crops addressing both biotic and abiotic nutrients. As abiotic nutrients or NPs are obtained from inorganic substances such as salts, they post challenges as many of these are un-biodegradable whereas biotic nutrients are made from organic sources that are biodegradable and eco-friendly. This book presents research into nano-nutrition that has been undertaken to create a methodology for improving plant nutrition that is sustainable and effective. Sustainable Use of Nanoparticles in Agricultures focuses on utilizing nano-nutrition to improve plant productivity in both micro-and macronutrients on a wide scale without environmental risks. This book is an important reference for researchers and academics seeking insights into the potential means to improve crop plant health.

English summary: A collection of scientific articles on Italian efforts to limit microfungal infections and contamination in cereal production and products. Italian text. Italian summary: M.G. D'Egidio, A. Visconti, A Ersilio Desiderio E. Brugna, Il bando Miglioramento qualitativo delle produzioni cerealicole in relazione alla presenza di micotossine e il Progetto Valutazione e controllo della contaminazione da micotossine nelle produzioni cerealicole nazionali (MICOCER) E. Desiderio, Obiettivi e articolazioni del progetto interregionale MICOCER C. Brera, F. Debegnach, B. De Santis, E. Pannunzi, C. Berdini, E. Prantera, M. Miraglia, Validazione di metodi immunoenzimatici per la determinazione delle micotossine in campioni di cereali M. Pascale, M. Haidukowski, A. Visconti, G. Aureli, M.G. D'Egidio, E. Desiderio, L. Plizzari, M. Corbellini, Confronto tra metodi ELISA e HPLC per la determinazione del deossinivalenolo (DON) in frumento tenero e duro G. Aureli, M.G. D'Egidio, A. Belocchi, E. Desiderio, Monitoraggio delle produzioni nazionali di frumento duro per la presenza di deossinivalenolo (DON) L. Plizzari, A. Brandolini, E. Desiderio, Monitoraggio della presenza di deossinivalenolo (DON) nella granella di frumento tenero A. Verderio, N. Berardo, A. Ferrari, P. Lagana, C. Lanzanova, A. Pietri, Le micotossine nelle produzioni italiane di mais E. Desiderio, G. Aureli, D. Conti, G. Mazzieri, M. Pascale, A. Belocchi, M. Fornara, Percorsi produttivi per la prevenzione della contaminazione da deossinivalenolo (DON) nel frumento duro M. Blandino, A. Reyneri, M. Pascale, M. Haidukowski, M. Corbellini, L. Plizzari, G. Mazzieri, D. Scudellari, Percorsi produttivi per la prevenzione della contaminazione da deossinivalenolo nel frumento tenero A. Reyneri, M. Blandino, A. Bondi, G. Colombari, T. Mancuso, A. Pietri, Percorsi produttivi per la prevenzione delle micotossine nel mais G. Piva, A. Pietri, A. Gallo, Micotossine: fattore limitante nelle produzioni animali

Pesticides continue to provide an important tool in integrated pest management (IPM) programmes. Hitherto IPM programmes have had a strong bias towards insect control, but farmers need to control weeds, plant pathogens and other pest problems.This book follows the author's successful "pesticide application methods" by relating the equipment needs to the overall pest control requirement of major crops. It outlines the pest problems against which farmers are using pesticides and focusses on the details of the application techniques they need to optimise pesticide use.Much attention is now being given to genetically modified crops, but these do not necessarily avoid the use of pesticides. Some are engineered to be resistant to certain herbicides, so the use of these herbicides will still require careful application in order to minimise environmental side effects. Similarly, crops engineered for resistance to certain insect pest species may remain susceptible to other pests, thus emphasising the need for crop monitoring and careful use of any chemicals to avoid disrupting biological control.

Looking for ways to sow and grow successfully? Take inspiration from Jekka McVicar's wide-ranging experience to produce outstanding results.
Seeds offers invaluable practical hints to help first-time growers and experienced gardeners alike reap the benefits of nature's most miraculous process. As well as basic information about different types of seeds, how they are pollinated and fertilized and advice about when to harvest, how to sort and store seeds, there is detailed information on over 500 genera, encompassing entries for alpines, annuals, grasses, trees, herbs, and vegetables.
Simple step-by-step planting guides emphasize a hands-on approach to growing based on organic principles, and planting directions detail the equipment and materials you will need, as well as the ideal time and conditions for sowing. If you have ever been frustrated by alpine seeds which refused to germinate, or basil seedlings that failed to thrive, or simply want to know how to grow healthy specimens from seeds taken from your garden plants, Jekka's clear and straightforward instructions will increase your chances of success every time.
Use these tried and tested techniques to give you all the confidence and knowledge you need to manage the plants you choose. Stunning illustrations, useful seed suppliers, and handy cross-references combine to make this book a vital companion for anyone who wants to make their growing space a lasting source of pleasure and achievement.