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.

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.

Decision-making is a frequent problem in today's financial, business, and industrial world. Thus, fuzzy expert systems are increasingly being used to solve decision-making problems by attempting to solve a part or whole of a practical problem. These expert systems have proven that they can solve problems in various domains where human expertise is required, including the field of agriculture. Fuzzy Expert Systems and Applications in Agricultural Diagnosis is a crucial source that examines the use of fuzzy expert systems for prediction and problem solving in the agricultural industry. Featuring research on topics such as nutrition management, sustainable agriculture, and defuzzification, this book is ideally designed for farmers, researchers, scientists, academics, students, policymakers, and development practitioners seeking the latest research in technological tools that support crop disease diagnosis.

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.

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.

This second edition of Natural Enemies will give students, professionals, and anyone wishing to learn the basics of biological control a fully updated and thorough introduction. The book discusses the huge diversity of organisms used in the control of pests, weeds and plant pathogens, and compares the many different strategies referred to as 'biological control': the introduction of exotic natural enemies, application of predators, parasitoids, and microorganisms as biopesticides, and manipulation of the environment to enhance natural enemy populations. The authors present the ecological concepts which form the bases of biological control and discuss recent changes to make biological control safe for the environment. Case studies are included throughout, providing in-depth examples of the use of different organisms and strategies in a variety of ecosystems. A new chapter covers the current challenges; the impact of climate change, the problem of invasive species, and how biological control can aid sustainability.