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      • Chemistry
        April 2023

        Biodiversity

        Concepts, Crises, and Conservation

        by Vir Singh

        The variety of life the Planet Earth flowers with is a wonderful culmination of natural evolution. All natural ecosystems and cultivated lands blossoming with biodiversity set out the preconditions for a healthy, vibrant, and sustainable biosphere. Authored by an eminent academician, expert, and celebrated author, the book on Biodiversity: Concepts, Crises and Conservation embraces all dimensions of the biological diversity we need to conceive, understand, recognize, discover, and practically protect, conserve, and augment for posterity, sustainability, and happiness. Emerging concepts, ongoing crises, and potential conservation tactics of biodiversity have been ecstatically explained. The book is composed in a textbook flavor setting out mental agility exercises for students belonging to multiple disciplines and comes out with renewed, enriched, and innovation-disrupting academic content. Apart from the students and their teachers in the life sciences/ biological sciences, environmental sciences, agricultural sciences, geography, and natural resource management streams, the book will also serve as a useful guide for planners, policy-makers, environmental activists, government, and non-government organizations. FEATURES Provides diverse concepts, crises, and conservation strategies Elaborates on a wide range of biodiversity values · Presents magnificent scenarios of agrobiodiversity (biodiversity in agriculture), pedo-biodiversity (biodiversity in soils), biodiversity in the chemosynthesis-based communities Examines biodiversity-climate links Discusses the vital biodiversity-sustainability relationships · Elucidates biodiversity-based sustainability principles and operationalization techniques

      • Geology & the lithosphere
        May 2017

        Landslide Research

        The DST Initiative

        by SM. Ramasamy & Bhoop Singh

        The book Landslide Research- The DSTs Initiatives is a compilation of over 21 Scientific articles on various aspects of Landslides viz: Overviews, Earth system processes and Landslides, Landslide hazard Zonation mapping, Geotechnical investigations, instrumentation and early warning of Landslides, Satellite based monitoring of Landslides, site specific investigations etc. These articles are the outcome of the studies carried by various academicians, researchers and the research institutions under the funding of NRDMS/DST in different geological provinces of Indian subcontinent. These articles provide wider and deeper spectrum of information on earth system processes like post collision tectonics of Shillong plateau, Churachandpur-Mao fault and up-warping of Tirumalai hills and the Landslides; different geo-spatial and geo-statistical techniques and optimisation of methods for Landslide hazard zonation mapping from Western Ghats of South India, BIS based methods of LHZ mapping and Geotechnical investigations encompassing RMR, SMR & Kinematic studies of landslides of northeastern region; instrumentation and forewarning of Jakhri Landslides, wireless sensor based Landslide monitoring of Munnar (Kerala); SAR interferometery based monitoring of Nainital and Mansadevi landslides; and site specific landslides studies of Kailasaur (Himalayas), Rawana slides (Himachal Pradesh), geophysical studies of Landslides of Mizoram region, Malin landslides (Maharashtra) , techniques of diagnosing active movements from Nilgiris etc.

      • Geology & the lithosphere
        May 2017

        Geology

        Principles and Practical Manual

        by Rajeeva Guhey

        This book discusses the fundamental principles of different branches of geology prescribed in the syllabus, so that the students acquire basic knowledge of the subject. The book consists of basic concepts and practical aspects of these subjects as prescribed syllabus of Civil and Mining Engineering courses in various Universities and Institutes.

      • Agriculture & farming
        September 2022

        Pests of Fruit Crops

        by Nripendra Laskar, Victor Phani & Supriya Biswas

        Among the leading fruit producing countries in the world, India ranks second only after China. Fruits play pivotal role in mitigating nutritional requirement of the society as well as providing employment opportunity, especially in the agriculture dominated rural agrarian economy of the developing countries like India. In the age of Hi-tech Horticulture, introduction of new fruit crops resulted in the paradigm shift in fruit crop cultivation. Climatic changes and increment in cropping intensity reflected in a remarkable and rapid shift of fruit ecosystem. Biotic stresses like insect, mite and nematode pests etc. have also been increasing day by day. These pest problems in fruit crop cultivation are now changing in a dynamic fashion in close association with the change in cropping system and the environment. To protect the fruit crops from insect pest devastation, synthetic poisonous chemicals are the quick and easy solution which are being used indiscriminately. Considering the ill effects of these hard-to-degrade synthetic chemical pesticides, integrated approaches are the only answer to combat such a complex and dreaded problem. The integrated approach comprises cultural, mechanical, biological and ecological management strategies in association with need based and safe pesticidal chemicals. Some pesticides have also been banned for using in horticultural crop cultivation, some others are withdrawn. But information with regard to these phenomena are scattered. In this compilation, an exhaustive effort has been undertaken to compile them. In addition to elaborating the host range, distribution, marks of identification, mode of feeding and symptoms of infestation, bionomics of the pests, biological control, pesticide residue problem and measures to mitigate it have been presented by the experts from different Institutes of repute from all over India.

      • Mineralogy & gems
        January 2009

        A Handbook of Minerals, Crystals, Rocks and Ores

        by P.O. Alexander

        The book is divided into four sections, minerals, crystals, rocks and ores. Section A incorporates nine chapterss, begins with presenting salient features of the earth--its structure and composition. The second Minerals and Mineralogy briefly tells about their diversity and their categorisation and introduces the interesting way they are named. Crystal chemistry the third is the heart and soul of mineralogy and deals in somewhat details about the building blocks of minerals -atoms and ions and the way they form diverse types of minerals are. It tries to tell why every combination of chemical compounds cannot result into a naturally occurring mineral. The fourth and fifth s deal with Properties of Minerals, physical and optical. The section describe various physical properties that are helpful in the identification both in hand specimens and as thin section under the microscope. These two s are adequately aided with a number of illustrations, photographs and photomicrographs to bring home the point. five deals with classification of minerals and their occurrence and forms a prelude to the next two s on descriptive mineralogy. Important silicate and non silicate minerals are described in s eight and nine. A brief description of mineral uses is dealt with in both descriptive mineralogy as well Section D on mineral deposits, however, the last , Mineral uses presents an overall picture and will be interesting as well as educating to students and even general reader. Section B is devoted to crystals and crystallography. one introduces the subject while two presents basic crystallographic elements. three deals with the main six crystals systems while also giving a preliminary idea about stereographic projection and x-ray crystallography. Section C covers petrology, beginning with introduction to science of petrology, rock nomenclature. two is devoted to the study of igneous rocks, including their forms, composition, textures, structures, classification and description. Sedimentary rocks is the theme of three while different aspects of metamorphic rocks including kinds and agents of metamorphism and classification and description of metamorphism. The last portion of this also considers metamorphism in the background of global tectonics. five, the rock cycle presents a concise summary of geological events that have shaped the planet earth. The last section D is what geology is all about for a man on the street and its significance in nation building--the Ore minerals. It begins with what ore is and its place in human affairs as a well as presenting the important terminology in economic geology. two deals with ore genesis and presents various hypogene and supergene process that carves out ore deposits from non economic materials. three, mineral deposits and global tectonics is becoming a very popular theme among the earth scientists. A brief introduction of the same will be certainly appreciated by the student community and prompt them for further study in this direction. A general survey of Indias mineral resources is the theme of four. It covers almost all of the commonly used ores, metallic, non metallic or fuels. The last of section D and the boom, Indian mineral industry: some facts and figures will present where our country stands in the realm of mineral resources. Latest available data of resources, production, export, import, organisations that matter and other useful facts and figures are presented.

      • Management of land & natural resources
        February 2021

        A Practical Manual on Geology and Soils

        by A.S. Mailappa

        Soil Science is a unique discipline concerning a complex material that is part of many natural and utilitarian systems. Geology is the applied discipline of science and is now established as an interdisciplinary subject within agriculture, soil and environmental science as the agriculturists and soil /environmental scientists heavily require geological knowledge and information to apply in the field.This book is a easy ready reckoner cum reference on geology and soils for the undergraduate students of Agriculture, Horticulture and Forestry. The author has presented his academic & professional experience and conception on all aspects of geology and soils, and the book is written in a very simpler and lucid manner.This book is primarily intended for the students and scientists associated with agriculture and allied disciplines, for having a better understanding, a prerequisite for progressing ahead in acquiring in-depth knowledge on the application aspects of soil science in relation to crop growth.

      • Meteorology & climatology
        June 2021

        Agrometeorology and Climate Change

        by Alok Kumar Patra & Subrata Kumar Chand

        Weather is a basic input for agriculture. It affects the agricultural planning in a big way starting from land preparation to harvesting, processing and transportation. Thus, climate and weather may be considered as the most critical factor determining the sustainability of agricultural systems. Agrometeorology is now recognised as a full-fledged discipline and recommended as a core subject in the curriculum of the agricultural universities. The book covers the syllabus of the course Introductory Agrometeorology and Climate Change meant for undergraduate students of agriculture, horticulture and forestry.

      • Rural planning
        March 2017

        Livestock Meteorology

        by GSLHV Prasada Rao

        Weather and climate play an important role in animal husbandry and livestock production. While climate determines the adaptability of a particular animal in a given region, weather determines animal health and day-to-day performance. Altogether twenty seven chapters are included in this book, covering basic aspects of atmospheric phenomena and its applications in the field of animal agriculture. In nutshell, the textbook revolves around basic concepts of livestock meteorology, effects of various weather elements and indices on animal physiology, relevance of modification of microclimate, livestock advisory based on weather forewarning, effects of weather and climate on diseases including UV radiation effects, meteorological instruments, units and computations, statistical methods in livestock meteorology and climatology of India. This is unique publication and is of immense use to the students, faculty members, researchers, scientists and students of animal husbandry, livestock meteorology, climate science. climate change and animal agriculture. It will be a reference material to all those who are interested to understand the impact of weather and climate on animal husbandry and livestock management. The Editors earnest hope is that the textbook will be widely read and discussed among the scientific community in the field of climate change and animal agriculture.

      • Hydrology & the hydrosphere
        January 2006

        Practical Isotope Hydrology

        by S.M.Rao

        The book highlights, with practical examples, the potential of isotope techniques in water resources development and management. It starts with a description of isotope characteristics as well as their relevance as tracers in studies on various stages of the hydrological cycle. The book covers applications of both environmental isotopes and injected tracers to surface water and groundwater bodies as well as their interrelationships. In view of the importance of identification of groundwater recharge and recharge processes, due emphasis is given to this aspect of application of environmental isotopes. Role of isotopes in understanding groundwater contamination from natural pollutants like inland salinity, arsenic and nitrate is discussed with examples.

      • Soil science, sedimentology
        March 2021

        Fundamentals of Soil Science

        by A Raja Rajan

        Soil is a finite resource and its loss and degradation is not recoverable within a human lifespan. Soils affect the food we eat, the water we drink, the air we breathe and our overall health and the health of all organisms on the planet. Without healthy soils, we would not be able to grow our food, or meet our fibre and fodder requirements. It is estimated that 95 per cent of our food is directly or indirectly produced on our soils. The book provides the basic understanding of the soil, its nature, properties and functions. It has been attempted to present in a logical sequence all basic information about soils, from the definition of soil to how they are formed, the factors and processes governing their formation, their intrinsic properties, classification, functions, and the role they play in the global environment today and for a sustainable tomorrow. Emphasis on soil quality and soil health care has been laid as it is the order of the day. The 32 chapters of the book will provide a wealth of information for those looking to take their first deep dive into the realm of soils.

      • Soil science, sedimentology
        June 2023

        Soil Organic Matter

        by A.Raja Rajan

        This book dwells on soil organic matter in its entirety: the composition, distribution, pools and reactive functional groups of soil organic matter; its decomposition, nutrient transformations and biochemistry of humus formation; its role in pedogenic processes; adsorption of organic compounds by clay; clay-organic matter complexes; humus - trace metals and humus - pesticides interactions; environmental significance of humic substances and characterization of soil organic matter. The potentials of nuclear techniques in the study of soil organic matter have been elucidated for the benefit of research scholars. Various management practices for building organic matter in soils have also been discussed. A compilation of qualitative and quantitative analytical procedures on organic matter complements the book. The book will be a useful source material for researchers, scholars and all stakeholders concerned with soil organic matter and sustainable agriculture.

      • Geographical information systems (GIS) & remote sensing
        September 2017

        Soil Resources and Its Mapping Through Geostatistics Using R and QGIS

        by Priyabrata Santra, Mahesh Kumar, N.R. Panwar & C.B. Pandey

        This book will provide an exposure to recent developments in the field of geostatistical modeling, spatial variability of soil resources, and preparation of digital soil maps using R and GIS and potential application of it in agricultural resource management. Specifically following major areas are covered in the book.

      • Geography & the Environment
        January 2011

        Numerical Methods and Models in Earth Science

        by Parthasarathi Ghosh

        "Understanding earth systems and its dynamic behavior requires objective insights into the complex observational data sets and their interrelationships. Drawing meaningful inferences from such data is not always an easy task as the deterministic relationships between various geological variables often remain obscured. These interrelationships need to be determined empirically through the analysis of a large set of data and validated through numerical simulations. The ever widening horizon of techniques of numerical analysis and simulation now provides a good number of tools to aid the interpretation. However, due to the inherent complexity of earth science data, expert supervision is required at all stages of analysis from collection to dissemination. This ensures that the most appropriate methodology is adopted and the results remain consistent with the geological principles. Discussions on these practical issues often lie beyond the scope of textbooks and this is precisely where this book is placed. In this book eminent geoscientists present their experiences in analyzing and managing earth science data as well as in designing numerical models to simulate earth processes. Apart from giving a discourse of their own approach towards a particular research problem they also discuss at length the relative merits of alternative methodologies. These seven authoritative articles, richly illustrated, will be a valuable resource for research students and professionals interested in research and teaching in various branches of earth science like, tectonics, GPS geodesy, sedimentology, geographical information science, and evolutionary biology."

      • Meteorology & climatology
        August 2015

        Principles and Applications of Agricultural Meteorology

        by Alok Kumar Patra

        Weather and climate is a natural resource which is considered as a basic input in agricultural planning. It affects all the agricultural activities directly or indirectly. Agrometeorology is primarily concerned with the interactions among meteorological, hydrological and pedological factors that influence production systems in agriculture and allied sectors like horticulture, animal husbandry, fishery, forestry, etc. Thus the role of an agrometeorologist is to define all these interactions, to correlate physical environments with biological responses and apply the relevant meteorological skills to help farmers for exploiting weather conditions and improve agricultural production both in quality and quantity. This book is primarily based on the syllabus of the course ‘Agricultural Meteorology meant for under graduate students of agriculture, horticulture and forestry. This book has been divided into twenty three chapters covering all aspects of agrometeorology. Concepts, definition, importance and scope, history and future needs of agrometeorology are described in Chapter 1. Chapter 2 details the basic information of atmosphere. Chapter 3 to chapter 13 include the weather parameters like radiation, temperature, humidity, evaporation, fog and dew, pressure, wind, clouds, monsoon and precipitation and their importance in agriculture. Applied aspects of meteorology like climatic hazards, agroclimatic classification, micrometeorology of crops, weather in relation to crop pests and diseases, weather in relation to animal production, climate change, weather forecasting, remote sensing and crop simulation modelling are discussed in Chapter 14 to chapter 22. Chapter 23 describes the features of an agrometeorological observatory.

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