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      • Trusted Partner
        Organic farming
        January 1997

        Cucurbits

        by R W Robinson, D Decker-Walters

        Cucurbits include cucumbers, gourds, muskmelons, pumpkins, squashes and watermelons. As such they represent one of the largest and most important groups of horticultural food plants, and are grown throughout the world. In common with other books in this series, the aim of this book is to present the scientific principles that relate to the biology and production of these crops, in a way that is accessible to a non-specialist audience. The first chapter describes the distribution, taxonomy, morphology and anatomy of cucurbits, before discussing their growth and development. The next two chapters cover evolution, uses, chemical composition, genetics and breeding. There is then a discussion of the main crops, including their botany, origin, uses, cultivars, breeding and culture. The book covers production in both greenhouses and in the open field, and in developing as well as industrialised countries. Overall, the book provides a comprehensive but succinct review, suitable for students of horticulture as well as scientifically-inclined growers.

      • Trusted Partner
        Organic farming
        February 2007

        Nutrition and Feeding of Organic Pigs

        by Robert Blair

        Organic animal production has increased rapidly in recent years to keep up with the increasing consumer demand for organic meats. There are many guidelines and restrictions on what go into the feedstuffs of organically farmed animals, from which difficulties arise when trying to ensure a well balanced nutritious diet without the use of any supplements. The first comprehensive text on feeding organic pigs, this book presents advice on formulating appropriate diets and integrating them into organic pig production systems. It outlines the international standards of organic feeding, the breeds of pig that are most suitable for organic farming, up to date information on the nutritional requirements of pigs, and examples of diets formulated to organic standards.

      • Trusted Partner
        Organic farming
        August 1994

        Ornamental Bedding Plants

        by Allan M Armitage

        Traditionally, bedding plants are those plants used to provide colour in summer garden beds. Although some writers include any herbaceous plant started under controlled environmental conditions and sold for outdoor use, embracing a number of fruit and vegetable crops, in this book ornamental bedding plants include tender herbaceous ornamental annuals and biennials only. As with other titles in this series, the aim of this book is to present scientific principles that underlie production practices. The author discusses traditional and plug methods of production, the latter having revolutionized mass market production during the last decade. The principles of propagation and growing on, including the role of nutrition and media, temperature, light, supplemental carbon dioxide and growth regulators, are described. Aspects of postproduction, diseases and pests, and mechanization, are also considered. There is also an appendix providing production guidelines for 15 major bedding plant species, including begonia, impatiens, petunia, marigolds and pansies. Written by one of America’s foremost horticultural scientists and writers, the book is invaluable for plant producers or growers, as well as for students of ornamental or amenity horticulture.

      • Trusted Partner
        Technology, Engineering & Agriculture
        December 2017

        Fair Trade and Organic Agriculture

        A Winning Combination?

        by Priyanka Parvathi, Ulrike Grote, Hermann Waibel, Arnab Basu, Lee Buyers, Rene Capote, Ricardo Fort, Ulrike Grote, Casey Goldvale, Ulrich Hamm, Pradyot Ranjan Jena, Linda Kleemann, Katharina Krumbiegel, Julia Lernoud, Priyanka Parvathi, Yu Hui Qiao, Ruerd Ruben, Rosa Scheenbecker, Till Stellmacher, Romane Viennet, Hermann Waibel, Helga Willer, Meike Wollni, Katrin Zander

        The markets for organic and fair trade certified commodities are growing rapidly, with environmentally sound and more equitable certification systems likely to offer benefits for both small-scale farmers and society at large. Despite much debate about their contribution to sustainability, there has been little scientific analysis, so it is vital to assess if it is technically and economically feasible to meet growing consumer demands regarding food safety, quality and ethics through smallholder and marginal producers. Overall, there is a need to explore the potential of these certification systems as emerging areas in research and development cooperation. This book includes: - Worldwide case studies (from the supply side in Asia, Africa, and Latin America; and from the demand side in Europe and North America) to put theory into practice. - Analyses of sustainable development and poverty reduction through organic and fair trade markets. - Insights into the conditions where it is beneficial for developing country smallholder producers to adopt fair trade and organic certification systems. - Investigation into whether consumers will pay more for a product that is both organic and fair trade certified. This book is an important read for researchers and students in agricultural and development economics, and it is also a useful resource for policy makers and practitioners involved in organic and fair trade agriculture.

      • Trusted Partner
        Technology, Engineering & Agriculture
        November 2019

        Organic Food Systems

        Meeting the Needs of Southern Africa

        by Raymond Auerbach

        Organic agriculture world-wide allows farmers to produce healthy food with low levels of external inputs, and often shortens the value chains, giving farmers a higher share of the consumer dollar. This book reports on long-term comparative organic farming systems research trials carried out over the last four years in South Africa's Southern Cape, as well as research on the organic sector and the technical tools it requires in South Africa, Zambia, Uganda and Tanzania. The trials show how the yield gap between organic and conventional crops was closed over 3 years. Water use efficiency was also greater in the organic farming system, and pests and diseases were effectively controlled using biological products. Farmer training approaches, soil carbon analysis, participatory guarantee systems, the Zambian organic farming sector (agronomy) and Ugandan organic farmer training support, and a sector plan for southern African organic farming are examined.

      • Technology, Engineering & Agriculture
        November 2018

        Improving organic crop cultivation

        by Prof. Ulrich Köpke, Dr H. Spieß, Dr B. Schmehe, Dr C. Vollenweider, Dr Steven P. C. Groot, Dr Maaike H. J. E. Raaijmakers, Prof. C. Watson, Dr E. A. Stockdale, Prof. Peter Von Fragstein und Niemsdorff, Prof. Bernhard Freyer, Dr Maike Krauss, Dr Paul Mäder, Dr Joséphine Peigné, Dr Julia Cooper, Dr Peter Sørensen, Dr Luca Bechini, Dr Lars Stoumann Jensen, Prof. Lidia Sas Paszt, Dr Slawomir Gluszek, Prof. Michael J. Goss, Dr Adrian Unc, Dr Wilfried Ehlers, Prof. M. R. Finckh, Dr S. M. Junge, Dr J. H. Schmidt, Dr O. D. Weedon, Dr Bernhard Speiser, Dr Hans-Jakob Schärer, Dr Lucius Tamm, Prof. Paolo Bàrberi, Dr Susanne Padel, Dr A. Muller, Dr M. Meier, Dr C. Schader, Dr A. Gattinger, Dr M. Steffens, Dr Thomas F. Döring, Dr Lukas Pfiffner, Dr Laura Armengot, Dr Kirsten Brandt, Dr R. Onwonga, Dr K. P. Sibuga, Dr H. Nduku, Dr L. Sigsgaard, Dr A. Saria, Dr L. Shechambo, Dr M. M. Caceres, Dr C. Chepkoech, Dr Q. Genga, Prof. Raphael Wahome, Dr N. Halberg, Dr H. Høgh-Jensen, Prof. Victor Olowe, Pro

        Global sales of organic products have grown significantly, yet organic farming remains a small percentage of overall agricultural production with lower yields than conventional methods. Organic crop cultivation thus faces a range of challenges if it is to grow significantly. This volume reviews the wealth of research addressing these challenges.Part 1 reviews developments in improving cultivation across the value chain, from breeding more robust, low input varieties to ways of maintaining soil health and improving crop nutrition. Part 2 discusses the key topic of pests and diseases with reviews of integrated pest and weed management as well as organic plant protection products. Part 3 covers ways of monitoring the environmental impact of organic farming whilst the final part of the book discusses ways of supporting organic cultivation in the developing world.With its distinguished editor and an international team of expert authors, this will be a standard reference for all those interested in understanding, improving and promoting organic farming.

      • Organic farming
        June 2018

        Achieving sustainable production of pig meat Volume 1

        Safety, quality and sustainability

        by Prof. Alan Mathew

        Pig meat is the most widely-consumed meat in the world. Previous growth in production has relied, in part, on more intensive systems. In meeting rising demand, these systems face challenges such as the ongoing threat of zoonotic diseases, the need to improve feed efficiency in the face of rising costs, the need to reduce the environmental impact of pig production and increasing concerns about animal welfare.This volume looks first at the main zoonoses affecting pigs and how they can be controlled. It then reviews the latest research on aspects of meat quality such as flavour, colour, texture and nutritional quality. Finally, it assesses ways of monitoring and reducing the environmental impact of pig production.With its distinguished editor and international team of expert authors, this will be a standard reference for researchers in swine science, producers, government and other organisations involved in supporting pig production. It is accompanied by two companion volumes which focus on animal breeding, nutrition, health and welfare.

      • Agriculture & farming
        July 2021

        Agricultural Engineering

        A Practical Manual

        by P. Kandaswamy

        This book on Agricultural Engineering integrates post harvest engineering, protected cultivation, land surveying and soil-water conservation engineering. The book organizes the scattered information and provides better practical skills to the students and to serve as a practical reference book for the undergraduate students of Agricultural Science, Horticulture and Agricultural Engineering. The book includes different topics as per the undergraduate agricultural science curriculum. The book will suit to the needs of Agricultural Polytechnics, Trainees of professional training institutions including post harvest laboratories, KVK, Soil Conservations Training Centres.

      • Horticulture
        July 2019

        Principles of Organic Farming (With Theory and Practicals)

        With Theory and Practicals

        by E. Somasundaram, D. Udhaya Nandhini & M. Meyyappan

        Principles of Organic Farming is a practical oriented text to organic crop management that provides background information as well as details of ecology-improving practices. This book is meant to give the reader a holistic appreciation of the principles and importance of organic farming and to suggest ecologically sound practices that help to develop and maintain sustainable agriculture. This book represents a current and uated look at what we know about organic farming practices and systems, primarily from the Indian perspectives. This book is intended as a professional basic textbook for undergraduate level students and will specifically meet out the requirement of the students of organic farming being taught in all the agricultural universities across the globe. In addition, the purpose of this work is to spread the basic concepts of organic farming in order to; guide the production systems towards a sustainable agriculture and ecologically safe, obtain harmless products of higher quality, contribute to food security, generating income through the access to markets and improve working conditions of farmers and their neighborhoods. This book provides attention of one and all concerned to promote organic farming as a measure to provide the elites to posterity and to save our farm land that inherited from forefathers from being degraded and made in to wastelands through our excessive interventions.

      • Agriculture & farming
        July 2015

        Tractors and Agricultural Machinery

        2nd Fully Revised and Updated Edition

        by K. Srinivasan, Sanjeev Kumar Singh, V.V. Narayanan & L.Geetha Lakshmi

        This fully revised and updated second edition contains updated information on working of different subassemblies that make a tractor. Uses of tractor for various agricultural and non agricultural operations are vividly described. Besides, updates are also incorporated on various implements, equipment and machinery developed in India for different agricultural operations, viz,. land preparation, sowing/planting, weeding, plant protection, harvest threshing, post harvest and agro-processing. Information on agriculture relation sections like special tools and equipment used in horticulture, water lifting devices, calibration of seed drills has also been given. The first edition was widely used as a standard reference book for graduate students in agricultural engineering and regular engineering colleges. The present edition would also serve the same purpose and can be used as a ready reference for the teaching staff in educational institutions and testing institutions, extension workers, scientists and farmers.

      • Gardening
        May 2021

        Horticulture

        Principles and Practices

        by Auxcilia J., Veena Amarnath, Parthiban, S., Santhi, V P., Indumathi, K, Pugalendhi, L. & Aneesa Rani, M.S

        This book is a meticulous presentation of fundamental principles of Horticulture and it gradually transcends and culminates to advanced technologies. It will be a ready reckoner, which will be useful to provide ready tips to any undergraduate faculty. Chapter 1 to chapter 4 give a broad description of fundamentals in horticultural sciences and the institutes involved in furthering the interest of horticulture. Chapters 5 to chapter 14 explainab out the tools, inputs and techniques used in crop management. Chapters 16 to chapter 19 deal with use of growth regulators, protected cultivation, good agricultural practices and organic horticulture. With the increase in pollution, people are keen to produce their own vegetables and chapter 20 focuses on that need of people. Chapter 21 provides an insight to applied biotechnology related to horticultureviz.,micro propagation and genetic engineering. The chapters 22 and 23 shed light on the scope of aesthetic aspects of horticulture. Horticulture therapy is a novel concept to deal with present day health issues and this is explained in chapter 24. Climate change and irresponsible human behavior has caused stress conditions for crop growth and it is adequately dealt in chapter 25. It is estimated that at least 20 – 30 % of the horticulture produce is wasted as post-harvest loss and hence chapter 26 and 27 are designed to provide post-harvest handling and value addition.

      • Gardening
        October 2017

        Basics of Horticulture

        3rd Revised and Enlarged Edition

        by K.V. Peter

        The present revised edition has 16 chapters including 10 appendices. 42 scientists from seven Institutes, States Agricultural Universities and 2 organizations have contributed to the 3rd revised edition. A village market has now all kinds of vegetables, fruits, tubers and ornamentals which vouch for progress in the science and art of horticulture. Many educated youth are taking up Horticulture as a profession. Basic sciences like physiology, biochemistry, molecular biology and biotechnology, bioinformatics and economics are adding to the understanding of horticultural crops. New To 3rd Edition: 1. 5 chapters of floriculture and landscaping 2. Information on newly released varieties of all horticulture crops 3. Colour photographs 4. Updated data and references

      • 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

      • Agriculture & farming
        May 2023

        Field To Lab

        A Comprehensive Handbook For Agricultural Extension

        by Sapna Jarial

        One of the primary goals of this handbook is to provide students with a thorough understanding of the principles and practices of agricultural extension. This includes an overview of extension methods, tools, and techniques and an understanding of the roles and responsibilities of extension agents/researchers and the communities they serve. This bookincludes a series of twelve practical aimed at equipping students with the skills and knowledge necessary to work effectively in rural development. Each practical is designed to provide hands-on experience and facilitate active learning. The following is a list of the practical: 1. Group Discussion Exercises 2. Handling and Preparation of Audio-Visual Aids 3. Preparation of extension literature 4. Presentation skills exercise 5. Micro-teaching exercise 6. Understanding the problems encountered by the villagers/ farmers 7. Organization and functioning of DRDA and various development departments at the district level 8. NGOs for learning from their experience in rural development 9. Participatory rural appraisal (PRA) techniques with their application in village development 10. Community radio, and television studio for understanding the process of programme production 11. Script writing, print and electronic media 12. Developing script for radio, television

      • Agriculture & farming
        April 2023

        A Field Guide to Forest Seeds

        :A Colour Handbook

        by Ashwath M.N, Sathish, B.N, ,G.M, Devagiri, Clara Manasa P.A

        Seeds are incredible because they are smaller versions of the entire plant, concealing the entire tree structure under the skin and allowing them to thrive in favorable conditions. Seeds have been known to humans from the beginning of time, and they have played an important role from nomadic farming to precision farming. These are employed in a variety of ways, including food, decorative, cosmetics, medicine, pharmaceuticals, and so on, harnessing their physiochemical or biological qualities. Seed descriptions, including phenology, distribution, and basic seed handling techniques for more than 75 tree and plant species utilized in forestry programs, have been compiled and presented with seed photos in this book. This book will greatly benefit students, field personnel, and others interested in forest nursery activities.

      • Agricultural science
        September 2020

        Approaches for Incorporating Drought and Salinity Resistance in Crop Plants

        by V.L.Chopra & R.S.Paroda

        Crop growth and productivity is limited by a large number of adverse conditions of ambient environment and soil composition. Among these, drought and soil salinity are most prevalent stresses. In view of shrinking land resources and continuing pressures of growing population in most developing countries, it has become imperative that crop yields are not allowed to suffer on any type of cultivable land. Breeding crop varieties resistant to drought and salinity stress, therefore, assumes great importance. Major limitations to exploiting genetic resistance have been the lack of (i) definition of the level of stress that is relevant to crop productivity, (ii) screening procedures that can be reliably employed for identifying genotypes possessing attributes governing stability of performance under stress conditions, and (iii) Understanding of the processes that have direct as well as indirect relevance to conferment of resistance. This book presents the much-needed information on drought and salinity stress under one cover. s have been contributed by a leading authority and practitioner of his own field of specialization. The book will be an indispensable source of information for students and researchers interested in the subject of drought and salinity stresses and breeding approaches for achieving resistance to these stresses.

      • Technology, Engineering & Agriculture
        June 2020

        Artificial Intelligence in Agriculture

        by Rajesh Singh & Anita Gehlot, Mahesh Pratap Gehlot & Bhupendra Singh

        This book is a platform for anyone who wishes to explore Artificial Intelligence in the field of agriculture from scratch or broaden their understanding and its uses. This book offers a practical, hands-on exploration of Artificial Intelligence, machine learning, deep Learning, computer vision and Expert system with proper examples to understand. This book also covers the basics of python with example so that any anyone can easily understand and utilize artificial intelligence in agriculture field. This book is divided into two parts wherein first part talks about the artificial intelligence and its impact in the agriculture with all its branches and their basics. The second part of the book is purely implementation of algorithms and use of different libraries of machine learning, deep learning and computer vision to build useful and sightful projects in real time which can be very useful for you to have better understanding of artificial intelligence. After reading this book, the reader will an understanding of what Artificial Intelligence is, where it is applicable, and what are its different branches, which can be useful in different scenarios. The reader will be familiar with the standard workflow for approaching and solving machine-learning problems, and how to address commonly encountered issues. The reader will be able to use Artificial Intelligence to tackle real-world problems ranging from crop health prediction to field surveillance analytics, classification to recognition of species of plants etc.

      • Organic farming
        August 2021

        Biofertilizers for Sustainable Production of Horticultural Crops

        by Gopal, K. Surendra

        The book deals with different aspects concerning biofertilizers or microbial fertilizers with 15 chapters. The chapter 1-5 deals with basic aspects of microbial fertilizers, chapter 6 deals with the responses of horticultural crops to biofertilizers and chapter 7 deals with the consortial biofertilizers which is very important as the biofertilizers consortia provides multiple functions for sustainable production. The chapters 8-10 deals with formulations, quality and constraints in biofertilizers respectively. Chapter 11-12 deals with recent advances and future research perspectives in biofertilizers. The chapters 13-14 covers major manufacturers and the essential equipments required for biofertilizer production. This book will certainly provide basic and useful information on the various role of biofertilizers for horticultural crops and the users may find this book useful. An attempt has been made in this book to include all the basic and applied aspects of biofertilizers

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