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      • Trusted Partner
        Applied ecology
        December 2009

        Soil Ecology and Management

        by Joann K Whalen, Luis Sampedro

        Soil ecology is the study of interactions between the physio-chemical components of the soil and organisms living within the soil. Humans are highly dependent upon the soil ecosystem, which provides food, fiber, fuel and ecological services, such as the recycling of atmospheric gases. It is therefore important to understand the function and nature of the soil ecosystem in order to predict and mitigate the long term consequences of present day actions. Soil Ecology and Management describes the organisms inhabiting the soil, their functions and interactions and the dimensions of human impact on the activity of soil organisms and soil ecological function. Chapters discuss basic soil characteristics and biogeochemical cycling, key soil flora and fauna, community-level dynamics (soil food webs) and the ecological and pedological functions of soil organisms. Unlike other soil biology and ecology textbooks, the authors also convey a better understanding of how human activities impact upon soil ecology in a section on ecosystem management and its effects on soil biota and provide a unique perspective on the utility of soil organisms.

      • Trusted Partner
        Zoology & animal sciences
        May 2021

        Nutrition and Feeding Organic Cattle

        by Robert Blair

        Organic cattle farming is on the increase, with consumer demand for organic milk and meat growing yearly. Beginning with an overview of the aims and principles behind organic cattle production, this book presents extensive information about how to feed cattle so that the milk and meat produced meet organic standards, and provides a comprehensive summary of ruminant digestive processes and nutrition. Since the publication of the first edition, global consumers have increasingly become concerned with the sustainability of meat production. Here, Robert Blair considers the interrelationships of sustainable practices and profitability of organic herds, reviewing how to improve forage production and quality, and minimizing the need for supplementary feeding using off-farm ingredients. This new edition also covers: - Managing a recurrent shortage of organic feed ingredients, due to increased GM feed crop cultivation worldwide - Current findings on appropriate breeds and grazing systems for forage-based organic production - Diet-related health issues in organic herds and the effects of organic production on meat and milk quality. Required reading for animal science researchers, advisory personnel that service the organic milk and beef industries and students interested in organic milk and meat production, this book is also a useful resource for organic farming associations, veterinarians, and feed and food industry personnel.

      • Trusted Partner
        Geography & the Environment
        March 2022

        Plants for Soil Regeneration

        An Illustrated Guide

        by Sally Pinhey, Margaret Tebbs

        This book is a comprehensive, beautifully illustrated colour guide to the plants which farmers, growers and gardeners can use to improve soil structure and restore fertility without the use and expense of agrichemicals. Information based on the latest research is given on how to use soil conditioning plants to avoid soil degradation, restore soil quality and help clean polluted land. There are 11 chapters: 1 to 6 cover soil health, nitrogen fixation, green manures and herbal leys, bacteria and other microorganisms, phytoremediators and soil mycorrhiza (plant-fungal symbiosis). Chapter 7 has plant illustrations, with climate range and soil types, along with their soil conditioning properties and each plant is presented with a comprehensive description opposite a detailed illustration, in full colour. Chapters 8 to 10 examine soil stabilisers, weeds and invasive plants, and hedges and trees and the final chapter, contains 5 case studies with the most recent data, followed by an appendix and glossary. The book allows the reader to identify the plants they need quickly and find the information necessary to begin implementation of soil regeneration.

      • Trusted Partner
        Fertilizers & manures
        February 2002

        Integrated Plant Nutrient Management in Sub-Saharan Africa

        by Edited by Bernard Vanlauwe, J Diels, N Sanginga, R Merckx

        Soil degradation and nutrient depletion have become serious threats to agricultural productivity in Africa. Soils cannot supply the quantities of nutrients required and yield levels decline rapidly once cropping commences. This book addresses these issues and includes papers from an international symposium held at Cotonou, Benin, October 9-12, 2000, organized by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Ibadan, Nigeria and the Department of Land Management of the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium. In five main parts it marks the end of a first phase of collaborative research on "Balanced Nutrient Management Systems for the Moist Savanna and Humid Forest Zones of Africa" and concludes with recommendations, providing essential reading for crop and soil scientists.

      • Trusted Partner
        November 2024

        Climate Change and Sustainable Agro-ecology in Global Drylands

        by Adel El-Beltagy, Rattan Lal, Kauser Abdulla Malik

        Drylands, a home for nearly 2.5 billion people, are highly vulnerable to anthropogenic climate change, and dryland area may expand to 50% of the Earth's surface by 2100. Climate change may aggravate the prevalence of undernutrition and malnutrition because of adverse effects on quantity and quality of food production in these regions. This book takes a holistic approach to sustainable management of drylands to make agriculture drought-resilient. Eminent scientists from around the world share their knowledge and experiences for adaptation and mitigation of the anthropogenic climate change through innovation in sustainable management of water, soil, crops, livestock, and fisheries. They anticipate that climate change will have major impacts on agro- ecosystems which requires continuous dynamic assessments, globally, regionally, and at the local level where the major action of adaptation would have to occur. The assessment will require international cooperation and national capacity-building. This book emphasizes approaches such as smart and precision agriculture, conservation agriculture, and new innovation and technology as tools for adaptation and mitigation. Several chapters are devoted to the human dimensions and policy considerations with emphasis on enhancing coping and adaptive capacity. This book addresses the picture after COP27, including loss and damage, governance and finance. This book: Examines sustainable management for drylands as a solution to environmental and food security issues. Uses a holistic approach to evaluate sustainable management of drylands. Explains how researchers are translating science into action for greening global drylands. This work will be valuable to students and researchers in agroecology, climate change science and dryland agriculture.

      • Trusted Partner
        Forestry & silviculture: practice & techniques
        February 2003

        Trees, Crops and Soil Fertility: Concepts and Research Methods

        by Edited by Goetz Schroth, Fergus L Sinclair

        Successful agroforestry requires an understanding of the complex relationship between trees, crops and soils. This book provides a review of both economic and biophysical aspects of soil use and research in agroforestry, with an emphasis on nutrient-poor forest and savanna soils. Key topics covered include the economics of soil fertility management, cycling of water, nutrients and organic matter, soil structure, and soil biological processes. The book combines synthetic overviews of research results and a review of methods used in research.From the foreword: “The book is written within a particular context - soil fertility development under agroforestry. At first this may seem very specific and thus limited in appeal and application. But over the last decade or so agroforestry research has been one of the most influential in developing new insights into soil biology and fertility and thus provides a very suitable framework for review of progress. Furthermore the influence of trees on soil is profound and of significance beyond agroforestry systems, so the book is likely to be of interest in the wider spheres of agriculture, forestry and ecological sciences.” Mike Swift, TSBF, Nairobi, Kenya

      • Trusted Partner
        Soil science, sedimentology
        December 2003

        Managing Soil Quality

        Challenges in Modern Agriculture

        by Edited by Per Schjønning, Bent T Christensen, Susanne Elmholt

        In-depth treatments of the soil quality concept, its history, and its applicability in research and in developed and developing societiesAll 18 chapters are written by well-established experts from Europe, North America and AustraliaSoil quality is a concept that allows soil functions to be related to specific purposes. Managing soil quality takes a management oriented approach by identifying key issues in soil quality and management options to enhance the sustainability of modern agriculture. Topics covered include major plant nutrients (N, P, K), soil acidity, soil organic matter, soil biodiversity, soil compaction, erosion, pesticides and urban waste.

      • Trusted Partner
        2023

        Food Composition Table for the Practice

        The small Souci/Fachmann/Kraut

        by Founded by S.W. Souci, W. Fachmann and H. Kraut. Revised by Dr. Petra Steinhaus. Edited by the Leibniz Institute of Food Systems Biology at the Technical University of Munich.

        ■ How many omega-3 fatty acids does salmon contain? ■ Which dairy product contains the most calcium? ■ How iron-rich is spinach, really? Whether calories, vitamins or amino acids – whether in field beans, bananas, eggs, chicken, parmesan cheese or onion – it is all here. The compact edition of the time-tested „large SFK [Souci/Fachmann/Kraut]“ offers tested data on over 70 ingredients in more than 360 foods, systematically structured according to food groups. This edition with thousands of values has been completely revised and updated by the Leibniz Institute of Food Systems Biology at the Technical University of Munich. Extra: 32 summary tables cover more than 300 other, less common foods and allow for targeted, clear comparisons. 16 orientation tables provide information about foods with particularly high or low amounts of ingredients. Nutritional values, energy content, main components and ingredients displayed in uniform systematics and a practical format – just look it up!

      • Trusted Partner
        July 2025

        Advances in Organic Farming

        by L. P. Awasthi, John Paull, Uygun Aksoy, Muazzez Cömert Acar, Fabio Caporali, Ehsan Ebrahimi, Adnan Sisic, Raffaele Zanoli, Francesco Solfanelli, Ryoichi Komiya, Helga Willer, Jan Travnicek, Bernhard Schlatter, Victor Olowe, Jude Obi, Olabisi Somefun, Leonard Pollara, Raya J. Amara, Wilson C. Wilson, Lucas T. Manda, Nyandula S. Mwaijande, Janet F. Maro, Yohana C. Haule, Abdul Shango, David Frost, Othmane Merah, Ashoka Gamage, Bernhard Freyer, Kandiah Pakeerathan, Stefanie Christmann, Youssef Bencharki, Hamdi Özaktan, Gheorghe Cristian Popescu, Mehmet Yaman, Wing K.P. Ng, Adrian Crew, Day Teixeira, Pete Maxfield, Matt J. Bell, Sito-Obong Udofia, Lisa Williams, Alison Wills, Hector Valenzuela, Amjad Ahmad, Maria Eugenia Ortiz Escobar, N.V. Hue, Mary Cole, Rachel Cavallo, Jochen Mayer, S. Folaranmi G. Yusuf, Eyinade Gabriel Adewunmi, A Mushunje, Roberto Mancinelli, Mariam Atait, Mohamed Allam, Emanuele Radicetti, Yves Theoneste Murindangabo, Marek Kopecky, Petr Konvalina, Thangapandian Dha

        This book describes critically reviewed key aspects of organic farming and provides a unique and timely science-based resource for researchers, teachers and extension workers, undergraduates, postgraduate students, primary producers and others interested in organic farming. The first section of the book provides an overview of organic farming: a general introduction followed by the origins of organic farming, the principles of organic farming, challenges for organic farming, crop protection in organic farming and environmental impacts of organic farming. The next section deals with the management of various crop diseases through botanical biopesticides and Integrated Pest Management practices, followed by overarching regulatory and management concerns. The book is written by a range of specialists with direct experience of organic farming over many years. Authors from over a dozen countries in several continents have contributed to this unique and indispensable resource that offers a diverse range of valuable information, data and perspectives on organic farming, at a time when the world community is increasingly aware of the problems of our current agricultural practices and the importance of creating sustainable agricultural and systems for the long-term health of humankind and the biosphere as a whole.

      • Trusted Partner
        Medicine
        May 2023

        Evidence Based Equine Nutrition

        A Practical Approach For Professionals

        by Teresa Hollands, Lizzie Drury

        This book uniquely provides both the scientific basis of equine nutrition and the translation of that science into practical, day-to-day feeding advice. It summarises the latest research to provide readers with the evidence base needed to both confidently advise those who want to understand the science behind equine nutrition, and apply that evidence into practical advice for anyone who just wants to know how to feed horses. Both veterinary and animal science courses struggle to provide adequate nutrition training within their syllabuses. Much of the general information available is poorly explained and not evidence based. This book fills that gap, with the author team relaying over 50 cumulative years' experience teaching equine nutrition to both practising clinicians and students. Find answers to the most common queries and challenges encountered during nutritional consultations across 17 informative chapters, using typical case-based examples as experienced by the authors. Fully supported throughout with visual aids and photographic illustrations, they show how to easily increase compliance and understanding. Key topics covered include: How to take a diet history, including which forage and concentrates are most appropriate, and how to interpret the information on feed labels; How to take the horse's history, including workload, body weight and body fat scoring; Supporting achievable and sustainable fat loss in overweight horses; Appropriate rations across a range of performance disciplines and for breeding horses; Appropriate feeds and supplements for competition, including how to recognise potential hazards, signs of quality and issues of feed safety; How to use ration programmes, including a range of frequently asked questions for horses with specific nutritional requirements from allergies to obesity. A recommended resource to support the teaching of veterinary nutrition, this book should also be found on the bookshelf of all veterinarians, animal scientists, trainers, nutritionists, and nutritional advisors. This book includes forewords by Carl Lester, Honorary Fellow of the British Horse Society and recipient of an MBE for his services to Equestrianism, and Tim Mair, former President of the British Equine Veterinary Association.

      • Trusted Partner
        December 2024

        Soils for Landscape Development

        Selection, Specification and Validation

        by Simon Leake, Elke Haege

        This second edition of Soils for Landscape Development provides a clear, practical and systematic template for specifying landscape soils based on scientific criteria. The soil specifications provide essential information and a universally applicable method for landscape architects and designers, specification writers, landscape contractors and soil supply companies to ensure quality and fit-for-purpose soils. A strong emphasis is placed on reducing environmental impacts by reuse of on-site soil, promoting appropriate minimal soil intervention, and using recycled products. The first edition won the Award of Excellence for Research and Communication in Landscape Architecture at the AILA NSW (Australian Institute of Landscape Architects) Awards in 2014. The authors won a 2nd award for this book through The Australian Institute of Horticulture (AIH) in 2015).

      • Trusted Partner
        July 2023

        Urban Pest Management

        An Environmental Perspective

        by Partho Dhang

        The management and control of pests in the urban environment in the 21st Century faces many challenges. Pest populations adapt to changing conditions brought about by environmental changes caused by global warming, human population growth, and increased pollution. Urban pests are able to expand their ranges, densities, and habitats, sometimes causing large-scale damage and disease. This book provides collective insights from academic and industry experts on perspectives concerning urban pest management and regulatory innovations arising from the rapid onset of recent environmental challenges. Chapter topics address pest biology, advances in urban pest management practices, emerging urban pest control developments, new technologies, and regulations. The book describes new methods of pest control, their impacts on human health and the environment, and strategies for integrated management limiting the use of chemicals. It provides a practical resource for researchers and policy makers in pest management, urban health, medical entomology and environmental science. · An up-to-date and comprehensive resource on environmental urban pest management · Designed to appeal to pest control operators, public health professionals, and a range of field workers, as well as researching academics and graduate students · Brings both academic and industry experts together in one volume

      • Trusted Partner
        Technology, Engineering & Agriculture
        November 2023

        Farmer Innovations and Best Practices by Shifting Cultivators in Asia-Pacific

        by Malcolm Cairns

        This book, the third of a series, shows how shifting cultivators, from the Himalayan foothills to the Pacific Islands, have devised ways to improve their farming systems. Using case studies collected over many years, it considers the importance of swidden agriculture to food security and livelihoods, and its environmental significance, across multiple cultures, forest and cropping systems. There is a particular focus on soil fertility and climate change challenges. It is a 'must read' for those who realize that if the lives of shifting cultivators are to be improved, then far more attention needs to be directed to the indigenous and often ingenious innovations that shifting cultivators have themselves been able to develop. Many of these innovations and best practices will have strong potential for extrapolation to shifting cultivators elsewhere and to farming systems in general. This book: - Highlights innovations of shifting cultivators. - Combines solid science with accessible language and outstanding artwork. - Provides a collection of case studies unprecedented in its scope. This book will be suitable for students and researchers of agriculture, anthropology, sociology, agricultural economics, human ecology, ethnobotany, forestry, agroforestry, agronomy, soil science, farming systems, geography, environmental science and natural resource management.

      • Trusted Partner
        Fertilizers & manures
        February 2006

        Soil Biodiversity in Amazonian and Other Brazilian Ecosystems

        by Edited by Fattima M S Moreira, Jose O Siqueira, Lijbert Brussaard

        The loss of biological diversity has become an increased concern over recent years and is now enshrined in international conventions. Most biodiversity in fact occurs in the soil. Soil organisms (especially bacteria, fungi and soil invertebrates) play a major role in the formation of soil structure and are primary agents of decomposition and are drivers of nutrient cycling, and hence agricultural production.This book reviews soil biodiversity in one of the key biodiversity hotspots of the world, i.e. the Amazon and nearby regions of Brazil. It covers both the tropical savannah and rain forests . The work reported is based on a project "Conservation and Sustainable Management of Below-Ground Biodiversity", executed by TSBF-CIAT with co-financing from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and implementation support from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The book represents a major contribution to the literature and will interest those in biodiversity conservation, soil scienceand ecology and biodiversity conservation.

      • Trusted Partner
        Technology, Engineering & Agriculture
        December 2024

        Tilapia

        Aquaculture, Biology and Health Management

        by Kim Thompson, Craig A. Shoemaker, David C Little, Alastair Hamilton, Alvin C. Camus, Andrew P. Shinn, Annette Boerlage, Benjamin R. LaFrentz, Carlos Garcia de Leaniz, Channarong Rodkhum, D. Allen Davis, Darci Carlos Fornari, De-Hai Xu, Divya Divya, Esteban M. Soto, Francis Murray, Gustavo Ramirez Paredes, Ha Thanh Dong, Halina Sobolewska, Hetron M. Munang’andu, Ian Goulding, Janina Costa, Joke van der Giessen, Jorge del-Pozo, Junning Cai, Matt J. Griffin, Mona Dverdal Jansen, Nopadon Pirarat, Olga L. M. Haenen, Partho Pratim Debnath, Ram C Bhujel, Roger S. V. Pullin, Ruth Zadoks, Saengchan Senapin, Sonia Rey Planellas, Taylor I. Heckman, Thomas P. Loch, Waldemar Rossi, Jr, Warren Turner

        Tilapia are a group of cichlid fish endemic to tropical freshwater in Africa, Jordan and Israel, that are extremely nutritious and in high global demand. They are a popular species to farm because of their relative ease of culture, their tolerance to relatively high stocking densities, large size, rapid growth and palatability. As a thorough exploration of tilapia aquaculture, this book emphasizes the significance of this group of fish and discusses the crucial elements of tilapia farming, including their reproductive and genetic characteristics, the various cultivation systems employed and the emerging governance of the practice. It also addresses important health management issues, focusing on nutrition, immunology, and animal welfare and extensively analyses the diseases that afflict tilapia, how they are diagnosed and what potential zoonotic hazards exist. The value of the book includes: Contributing to the wider understanding of tilapia aquaculture and the importance of the species to global food security. Providing an in-depth discussion on tilapia fish health, including major diseases, nutrition, immunology and disease prevention. Giving detailed insights into tilapia genetics, production systems, and reproduction. Written by an international team of experts to advance the long-term, sustainable growth of the global aquaculture industry, this book is a comprehensive and essential resource for anyone involved in or learning about tilapia farming.

      • Trusted Partner
        Geography & the Environment
        June 2020

        New Land, New Life

        A success story of new land resettlement in Bangladesh

        by Andrew Jenkins, Natasha Haider, Bazlul Karim, Mihir Kumar Chakraborty, Kiran Sankar Sarker, Rezaul Karim, Robiul Islam, Nujulee Begum, Edward Mallorie, Koen de Wilde

        The Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna delta has newly emerged 'char' islands, resulting from the deposition of sediment, which are very vulnerable, socially, institutionally and environmentally. This book explains how the governments of Bangladesh and the Netherlands and the International Fund for Agricultural Development cooperated on a land-based rural development project to give settlers security and purpose. It details how they engaged communities and civil societies, and implemented an infrastructure aimed at reducing flooding, improving drainage, and providing adequate drinking water and sanitation. The book describes the project's application to crop and animal agriculture, and the development of value chains and encouragement of female participation. It considers the financial underpinning and infrastructure, as well as how to ensure the impacts of the scheme are enduring. The scheme serves as a model for support projects to vulnerable groups faced with climate change and other environmental challenges. This book is suitable for students, researchers, specialists and practitioners in rural development, water resources, land management and soil science.

      • Trusted Partner
        Science & Mathematics
        August 2018

        Plant Parasitic Nematodes in Subtropical and Tropical Agriculture

        by Richard A Sikora, Danny Coyne, Johannes Hallmann, Patricia Timper, Antoine Affokpon, Shamsul Bhuyian, John Bridge, J Alfonso Cabrera, Buncha Chinnasri, Biodun Claudius-Cole, Cleopas Chinheya, Amer A S Dababat, Richard F Davis, Donald W Dickson, Larry Duncan, Santhosh J Eapen, Fahiem El-Borai, Howard Ferris, Rafael Galbieri, H S Gaur, Driekie Fourie, Robin Giblin-Davis, Nalini C Gnanapragasam, David J Hunt, Charles Johnson, Natsumi Kanzaki, Hannah Wangari Karuri, Rosa Manzanilla-Lopez, Beira Hailu Meressa, Keerthi Mohotti, Sara Sánchez Moreno, Björn Niere, Juan Emilio Palomares-Rius, Rakesh Pandy, Deliang Peng, Trinh Quang Phap, Patrick Queneherve, Prabashnie Ramouthar, Philip A Roberts, Sônia Maria de Lima Salgado, Ebrahim Shokoohi, Edward Sikora, Brent S Sipes, Sonia Steenkamp, Sergei Subboten, Luc Villain

        Covering all aspects of practical plant nematology in subtropical and tropical agriculture, the third edition of this definitive global reference work is fully revised and in full colour throughout. It covers the presence, distribution, symptomology and management of all economically important plant parasitic nematodes damaging the world's major food and cash crops. This includes: rice, cereals, solanum and sweet potatoes (and other root and tuber crops), food legumes, vegetables, peanut, citrus, fruit tree crops, coconut and other palms, coffee, cocoa, tea, bananas, sugarcane, tobacco, pineapple, cotton, other tropical fibres, spices and medicinal plants. New content for this edition includes: - A chapter on nematode soil biodiversity and soil health. - Reflections on the future impact of nematodes and nematology on food security. - The importance of climate change, emerging threats, and new management technologies for large and small subsistence growers. - Significant revisions to the IPM chapter and chapters on vegetables, citrus, legumes, tuber crops, cotton, peanut and banana where major advances in nematode management have occurred. This book is highly illustrated, with up-to-date practical guidance on methods of extraction, processing and diagnosing of different plant and soil nematodes and on integrated pest management. It remains an invaluable resource for those studying and working in the area of crop protection.

      • Trusted Partner
        Agriculture & related industries
        November 1996

        Driven By Nature

        Plant Litter Quality and Decomposition

        by Edited by Georg Cadisch, Ken E Giller

        Biological management of nutrient supply to plants is intrinsically more complex than the provision of nutrients as inorganic fertilizers. We need to know whether the nutrients released are retained or lost from the system, whether rates of decomposition can be manipulated to improve nutrient use efficiency, and how the various fractions of plant residues translate into pools of organic matter in soil. Only then can predictive models for nutrient release, plant uptake and soil organic matter dynamics be truly tested and validated. This book brings together contemporary ideas on the characterization and manipulation of plant quality and especially its role in soil organic matter formation and nutrient cycling. It contains work from the leading workers in both temperate and tropical systems. There are also contributions describing work outside decomposition in soil ecosystems, such as the work of plant biochemists and animal nutritionists, as research in these areas has provided many ideas and concepts used in plant quality analysis. A wide range of topics is covered from investigations at the molecular level through to management options for farmers in relation to optimising biological management of crop residues. The work presented in this volume is valuable to all those researching and managing the supply of nutrients to plants. It is important reading for soil scientists, plant physiologists and crop scientists.

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