Azolla Biofertilizer for Sustainable Rice Production


Book Description

This book entitled Azolla Biofertilizer for Sustainable Rice Production contains the valuable informations from the vast experiences of the authors Professor Dr S Kannaiyan and Dr K Kumar in the field of Azolla-Anabaena symbiosis for the past 25 years. It is written with the objective of providing basic knowledge and practical technologies on the effective utilization of Azolla as an ecofriendly and economically viable biofertilizer for sustainable rice production. It gives an access to the latest informations on the biology of Azolla, growth, sporulation, N2 fixation, ammonia assimilation and mineralization process in rice ecosystem. It offers a good deal of practical technologies for maximum exploitation of the potential status of Azolla biofertilizer viz., mass production techniques of fresh biomass, sporocarp inoculum, carrier based immobilized cyanobacterial inoculant, field application and methods for enhancing N use efficiency of this technology. It also covers the utilty of Azolla as supplemental animal feed and the economics of usage of Azolla as biofertilizer for rice. Illustrative colour photographs have been included in various chapters for easy understanding of the subject by readers. This book will be very useful for the scientists, researchers, postgraduate students, extension workers and voluntary organizations involved in the crop management technology for sustainable rice production. Contents Chapter 1: Azolla Biofertilizer: Potentials and Prospects; Chapter 2: Biological Fertilizers for Sustainable Crop Production in Rice Based System; Chapter 3: Origin of Azolla Cultivation; Chapter 4: Taxonomy and Morphological Characters of Azolla; Chapter 5: Biodiversity of Azolla and its Algal Symbiont Anabaena azollae as Revealed by Molecular and Immunological Studies; Chapter 6: Growth Rate and Doubling Time of Azolla; Chapter 7: Molecular Biology and Ultrastructures of Azolla Anabaena Symbiosis; Chapter 8: Algal Symbionts of Azolla; Chapter 9: Nutrition of Azolla; Chapter 10: Factors Influencing the Growth of Azolla; Chapter 11: Nitrogen Fixation by Azolla; Chapter 12: Assimilation of Carbon and Nitrogen in the Symbiotic Association of Azolla Anabaena System; Chapter 13: Sporulation Process in Azolla and Sporocarp Technology for Rice; Chapter 14: Azolla as Biofertilizer for Rice; Chapter 15: Immobilization of Cyanobacteria in Solid Matrix; Chapter 16: Ammonia Production by the Immobilized Cyanobacteria for Rice Crop; Chapter 17: Production and Application of Azolla Fresh Biomass and Sporocarp Inoculum for Rice; Chapter 18: Nitrification Inhibitors with Azolla on Nitrogen Use Efficiency in Rice Crop; Chapter 19: Pests of Azolla; Chapter 20: Black Rot Disease Interactions and Nitrogen Fixation in Azolla; Chapter 21: Azolla as Animal Feed; Chapter 22: Economic Analysis of Azolla Use.










Biofertilizers and Biopesticides in Sustainable Agriculture


Book Description

This new volume, Biofertilizers and Biopesticides in Sustainable Agriculture, presents strategies for the management of soil and crop diseases. Microbes have attracted worldwide attention due to their role in disease management and remediation of polluted soils. Taking a sustainable approach, this book explores the means of integrating various microbial management approaches to achieve the desired levels of crop yield under both conventional soils and neglected soils through the use of biopesticides and other botanicals as well as biomolecules. This book also presents a broad and updated view of molecular nitrogen fixation and phosphate-solubilizing and sulfur-transforming microbes for nutrition of crops in relation to the role of metal tolerant microbes in providing protection to plants grown in metal-contaminated soils. The preparation and application of biofertilizers, utilization of household waste materials, and use of genetically modified microorganisms (GMOs) in plant growth and development are also well discussed in the volume.




Azolla Utilization


Book Description




Biotechnology of Biofertilizers


Book Description

This volume is written with the objective of covering the basic issues in biological nitrogen fixation such as: the physiology, biochemistry and molecular genetics of nitrogen fixation; and the role of signal molecules and host gene expression in nodulation and nitrogen fixation. The book also details recent developments in biofertilizer technology, such as: the immobilization of cyanobacteria; endophytic nitrogen fixation; and solubilization and mobilization of nutrients by phosphobacteria and VA mycorrhiza and their role as bioinoculants.




Advances in Microbiology


Book Description

Microbiologist have made significant contributions to basic biological sciences as well as in the applied areas of public health and medical sciences, agriculture, industry and environmental sciences. The most dramatic current development in applied microbiology is due to development of genetic engineering and recombinant DNA technology. The book "Advances in Microbiology" provides a comprehensive and critical review of the work done on different areas of microbiology including agriculture, industry, medical science, bioremediation etc. The book contains 24 chapters. Chapters cover information on the status of microbial diversity, application of biosensors, Azolla as biofertilizer, Frank/a - nitrogen fixing actinomycetes, extraction of metals from ores using bacteria, alkaliphiles, citirc acid fermentation, biodiversity of cyanobacteria, microbial degradation of xenobiotics etc. Aspects, covering biotechnological applications of microbes for improved plant productivity and new approaches for development of vaccines have been specially included to project their role and use in the twenty-first century. Comprehensive account of microbes in the management of soil borne diseases and plant parasitic nematodes throw light on the importance of microbes in the management of plant pests. This book will be useful to researchers, teachers and students of Microbiology, Botany, Zoology and Agriculture.




Biotechnology of Biofertilizers


Book Description

Table of contents




North American Cornucopia


Book Description

Many North American plants have characteristics that are especially promising for creating varieties needed to expand food production, and there are excellent prospects of generating new economically competitive crops from these natives. The inadequacy of current crops to meet the food demands of the world’s huge, growing population makes the potential of indigenous North American food plants even more significant. These plants can also generate crops that are more compatible with the ecology of the world, and many also have inherent health benefits. Presenting detailed scholarship, a thoroughly accessible style, and numerous entertaining anecdotes, North American Cornucopia: Top 100 Indigenous Food Plants is a full-color book dedicated to the most important 100 native food plants of North America north of Mexico that have achieved commercial success or have substantial market potential. The introductory chapter reviews the historical development of North American indigenous crops and factors bearing on their future economic success. The rest of the book consists of 100 chapters, each dedicated to a particular crop. The book employs a user-friendly chapter format that presents the material in sections offering in-depth coverage of each plant. The first section of each chapter provides information on the scientific and English names of the plants, followed by a section on the geography and ecology of the wild forms, accompanied by a map showing the North American distribution. A section entitled "Plant Portrait" comprises a basic description of the plant, its history, and its economic and social importance. This is followed by "Culinary Portrait," concerned with food uses and culinary vocabulary. The chapters then provide an analysis of the economic future of each crop, discuss notable and interesting scientific or technological observations and accomplishments, and present extensive references.




Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) in a Sustainable Rice-Wheat Cropping System


Book Description

Agriculture is the main occupation in India and about 75% of its population depends directly or indirectly on agriculture for their livelihood. It is the dominant sector that contributes 18% of the gross domestic product. Thus, agriculture is the foundation of the Indian economy. The maximum share of Indian exports is also from the agriculture sector. As the population of the country is increasing trem- dously, approximately at the rate of 19 million every year over the existing popu- tion of more than 1 billion (approximately 1. 18 billion), the food grain production must necessarily be increased. This can be done by increasing crop production to match the population growth rate of 2. 2% per annum, which is expected to stabilize at 1. 53 billion around 2050. There is no doubt that the Green Revolution in India during the late 1960s brought self-sufficiency in food grain production, mainly through the increase in rice and wheat crop yields – the two main crops of the country which play an important role from food security point of view. However, the excessive use of fertilizers and pesticides, and the neglect of organic manures for these crops, has resulted in the deterioration of physical, chemical and biological health of the ri- and wheat-growing soils. Owing to the deterioration of the health of these soils, the productivity of the rice–wheat cropping system has now either got reduced or in some places has become constant for the last decade.