Plant Factory


Book Description

Plant Factory: An Indoor Vertical Farming System for Efficient Quality Food Production, Second Edition presents a comprehensive look at the implementation of plant factory (PF) practices to yield food crops for both improved food security and environmental sustainability. Edited and authored by leading experts in PF and controlled environment agriculture (CEA), the book is divided into five sections, including an Overview and the Concept of Closed Plant Production Systems (CPPS), the Basics of Physics and Physiology – Environments and Their Effects, System Design, Construction, Cultivation and Management and Plant Factories in Operation. In addition to new coverage on the rapid advancement of LED technology and its application in indoor vertical farming, other revisions to the new edition include updated information on the status of business R&D and selected commercial PFALs (plant factory with artificial lighting). Additional updates include those focused on micro and mini-PFALs for improving the quality of life in urban areas, the physics and physiology of light, the impact of PFAL on the medicinal components of plants, and the system design, construction, cultivation and management issues related to transplant production within closed systems, photoautotrophic micro-propagation and education, training and intensive business forums on PFs. - Includes coverage of LED technology - Presents case-studies for real-world insights and application - Addresses PF from economics and planning, to operation and lifecycle assessment




Microbial Bioprocesses


Book Description

Microbial processes are involved in food, chemical, pharmaceutical, cosmetics, energy, and new-material industries. Over the past 2 decades, new or more efficient industrial processes involving microorganisms have been launched, yielding purer, less expensive products or substances not available using classical chemical methods. Microbial Bioprocesses aims to give an overview of established and successful processes and discusses the trends and perspectives in industrial microbiology which, along with tremendous progress in genetic and metabolic engineering in recent years, are once again becoming an area of innovation and emerging technologies. Microbial Bioprocesses covers the unique areas like microbial volatiles (MVOCs), microbial bioinoculant development, bacterial nanocelluloses production, and processes for remediation by fungi and actinobacteria. - Provides an innovative description of emerging bioprocesses for biotechnological gains - Provides a broad cross section of microbial bioprocess that covers several sustainability applications - Gives general insights about how microorganisms can be utilized in production of various chemicals




Applications of Metagenomics


Book Description

Applications of Metagenomics: Agriculture, Environment, and Health examines current metagenomics methods and their applications in soil, polluted environment sites, agriculture production, and health care, with separate sections dedicated to each application area. Special attention is paid to the biotechnological study of novel microbial resources for social welfare. Beyond applications, the book discusses evolving next generation technology and techniques used for carrying out metagenomics studies, and in doing so highlights the latest research and advances in the field, along with ways to adapt these approaches for different study types across the biological sciences.Chapter topics range from metagenomics for studying root microbial communities to microbial diversity of the rhizosphere, fungal diversity, microbial biodiversity in forest environments, the human microbiome, and disease epidemiology, with one chapter dedicated to Covid-19 metagenomics. - Offers tools to apply evolving next generation sequencing technologies in the detection of disease pathogens, bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites across various environments, as well as host response - Includes separate sections dedicated to topics and current studies in environmental science, agriculture production and health care - Features chapter contributions from international experts in the field




Phytoremediation


Book Description

This text details the plant-assisted remediation method, “phytoremediation”, which involves the interaction of plant roots and associated rhizospheric microorganisms for the remediation of soil contaminated with high levels of metals, pesticides, solvents, radionuclides, explosives, crude oil, organic compounds and various other contaminants. Each chapter highlights and compares the beneficial and economical alternatives of phytoremediation to currently practiced soil removal and burial practices. This book covers state of the art approaches in Phytoremediation written by leading and eminent scientists from around the globe. Phytoremediation: Management of Environmental Contaminants, Volume 1 supplies its readers with a multidisciplinary understanding in the principal and practical approaches of phytoremediation from laboratory research to field application.




The Future Role of Dwarf Honey Bees in Natural and Agricultural Systems


Book Description

The future role of dwarf honeybees in natural and agricultural systems provides multidisciplinary perspective about the different facets of dwarf honeybees. The role of dwarf honeybee Apis florea assumes utmost importance in the context of pollinator decline throughout the world threatening stability of ecosystems and global food security. Apis florea is a low land species of south Asia extending more to the west than other Asiatic Apis species. It is an important pollinator of crops in hot and dry agricultural plains. The book is first of its kind which deals in details on varied aspects of Apis florea biology, management, conservation strategies for protecting biodiversity and enhancing crop productivity. The book aims to promote a large, diverse, sustainable, and dependable bee pollinator workforce that can meet the challenge for optimizing food production well into the 21st century. Features: Apis florea provides source of livelihood in mountainous areas and marginal farmers. This book will for the first time present the beekeeping from the perspective of agricultural production and biodiversity conservation An excellent source of advanced study material for academics, researchers and students and programme planners Excellent pollinator of tropical and subtropical crops fruits vegetables etc less prone to diseases and enemies Covering the latest information on various aspects of Apis florea biology, this book brings the latest advances together in a single volume for researchers and advanced level students This book will be useful to pollination biologists, honeybee biologists in entomology departments, students, teachers, scientists of agriculture, animal behaviour, botany, conservation, biology, ecology, entomology, environmental biology, forestry, genetics, plant breeding, horticulture, toxicology, zoology, seed growers and seed agencies and shall serve as reference book for students, teachers, researchers, extension functionaries and policy planners.




ICT for Competitive Strategies


Book Description

Fourth International Conference on Information and Communication Technology for Competitive Strategies targets state-of-the-art as well as emerging topics pertaining to information and communication technologies (ICTs) and effective strategies for its implementation for engineering and intelligent applications.




Pests and Pollinators of Vegetable and Oilseed Crops


Book Description

Pest management for vegetable crops and safety provision for the pollinators is a challenging task in the context to increase vegetable productivity without upsetting the ecological balance. The book Pests and Pollinators of Vegetable and Oilseed Crops aims to integrate and develop pest control strategies by minimizing their impact on beneficial insect species such as natural enemies and pollinators for enhancing fruit production and quality. A detailed account is provided on pests and pollinators of oilseed crops such as Cruciferous, Solanaceous, Umbelliferous, Cucurbitaceous, Malvaceous, Leguminous and Alliaceae. The compilation of this book is unique as it does not deal only with the conventional way of pest management for different crops; it takes into consideration the role of pollinators and their profitable utilization in the larger context of ecologically based pest management and safety of pollinators. An exemplary attempt is made to promote a large, diverse, sustainable and dependable bee pollinator workforce that can meet the challenges of optimizing food production in the twenty-first century and beyond.




Alfalfa Management Guide


Book Description

The Alfalfa Management Guide is designed especially for busy growers, with to-the-point recommendations, useful images of diseased plants and pests, and quick-reference tables and charts. Revised in 2011, this edition of Alfalfa Management Guide covers the latest strategies for alfalfa establishment, production, and harvest-soil testing, fertilizing, integrated pest management, rotation, and more.




Direct Seeding


Book Description




Modern Seed Technology


Book Description

Satisfying the increasing number of consumer demands for high-quality seeds with enhanced performance is one of the most imperative challenges of modern agriculture. In this view, it is essential to remember that the seed quality of crops does not improve.