The Biosaline Concept


Book Description

There are many areas on this world which might lend themselves to agricultural development and which are, at the present, not used for this purpose. Two of the most obvious are desert areas where the salt concentration is very high, both land and water areas. With the development of new approaches and careful research, considerably more productive capability could be developed in these. This volume points out some of the possible approaches as well as results ob tained by a combination of creative research, practical understanding of the problems involved and inventive ways to overcome some of the handicaps of utilizing biosaline areas. This volume grew out of the "International Workshop on Biosaline Research" organized by Mr. Gilbert Devey of the Division of Interna tional programs of the National Science Foundation and directed by Dr. Anthony San Pietro of the Department of Biology of Indiana Uni versity. Since the proceedings of the workshop appeared somewhat limited, it was thought to broaden the spectra of chapters and in clude several topics briefly discussed at the Kiawah workshop.




Biosalinity in Action: Bioproduction with Saline Water


Book Description

Historically, scientists and laymen have regarded salinity as a hazar dous, detrimental phenomenon. This negative view was a principal reason for the lack of agricultural development of most arid and semi arid zones of the world where the major sources of water for biological production are saline. The late Hugo Boyko was probably the first scientist in recent times to challenge this commonly held, pessimistic view of salinity. His research in Israel indicated that many plants can be irrigated with saline water, even at seawater strength, if they are in sandy soil - a technique that could open much barren land to agriculture. This new, even radical, approach to salinity was clearly enunciated in the book he edited and most appropriately entitled 'Salinity and Aridity: New Approaches to Old Problems' (1966). A decade later, three members of the United States National Science Foundation (NSF), Lewis Mayfield, James Aller and Oskar Zaborsky, formulated the 'Biosaline Concept'; namely, that poor soils, high solar insolation and saline water, which prevail in arid lands, should be viewed as useful resources rather than as disadvantages, and that these resources can be used for non-traditional production of food, fuels and chemicals. The First International Workshop on Biosaline Research was con vened at Kiawah Island, South Carolina, in 1977 by A. San Pietro.





Book Description




Genetic Engineering of Osmoregulation


Book Description

The plant world represents a vast renewable resource for production of food, chemicals and energy. The utilization of this resource is frequently limited by moisture, temperature or salt stress. The emphasis of this volume is on the molecular basis of osmoregulation, adaptation to salt and water stress and applica tions for plant improvement. A unified concept of drought, salt, thermal and other forms of stress is proposed and discussed in the publication. The volume developed from a symposium entitled "Genetic Engi neering of Osmoregulation: Impact on Plant Productivity for Food, Chemicals and Energy," organized by D. W. Rains and R. C. Valentine in cooperation with Brookhaven National Laboratory and directed by D. W. Rains and A. Hollaender. The program was supported by a grant from the National Science Founda~ion, Division of Problem Focused Research, Problem Analysis Group, and the Department of Energy. This symposium is one of several in the past and pending which deal with potential applications of genetic engineering in agri culture. Since the question was raised several times during the meeting it is perhaps a convenient time to attempt to define gene tic engineering in the context of the meeting. • Genetic engineering of osmoregulation is simply the application of the science of genetics toward osmo tically tolerant microbes and plants. • Recombinant DNA is regarded as just another tool along with conventional genetics to be utilized for improvement of microbes and plants.




Oil in the Sea


Book Description

This comprehensive volume follows up and expands on an earlier National Academy of Sciences book. It is the result of an intensive multidisciplinary effort to assess the problems relating to petroleum-derived hydrocarbons in the marine environment. Specifically, it examines the inputs, analytical methods, fates, and effects of petroleum in the marine environment. The section on effects has been expanded significantly, reflecting the extensive scientific effort put forth in determining the effects of petroleum on marine organisms. Other topics discussed include petroleum contamination in specific geographical areas, the potential hazards of this contamination to human health, the impact of oil-related activities in the northern Gulf of Mexico, and the potential impact of petroleum on fisheries.




Climate's Impact On Food Supplies


Book Description

Global concern about the impact of climatic variability on food supplies has been growing since 1963 when a major crop failure in the Soviet Union ended a long period of abundant, low-cost surplus grain. Since then a number of sizable crop shortfalls and food supply emergencies throughout the world have encouraged the study of climate-food interact




Hypersaline Ecosystems


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Water Resources and Agricultural Development in the Tropics


Book Description

First published in 1988. There are many excellent texts on water supply and irrigation engineering, irrigation economics, agricultural development and the problems which often plague such efforts. Few syntheses of such writings have been made, despite a clear need for them from people interested in water resources and agricultural development: students of geography, economics, development studies and agricultural management, administrators, planners and aid agency staff. This book attempts to provide a broad interdisciplinary introduction for such people.




Hydrocarbons and Halogenated Hydrocarbons in the Aquatic Environment


Book Description

This volume contains papers selected from those presented at the International Symposium on the Analysis of Hydrocarbons and Halogenated Hydrocarbons in the Aquatic Environment, May 23-25, 1978. The Symposium was organized by the National Water Research Institute of Environment Canada and the Institute for Environmental Studies of the University of Toronto. The purpose of the Symposium and of this volume was to bring together information on the analyses, behaviour and effects of hydro carbons and halogenated hydrocarbons on the aquatic environment. This class of contaminants presents many difficult analytical pro blems, and to a large extent our ability to identify environmental problems and assess their severity, depends on the availability of proved analytical techniques. By exposing workers in this field to the techniques and results of others we hope that progress can be made towards solving the many problems caused by these substances. The papers in this volume are divided into five categories: two plenary session addresses given by J.P. Bruce and O. Hutzinger, 11 papers describing quantitative analytical results, 12 papers on analytical methods, 9 papers on incidence, monitoring and pathways; and finally, 13 papers on drinking water, health and biological effects. We were fortunate in having the support of the many organizations and individuals listed after this preface. In particular we thank B.F. Scott and R. Knechtel for their help in organizing the Symposium, S. Paterson, C. Straka, B. Reuber, A. Bobra, R. Wan, S. Austin, G.E.




Biology and ecology of mangroves


Book Description