E-Resources

Agriculture and Forestry Division, Volume 2: Agrarian Development in Peasant Economies: Some Lessons from Kenya tackles various areas of concerns in agriculture in the context of peasant economy. The title provides examples from the Kenyan agrarian development policies. The text first covers concern in improving agricultural production, and then proceeds to tackling post-war Kenya. Next, the selection talks about Kenyan agrarian revolution, along with the economics and features of peasant agriculture. The sixth chapter discusses government and agrarian development, while the seventh chapter details further problems of agrarian reform. The book will be of great interest to political scientists, economists, agriculturists, and sociologists.

Agricultural and Horticultural Engineering: Principles, Models, Systems, and Techniques focuses on the developments in agriculture and horticulture, including the role of engineers in employing measures in the management of plants, animals, and machinery. The book first offers information on the process of surveying, including tape, compass, and aerial surveying, leveling, barometric leveling with the aneroid, plane tabling, and electronic distance measurement and electronic total. The text then takes a look at models of the environment, material properties, and the relationship between stress and strain. The publication examines workshop methods and hydraulics. Topics include soldering, electric arc welding, low temperature brazing, welding using oxygen-acetylene apparatus, hydrodynamics, and water supply requirements. The text also reviews electricity and electronics and power and thermal systems, as well as alternating voltage supplies, electrical motors, electrical safety, power and energy consumption, and the fundamental principles of electronics. The manuscript is a dependable reference for engineers and readers interested in agricultural and horticultural engineering.

The Introduction to Economics for Students of Agriculture describes the universal economic principles, illustrated primarily by examples drawn from farming and the food industry. This book is composed of nine chapters, and begins with what an overview of the concepts of economics, its objective, with a particular emphasis on the mechanism of allocating scarce resources. The succeeding chapters deal with the behavior of individual through the theory of consumer choice, the concept of demand and supply, market competitions, and production economics. These topics are followed by discussions on the mobility of the factors of production and unemployment, and some problems of using the market as a resource allocator. This book will prove useful to economists, agriculturists, and students.

An Introduction to Field Quantization is an introductory discussion of field quantization and problems closely related to it. Field quantization establishes a commutation relation of the field and finds an operator in such a manner that the Heisenberg equation of motion is satisfied. This book contains eight chapters and begins with a review of the quantization of the Schroedinger field and the close relation between quantized field theory and the many-body theory in quantum mechanics. These topics are followed by discussions of the quantization of the radiation field and the field of lattice vibrations in a solid. The succeeding chapter deals with the familiar linear equations in relativistic field theory and the deduction of certain spin independent theories, which these fields have in common. Other chapter explores the derivation technique of the conservation laws for fields with arbitrary spin directly from the field equations without explicit recourse to Noether's theorem using a configuration space version of the generalized Ward identity. The discussion then shifts to the relativistic quantization method applicable to any field with arbitrary spin; the transformation of various fields under the Lorentz transformation; and a general method for constructing wave functions explicitly, as well as the application of this method to several examples. The concluding chapter focuses on the quantization of interacting fields. This book will prove useful to physicists and researchers.

Citrus is one of the most popular fruits around the world, and can be successfully cultivated in more than 140 countries. Producing 75% of citrus consumed in the global market, China has become the new Kingdom of Canned Citrus. Canned Citrus Processing: Techniques, Equipment, and Food Safety comprehensively presents the technical and development trends of the canned citrus industry. This book provides solutions to typical problems of canned citrus manufacturing and processing; presents an overview of the canned citrus industry, introduces canned citrus processing machinery and equipment, and discusses the processing quality, safety control, and related standards.

Chitosan in the Preservation of Agricultural Commodities presents a cohesive overview of research topics regarding the production and characterization of chitosan, the development of coatings and fi lms, its functional properties, and antimicrobial potential of this compound on economically important agricultural commodities. It includes the modes of action from a physiological, enzymatic, and molecular perspective, and evaluations of the activity of chitosan nanocomposites and nanoparticles in biological models. The first section deals with the chemical characteristics and functional properties of chitosan and new chitosan-based biomaterials intended for food preservation. The second section covers various aspects of the control achieved by chitosan on different microorganisms affecting various horticultural commodities, grains, and ornamentals, and its modes of action. The third section explores enzymatic and gene expression induction by chitosan application on fruit and vegetables; the fourth section offers insight on the use of chitosan nanocomposites in biological models associated with food conservation and control of microorganisms.

"Continuing food poisoning outbreaks around the globe have put fresh produce safety at the forefront of food research. Global Safety of Fresh Produce provides a detailed and comprehensive overview of best practice for produce safety throughout the food chain, and unique coverage of commercial technologies for fresh produce safety. Part one covers the production and regulation of fresh produce on the agricultural level, including issues of niche farm fresh products, FDA regulation, and zoonotic transfer of pathogens from animals to farm products. Part two moves on to look at safety and environmental issues surrounding fresh produce processing, such as postharvest washing, alternative sanitizers, and using produce waste as animal feed. Part three focuses on current and emerging commercial solutions for fresh produce safety, like ionizing radiation and edible coatings, and part four covers methods of laboratory testing and related legislation. The final section of the book covers a series of case studies of fresh produce safety breaches, including European E. coli outbreaks in sprouts and leafy greens, and the illegal use of fluorescent whitening agents (FWAs) in China. This book is an essential text for R&D managers in the fresh produce industry, quality control professionals working with fresh produce throughout the food chain, postgraduate students, and academic researchers with an interest in fresh produce safety. Key Features. Provides a comprehensive overview of best practice for produce safety. Examines the production and regulation of fresh agricultural produce. Looks at safety and environmental issues surrounding fresh produce processing"

Herbivorous Insects: Host-Seeking Behavior and Mechanisms addresses mechanisms of searching behavior leading ultimately to host location of herbivorous insects. It is divided into four sections, wherein the first two sections deal with neurophysiology and the diversity of behavioral induction cues. The third section covers the searching mechanisms as affected by insects' breadth of diet. The last part examines the evolutionary analysis of the behavioral and physiological adaptations in insect/host plant relations. This book starts with an introduction to the chemical sensory system as it relates to host selection in general. This is followed by considerable discussions on host-seeking behavior and allied patterns in behavior. This text also includes the study of oviposition behavior in butterflies belonging to Papilionidae. The third section presents host selection and colonization by three insects within the saprophage-predator continuum, namely, Hylurgopinus rufipes, Scolytus multistriatus, and Pissodes strobi. The behaviors by which certain oligophagous insects locate and select food plants are also considered. The concluding part addresses the unifying theme and the diversity of responses of phytophagous insects to plants. The book provides direction toward developing a unifying theme and improving the ability to unravel the complexities of insect/plant interactions. Behaviorists, ecologists, entomologists, evolutionary biologists, and physiologists will find this book invaluable.

Insects, mites, and ticks have a long history of evolving resistance to pesticides, host-plant resistance, crop rotation, pathogens, and parasitoids. Insect resistance management (IRM) is the scientific approach to preventing or delaying pest evolution and its negative impacts on agriculture, public health, and veterinary issues. This book provides entomologists, pest management practitioners, developers of new technologies, and regulators with information about the many kinds of pest resistance including behavioral and phenological resistance. Abstract concepts and various case studies provide the reader with the biological and economic knowledge required to manage resistance. No other source has the breadth of coverage of this book: genomics to economics, transgenic insecticidal crops, insecticides, and other pest management tactics such as crop rotation. Dr. David W. Onstad and a team of experts illustrate how IRM becomes efficient, effective and socially acceptable when local, social and economic aspects of the system are considered. Historical lessons are highlighted with new perspectives emphasized, so that future research and management may be informed by past experience, but not constrained by it.

Global climate change is a natural process that currently appears to be strongly influenced by human activities, which increase atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases (GHG). Agriculture contributes about 20% of the worlds global radiation forcing from carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide, and produces 50% of the methane and 70% of the nitrous oxide of the human-induced emission. Managing Agricultural Greenhouse Gases synthesizes the wealth of information generated from the GRACEnet (Greenhouse gas Reduction through Agricultural Carbon Enhancement network) effort with contributors from a variety of backgrounds, and reports findings with important international applications.

Studies in the Agricultural and Food Sciences: Plant Breeding for Pest and Disease Resistance presents a critical review of the development of resistant varieties of plant to pests and diseases. It discusses the economic impact of pests and diseases; the methods of controlling these pests and diseases; and the challenges being faced by a plant breeder. Some of the topics covered in the book are the general principles and methods of breeding for resistance; importance of parasite variability to the plant breeder; methods of testing for resistance; requirements for successful inoculation; production of resistant varieties; and economic importance of fungal diseases; and variability in fungal pathogen. Pathogenic fungi and fungal diseases are also covered. The control of fungal diseases by resistant varieties is discussed. An in-depth analysis of diseases in plants is provided. The characteristics of bacteria and bacterial diseases are also presented. A chapter is devoted to epidemiology of diseases associated with mycoplasma-like organisms and rickettsia-like organisms. The book can provide useful information to farmers, botanists, students, and researchers.

Plant Factory: An Indoor Vertical Farming System for Efficient Quality Food Production provides information on a field that is helping to offset the threats that unusual weather and shortages of land and natural resources bring to the food supply. As alternative options are needed to ensure adequate and efficient production of food, this book represents the only available resource to take a practical approach to the planning, design, and implementation of plant factory (PF) practices to yield food crops. The PF systems described in this book are based on a plant production system with artificial (electric) lights and include case studies providing lessons learned and best practices from both industrial and crop specific programs. With insights into the economics as well as the science of PF programs, this book is ideal for those in academic as well as industrial settings.

Resource Structure of Agriculture: An Economic Analysis focuses on the quantitative economic analysis of the agricultural industry. The book first discusses the theory of resource demand. Topics include decision milieu in agriculture; aggregate demand for an input; and notes on the statistical estimation of the demand function for an input. The text also examines the role of labor in agriculture, including agricultural wages, migration from agriculture, and regional labor supply. The monograph underscores the use of machineries in the agricultural sector. Analysis of post-war demand for power and machinery; early developments in agricultural mechanization; trends in the use of other machinery; and supply conditions for agricultural machinery are discussed. The text also looks at the use of fertilizers and pesticides in the agricultural sector, as well the need to invest in farm buildings. The book examines the demand for resources and supply of agricultural products. Future pattern of resource use and technological change; interactions between demands for different resources; and resource demand and a derived supply elasticity are discussed. The text is a valuable source of data for readers interested in the economic analysis of the agricultural industry.

Available water disinfection systems rely mainly on large-scale filtration and the combination of filtration (to remove solids), and subsequent application of chemical disinfectants. This has proven to produce water of acceptable quality. Important points for application in household systems are low complexity, few training requirements, and easy transportation and distribution as well as a sufficiently high acceptance by the user. Written and endorsed by the European Federation of Food Science and Technology this book compares a variety of purification systems. There is a growing evidence base on targeting water quality improvements to maximize health benefits, and it is believed that 4% of the global disease burden could be prevented by improving water supply, sanitation, and hygiene. Better tools and procedures to improve and protect drinking-water quality at the community and urban level, for example, through Water Safety Plans include the availability of simple and inexpensive approaches to treat and safely store water at the household-level.

"The Economics and Organization of Brazilian Agriculture: Recent Evolution and Productivity Gains presents insights on Brazilian agriculture and its impressive gains in productivity and international competitiveness, also providing insightful examples for global policymakers. In Brazil, as in many countries, many economists and policymakers believe that agriculture is a traditional, low-tech sector that crowds out the development of other economic sectors and the country. This book shows that this anti-agriculture bias is ill-informed, and with population growth, rising incomes, urbanization and diet changes especially in developing countries like China and India on the rise, the demand for food is expected to double in the next 40 years. Brazil has the natural resources, technology and management systems in place to benefit from this expected growth in food consumption and trade. Through real-world examples, the book shows how other low-latitude countries with tropical climate and soils like Brazil especially in sub-Saharan Africa can benefit from the agricultural technology, production, and management systems developed in Brazil. Case studies in each of three key categories, including technology, resource management, and effective government programs provide valuable insights into effective decision-making to maximize the effect of each. Key Features. Provides important and practical insights into achievable agricultural options via case studies. Addresses the use of natural resources, technological advances, and management systems to create viable, adaptive economic growth. Applies lessons learned in Brazil to improving both economic and ecological resource-sustainable agriculture for other regions and countries"

Understanding the causes and contributing factors leading to outbreaks of food-borne illness associated with contamination of fresh produce continues to be a worldwide challenge for everyone from the growers of fresh-cut produce through the entire production and delivery process. Additionally researchers both at universities and in government agencies are facing an increased challenge to develop means of preventing these foodborne illness occurrences. The premise of this book is that when human pathogen contamination of fresh produce occurs, it is extremely difficult to reduce pathogen levels sufficiently to assure microbiological safety with the currently available technologies. A wiser strategy would be to avoid crop production conditions that result in microbial contamination to start. These critical, problem-oriented chapters have been written by researchers active in the areas of food safety and microbial contamination during production, harvesting, packing and fresh-cut processing of horticultural crops, and were designed to provide methods of contamination avoidance. Coverage includes policy and practices in the US, Mexico and Central America, Europe, and Japan.