Research Developments in Saline Agriculture

Research Developments in Saline Agriculture
Author: Jagdish Chander Dagar
Publisher: Springer
Total Pages: 926
Release: 2019-06-21
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 981135832X

Soil and water salinity is a major challenge for the agricultural community and policy makers in terms of meeting the burgeoning population’s demand for food and other agricultural commodities. In coastal regions, climate change and sea level rise will aggravate the problem with more and more areas becoming saline due to intrusion of sea water. As such there is a pressing need for modern tools and innovative techniques for the identification of salty soils and poor-quality waters, crop production, soil reclamation and lowering the water table in waterlogged areas. Tackling next-generation problems such as contamination of soil and underground water due to fluoride and arsenic, as well as developing multi-stress tolerant crops is also a high priority. Further, techniques for domesticating halophytes, mangrove-based aquacultures, using seaweed cultures as agricultural crops and integrated farming systems need to be perfected. This book addresses all these aspects in detail, highlighting the diverse solutions to tackle the complex problem of salinity and waterlogging and safer management of poor-quality waters. With chapters written by leading experts, it is a valuable resource for researchers planning future investigations, policy makers, farmers and other stakeholders, and for students wanting insights into vital issues of environment.

Contribution

Contribution
Author: Hawaii Institute of Geophysics
Publisher:
Total Pages: 946
Release: 1957
Genre: Geophysics
ISBN:

Agroforestry

Agroforestry
Author: Jagdish Chander Dagar
Publisher: Springer
Total Pages: 869
Release: 2018-04-06
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 9811076502

Agroforestry (AF) is a dynamic, ecologically based, natural resources management system that, by integrating trees on farms, ranches, and in other landscapes, diversifies and increases production and promotes social, economic, and environmental benefits for land users. Further, it is receiving increasing attention as a sustainable land-management option worldwide because of its ecological, economic, and social attributes. Advances have been achieved by building on past research accomplishments and expanding AF’s stakeholder base, which now includes private/public partnerships, communities, ecologists, farmers, indigenous peoples, and policymakers in both temperate and tropical countries. AF has now been recognized as a valuable problem-solving approach to ensuring food security and rebuilding resilient rural environments. Recent studies have shown that more than 1 billion hectares of agricultural land have more than 10% tree cover. Of this area, 160 million hectares have more than 50% tree cover. Agricultural ecosystems can be further improved through AF to achieve environmental restoration, greater farm productivity, and key ecological services, including climate change mitigation and adaptation for improved rural livelihood. In fact, it is largely considered synonymous with climate smart agriculture and a remedy for many modern environmental challenges. Consequently, AF’s knowledge base is being expanded at a rapid rate, as illustrated by the increasing number and quality of scientific publications on various forms and different aspects of AF. This book offers state-of-the-art information on the fundamental concepts and history of AF and its evolution as a science, presenting a wealth of advanced research results and evaluations relating to different aspects of AF. Accordingly, it will be useful for a broad readership, including students, foresters, farmers, local communities, indigenous peoples, civil society institutions, media, policymakers and the general public.

Developments in Soil Salinity Assessment and Reclamation

Developments in Soil Salinity Assessment and Reclamation
Author: Shabbir A. Shahid
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 827
Release: 2013-01-15
Genre: Nature
ISBN: 9400756844

The papers assembled here cover topics such as technological advances in soil salinity mapping and monitoring, management and reclamation of salt-affected soils, use of marginal quality water for crop production, salt-tolerance mechanisms in plants, biosaline agriculture and agroforestry, microbiological interventions for marginal soils, opportunities and challenges in using marginal waters, and soil and water management in irrigated agriculture.

Irrigation and Soil Salinity in the Indian Subcontinent

Irrigation and Soil Salinity in the Indian Subcontinent
Author: N. T. Singh
Publisher: Lehigh University Press
Total Pages: 408
Release: 2005
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 9780934223782

This book deals with the development of irrigation in the subcontinent since the beginning of settled agriculture, and its possible connections with the occurrence of salinity and alkalinity in irrigated lands.

Sustainable Biofuels

Sustainable Biofuels
Author: Ajay Kumar Bhardwaj
Publisher: Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co KG
Total Pages: 324
Release: 2015-04-24
Genre: Science
ISBN: 3110381338

With oil resources approaching their limits, biofuels have become increasingly attractive. This book provides a detailed description of the ecological implications of second and third generation biofuel feedstock production systems, beginning with an introduction to the importance of ecological sustainability alongside economic viability. The book is divided into sections describing theoretical foundation and benefits of various biofuel cropping systems, and providing a description of practical ecological limitations to achieve those fundamental benefits. The book covers such critical issues as greenhouse gas emissions, carbon balance, water cycle components, other biogeochemical and socioeconomic interactions alongside life cycle analysis principals for achieving sustainability. These are some of the most important sustainability, environmental and economic issues which biofuel industry and scientific community is seeking answers to.