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      • Trusted Partner
        Environmental science, engineering & technology
        December 2013

        Conservation Agriculture

        Global Prospects and Challenges

        by Edited by Ram Jat, Kanwar L Sahrawat, Amir H Kassam

        The book covers the spread of conservation agriculture (CA) to regions including Brazil, Argentina, Canada, Australia, Europe and emerging CA destinations in Asia and Africa. Topics covered include the various components of CA, and how their individual and combined implementation influence productivity, soil health and environmental quality under diverse edaphic and climatic conditions. The book will be useful to teachers, researchers, extensionists, farmers, and students interested in environmental quality.

      • Trusted Partner
        Science & Mathematics
        December 2016

        Conservation Agriculture for Africa

        Building Resilient Farming Systems in a Changing Climate

        by Amir H Kassam, Amir H Kassam, Saidi Mkomwa, Saidi Mkomwa, Theodor Friedrich, J N Blignaut, H Boulal, Roland Bunch, Trent W Bunderson, Dennis Garrity, Oussama El Gharras, Mohammed El Mourid, Mphatso Gama, Zwide D Jere, Josef Kienzle, Jaap Knot, Erna Kruger, Peter Kuria, Baqir Lalani, Simon Lugandu, Brand Mbale, Charles Midega, Michael Misiko, Zeyaur Khan, Obedi Mkandawire, Alice Murage, Richard M. Museka, Weldone Mutai, Blessings M. Mwale, Spencer W.D. Ng’oma, John M. Paul, John A. Pickett, Jimmy Pittchar, Brian G. Sims, Hendrik J. Smith, Phillip Tembo, Christian Thierfelder, Patrick C. Wall, Reynolds K. Shula, Peter Dorward, Jose Dambiro

        Tillage agriculture has led to widespread soil and ecosystem degradation globally. This is especially so in Africa where traditional and modern tillage-based agricultural practices have become unsustainable due to severe disturbance and exploitation of natural resources, with negative impacts on the environment and rural livelihoods. In addition, agriculture in Africa today faces major challenges including increased costs of production and energy, the effects of climate change, and the lack of an effective paradigm for sustainable intensification, especially for small- and medium-size holdings. Africa is facing a serious challenge to food security and as a continent has not advanced towards eradicating hunger. In addition, the population is still growing much faster than on most other continents. This pressure has led to the emergence of no-till conservation agriculture as a serious alternative sustainable agriculture paradigm. In Africa, in recent years, conservation agriculture techniques and methods have spread to many countries, as greater development, education and research effort are directed towards its extension and uptake. This book is aimed at agricultural researchers and scientists, educationalists, and agricultural service providers, institutional leaders and policy makers working in the fields of sustainable agriculture and international development, and also at agroecologists, conservation scientists, and those working on ecosystem services. This book: · Focuses on research and development initiatives in Africa aimed at building resilient farming systems based on conservation agriculture principles and practices. · Summarises the status of conservation agriculture in Africa today and prospects for its future development in Africa as a basis for sustainable agriculture intensification. · Describes case studies showing the performance of conservation agriculture in Africa. ; Tillage agriculture has led to widespread soil and ecosystem degradation. This book reviews research and development initiatives in Africa aimed at building resilient farming systems. It summarises the status of conservation agriculture today, discusses prospects for future development and provides case studies showing its performance in Africa. ; 1: Conservation Agriculture in Africa: An Overview2: Weather-Proofing Agriculture with Conservation Agriculture3: Conservation Agriculture: Growing more with less – the future of sustainable intensification4: Empowering Smallholder Farmers with Profitable and Sustainable Farming using Conservation Agriculture – the Case of East Africa5: Implementing the Principles of Conservation Agriculture in Malawi: Crop Yields and Factors Affecting Adoption6: Innovation Systems and farmer perceptions regarding Conservation Agriculture in Cabo Delgado, Mozambique7: Conservation Agriculture in North Africa: Experiences, Achievements and Challenges8: How Can We Cover Millions of Hectares with Conservation Agriculture in Africa?9: Climate-Smart push-pull - A conservation agriculture technology for food security and environmental sustainability in Africa10: How to Make Conservation Agriculture Ever Green11: Mechanization of smallholder Conservation Agriculture in Africa: contributing resilience to precarious systems12: Conservation Agriculture in South Africa: Lessons from Case Studies13: Extending Conservation Agriculture benefits through Innovation Platforms14: Summing Up

      • Sustainable agriculture
        July 2018

        Water management for sustainable agriculture

        by Theib Oweis

        There is increasing competition for water resources in the face of declining aquifer reserves and increasing risk in many areas of drought related to climate change. At the same time poor water management is damaging agriculture with problems such as salinization, waterlogging, erosion and run-off. This volume summarises the wealth of research on understanding and better management of water resources for agriculture.Part 1 reviews fundamental issues such as plant water use and soil water retention. Part 2 discusses ways of mapping and monitoring groundwater and surface water resources whilst Part 3 covers other sources such as rain and floodwater, waste and brackish water. Part 4 surveys developments in irrigation techniques such as drip irrigation and fertigation. The final sections in the book discuss ways of using water resources more efficiently such as site-specific and deficit irrigation techniques.With its distinguished editor and international team of expert authors, this wlll be a standard reference for agronomists, scientists involved in water and irrigation science as well as government and non-governmental organisations responsible for agriculture and water resource management.

      • Organic farming
        June 2018

        Achieving sustainable production of pig meat Volume 1

        Safety, quality and sustainability

        by Prof. Alan Mathew

        Pig meat is the most widely-consumed meat in the world. Previous growth in production has relied, in part, on more intensive systems. In meeting rising demand, these systems face challenges such as the ongoing threat of zoonotic diseases, the need to improve feed efficiency in the face of rising costs, the need to reduce the environmental impact of pig production and increasing concerns about animal welfare.This volume looks first at the main zoonoses affecting pigs and how they can be controlled. It then reviews the latest research on aspects of meat quality such as flavour, colour, texture and nutritional quality. Finally, it assesses ways of monitoring and reducing the environmental impact of pig production.With its distinguished editor and international team of expert authors, this will be a standard reference for researchers in swine science, producers, government and other organisations involved in supporting pig production. It is accompanied by two companion volumes which focus on animal breeding, nutrition, health and welfare.

      • Agriculture & farming
        November 2022

        Intercropping System

        Theory and Practices

        by Sagar Maitra

        Intercropping system is an age-old cropping system where two or more crops coexist for a significant time of their growth period. In the present context of negative impacts on crop productivity and soil fertility, a system approach in cropping has become more relevant. The book Intercropping System is divided into nine chapters that deal with the theory and practices of the intercropping system including recent research evidence. The first two chapters describe the overview of the intercropping system and complexity as well as the competitive relationship among component crops. The third chapter narrates the management options in the intercropping systems, while the fourth chapter highlights the multifaceted benefits of an intercropping system. Chapter 5 tells the suitability for the adoption of the intercropping system in organic agriculture. The sixth chapter describes how an intercropping system can ensure agricultural sustainability and some of the sustainable development Goals (SDGs). Chapter 7 illustrates the practice of alley cropping, a form of agroforestry, in resource-poor conditions. Legumes are considered an automatic choice in the intercropping system and hence, in the eighth chapter, the benefits of the inclusion of legumes as components have been described. Finally, in the ninth chapter, the performance of important crops in the intercropping system has been highlighted.

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