The reference presents detailed research on the olive (Olea europaea) and the stone fruit. Readers will learn about the biotechnology, plant nutrition, plant breeding, pomology, postharvest physiology, plant pathology of these two plant species. In a practical sense, the book also presents applicable agricultural knowledge about these plants for crop improvement, production, nutrients, pest management, disease, genetic, genomic and the food industry. The contributions by the authors of this book include descriptions about the manipulation of variables and genetic resources of inheritance of quantitative genes, crop rotation, soil water, and the effect of temperature on crop production. Aspects such as protecting crops against pests and diseases whilst ensuring the protection of human health are also taken into account. This is a valuable reference for students, scientists, horticulturists and, in general, for anyone wishing to obtain knowledge and experience with olives and drupes to increase productivity.

Banana farming is the basis for commercial fruit trading. Every banana plant generates waste biomass nearly ten times the quantity of its fruits. Disposal of waste biomass is a burden for the farmers. Economical use of the waste biomass can bring financial benefit to banana farmers. Use of organic potash in lieu of inorganic potash affords higher yield and also helps to preserve the ecosphere of soil for subsequent crops. Agricultural Benefits of Postharvest Banana Plants details the use of postharvest banana plants for agriculture and trade. Eleven chapters explain both traditional and modern uses of banana plants. The reader is informed how bio-waste from postharvest banana plants (including their stems) can be used as organic potash to replace inorganic potash (muriate of potash) in fertilizer. Experimental uses of banana plant pseudo-stem juice for growing different crops along with chemical analysis of the pseudo-stems are explained in separate chapters. Isolations of potassium chloride and potassium carbonate have also been discussed in the latter part of the book. This book is an ideal handbook for professionals and trainees interested in utilizing postharvest banana plants for sustainable agriculture and trade. The information is also useful for students and teachers involved in agricultural biotechnology and traditional agriculture courses.

Brassinosteroids: Practical Applications in Agriculture and Human Health provides a comprehensive overview on the practical applications of brassinosteroids (BRs) in plant biology (including stress tolerance, growth and development) and human health (anticancer, antiviral and anti-inflammatory activity). The book assures readers a high-quality review of practical applications with a selection of contributions from an international panel of expert researchers. The book suggests new opportunities for professionals to effectively increase the supply of quality food and other plant-derived products, and to improve human health. This book is a reference guide for the performance and interpretation of applications of brassinosteroids to agronomists, chemists, physicians and plant physiologists.

Cultivators and livestock farmers are increasingly arranging innovative technical and scientific estimations with the aim to enhance agricultural sustainability, effectiveness, and plant health. Innovative farming technologies incorporate biology with smart technology (computers and sensor devices) exchanging information with one another autonomously in a structured farm management system. This book presents reviews on innovative techniques and methodologies to complement conventional plant control and breeding attempts toward enhancing crop yield and production. Reviews covered in this volume include: -Active compounds from pomegranate seeds -Application of Enterococci and their bacteriocins for meat biopreservation -Technological advancement in the detection and identification of plant pathogens -Machine learning for precision agriculture -Use of remote sensing technology and geographic information systems for agriculture and environmental observation The information presented in this volume will provide helpful updates for students, technology experts and professionals in the food security and sustainable agriculture sectors.

Micronutrient Deficiency in Soils and Plants highlights the problems caused by micronutrient deficiencies in vegetative production. This eBook emphasizes on the necessary requirements for plant growth micronutrients, the vital deficiency symptoms of micronutrients and their crucial role in plant metabolism. The scope of this eBook covers a range of topics including micronutrient deficiency, the availability of micronutrient in soils, plant metabolism and micronutrient solubility. The contents of this eBook include chapters on micronutrient solubility and availability in soils, the role of micronutrients in plant metabolism and growth and diagnostic tools to assess deficiencies of iron, zinc, copper and other micro-nutrients. Micronutrient Deficiency in Soils and Plants is a valuable resource for MSc and PhD students, academic personnel and researchers seeking updated and critically important information on major nutritional problems in agricultural soils and crops.

More Food: Road to Survival is a comprehensive analysis of agricultural improvements which can be achieved through scientific methods. This reference book gives information about strategies for increasing plant productivity, comparisons of agricultural models, the role of epigenetic events on crop production, yield enhancing physiological events (photosynthesis, germination, seedling emergence, seed properties, etc.), tools enabling efficient exploration of genetic variability, domestication of new species, the detection or induction of drought resistance and apomixes and plant breeding enhancement (through molecularly assisted breeding, genetic engineering, genome editing and next generation sequencing). The book concludes with a case study for the improvement of small grain cereals. Readers will gain an understanding of the biotechnological tools and concepts central to sustainable agriculture More Food: Road to Survival is, therefore, an ideal reference for agriculture students and researchers as well as professionals involved sustainability studies.

Natural Feed Additives Used in the Poultry Industry addresses recent information on the use of different natural feed additives in poultry nutrition. Chapters in the book focus on the growth, production, reproduction and health of poultry. Key Features: - 15 chapters contributed by more than 30 experts and scientists involved in animal and poultry nutrition, physiology, toxicology, pharmacology, and pathology - Chapters highlight the significance of a variety of herbal plant extracts and derivatives, cold pressed and essential oils, fruits by-products, immunomodulators, organic acids, probiotics, nanoparticles and their role in poultry industry instead of the growth promoter antibiotics. - Provides details about the use of antibiotic as growth promoters in poultry and the development of bacterial resistance. - Provides a holistic approach on how natural feed additives can provide an efficient solution to animal health, - Covers the main categories of poultry, including broiler chickens, laying hens, quails, geese, ducks, and turkey. - References in each chapter for further reading This handbook represents an up-to-date review of the existing knowledge on natural feed additives, both in vitro and in vivo and the basis for future research. The text is useful to students of poultry sciences, nutritionists, scientists, veterinarians, pharmacologists, poultry breeders, and animal husbandry extension workers.

With rapid progress being made in both theory and practical applications, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming every aspect of life and leading the world towards a sustainable future. AI technology is fundamentally and radically affecting agriculture with a move towards smart systems. The outcome of this transition is improved efficiency, reduced environmental pollution, and enhanced productivity of crops. Nondestructive Evaluation of Agro-products by Intelligent Sensing Techniques is a reference which provides readers timely updates in the progress of intelligent sensing techniques used for nondestructive evaluation of agro-products. Chapters, each contributed by experts in food safety and technology, describe existing and innovative techniques that could be or have been applied to agro-products quality and safety evaluation, processing, harvest, traceability, and so on. The book includes 11 individual chapters, with each chapter focusing on a specific aspect of intelligent sensing techniques applied in agriculture. Specifically, the first chapter introduces the reader to representative techniques and methods for nondestructive evaluation. Subsequent chapters present detailed information about the processing and quality evaluation of agro-products (e.g., fruits, and vegetables), food grading, food tracing, and the use of robots for harvesting specialty crops. Key Features: - 11 chapters, contributed by experts that cover basic and applied research in agriculture - introduces readers to nondestructive evaluation techniques - covers food quality evaluation processes - covers food grading and traceability systems - covers frontier topics that represent future trends (robots and UAVs used in agriculture) - familiarizes the readers with several intelligent sensing technologies used in the agricultural sector (including machine vision, near-infrared spectroscopy, hyperspectral/multispectral imaging, bio-sensing, multi-technology fusion detection) - provides bibliographic references for further reading - gives applied examples on both common and specialty crops This reference is intended as a source of updated information for consultants, students and academicians involved in agriculture, crops science and food biotechnology. Professionals involved in food safety and security planning and policymaking will also benefit from the information presented by the authors.

Maintaining ideal fish health and production, both of farmed and wild fish populations, requires continuous infrastructural and process upgrades to avoid significant losses as well as to facilitate seafood safety. Aquaculture is multidisciplinary in nature, combining knowledge from biology, veterinary medicine and food technology. Practical Notions on Fish Health and Production brings an integrated approach concerning practical aspects of ichthyology, fish health and aquaculture systems. The textbook will give readers a better understanding of issues related to the management of fish health and production, seafood processing, security, quality and safety. The book is organized in three sections which cover 1) general aspects of fish biology and development, 2) fish diseases and veterinary medicine, and 3) aquaculture and marine food supply chain management. Practical Notions on Fish Health and Production is an essential text for students, food industry professionals and novice fish farmers undertaking courses or training programs in veterinary medicine, aquaculture, and marine food processing systems.

The aim of the eBook series of Research Topics in Agricultural & Applied Economics (RTAAE) is to publish high quality economic researches applied to both the agricultural and non-agricultural sectors of the economy. The subject areas of this eBook series include, among others, supply and demand analysis, technical change and productivity, industrial organization, labor economics, growth and development, environmental economics, marketing, business economics and finance. By covering a broad variety of economic research topics, this eBook series should prove to be of considerable interest to a wide spectrum of academic, agricultural and applied economic researchers and scientists, as well as to industry specialists and government policy makers.