Perspectives For Agroecosystem Management

Sustainable agriculture is a key concept for scientists, researchers, and agricultural engineers alike. This book focuses on the FAM- project (FAM Munich Research Network on Agroecosystems) of the 1990s as a means to assessing, forecasting, and evaluating changes in the agroecosystems that are necessary for agricultural sustainability. The management of two separate management systems: an organic and an integrated farming system are described to provide an interdisciplinary approach Changes of matter fluxes in soils, changes of trace gas fluxes from soils, precision farming in a small scale heterogen landscape, influence of management changes on flora and fauna, as well as the development of agroecosystem models, the assessment of soil variability and the changes in nutrient status are important aspects of this book. * Contains detailed results and insight of a long-time project on agricultural sustainability * Provides an interdisciplinary approach for comprehensive understanding by scientists and researchers of soil, plants, agriculture, and environment * Includes an international perspective

Emphasizes Centrality of the Ecosystem PerspectiveSustainable management of agroecosystems in the 21st century faces unprecedented challenges. Protecting the environment while feeding a burgeoning population that could reach nine billion by mid-century, preserving the world's biodiversity, and sustaining agriculture in an increasingly urban world i

During the 4th ESA-Congress, held in the Netherlands, 7-11 July 1996, a new perspective for agronomy emerged. Various contributions demonstrate the need for a new role of agronomy and its tools. In recent decades, agriculture has evolved from an activity with mainly productivity aims, into an issue conciliating environmental, agricultural, and economic and social objectives. Placing agriculture in such a broadened perspective requires a different agronomy, with new tools and approaches at a range of aggregration levels. It calls for detailed knowledge concerning the functioning, productivity and ecological relationships of agricultural plants and crops. In addition, it calls for a constant update and synthesis of existing and newly generated knowledge, the design of new ideotypes and genotypes, new production technologies, cropping systems, farming systems and agro-ecological land use systems. This proceedings book presents a set of case studies illustrating the various agronomic tools that can be used for specific agronomic questions. The case studies are grouped in sections illustrating relevant subquestions in developing an agriculture with broadened objectives. The book starts with an introductory paper on the role of agronomy in research and education in Europe. The second section deals with agricultural land use, food security and environment. This is followed by a set of papers describing experimental research and modeling approaches used to design new ideotypes of crops, including physiological properties in relation to growth factors such as radiation, CO2, temperature and water. Sustained soil fertility directly links to nutrient cycling and soil organic matter. A selected set of papers addresses the improvements in resource use efficiency and as such their contribution towards economic, environmental and agricultural objectives. The final section addresses the design of integrated and ecological arable farming systems. It highlights the role of prototyping interaction with leading-edge farmers, as promising tools to design, implement and test new farming systems. It is hoped that the activities of the European Society for Agronomy and the Proceedings of its 4th Congress will stimulate to serve the new perspectives of agronomy, i.e. to adopt ecological principles, to optimally manage the use of resources and to meet social and economic objectives.

Agroecological footprints are a unique and popular concept for sustainable food system. Measuring and keeping a tab on the agroecological footprints of various human activities has gained remarkable interest in the past decade. From a range of human activities, food production and agriculture are most essential as well as extremely dependent on the agroecosystems. It is therefore crucial to understand the interaction of agroecosystem constituents with the extensive agricultural practices. The environmental impact measured in terms of agroecological footprints for a healthy for the sustainable food system. The editors critically examine the status of agroecological footprints and how it can be maintained within sustainable limits. Drawing upon research and examples from around the world, the book is offering an up-to-date account, and insight into how agroecology can be implemented as a solution in the form of eco-friendly practices that would boost up the production, curbs the environmental impacts, improves the bio-capacity, and reduces the agroecological footprints. It further discusses the changing status of the agroecological footprints and the growth of other footprint tools and types, such as land, water, carbon, nitrogen, etc. This book will be of interest to teachers, researchers, government planners, climate change scientists, capacity builders, and policymakers. Also, the book serves as additional reading material for undergraduate and graduate students of agriculture, agroforestry, agroecology, soil science, and environmental sciences. National and international agricultural scientists, policymakers will also find this to be useful to achieve the ‘Sustainable Development Goals’.

There is an increasing realization among biophysical scientists that human behavior drastically impacts the degree to which sound agroecosystems are implemented. Written by an international team of experts assembled by a leading rural sociologist, Interactions Between Agroecosystems and Rural Communities shows how human behavior impacts agroecosyst

This textbook applies basic concepts of ecology to address critical issues regarding food and agricultural systems. The intended audience is first year undergraduate students; it may also benefit higher-level undergraduates with an interest in agriculture and ecology. The level of science and general knowledge reflects this target group. The text is divided into five sections with 22 chapters in all. Each chapter has its own student learning objectives. The first two sections, “Context of Agroecology” and “Basics of Agroecosystems,” provide a sound basis for the further study of agriculture from an ecological standpoint. Section 3, “Digging Deeper into Agroecosystems,” explores the related issues of hunger, wastes, climate change, and biodiversity. It is suggested that students study these three sections before proceeding to section 4 or 5. Section 4, “Application of Agroecosystem Concepts,” introduces students to agricultural production and challenges them to use the concepts and ideas from the first three sections to critically evaluate such production systems. Section 5, “Agroecosystem Management,” brings the coverage full circle by examining global solutions and opportunities from both a scientific and social economic standpoint. Particularly these last four chapters offer both food for thought and inspiration for further work. The book’s goal is not to provide a comprehensive literature review; rather, it offers extensive data on and a stimulating analysis of the topic.

This Open Access book presents feedback from the ‘Territorial Agroecological Transition in Action’- TATA-BOX research project, which was devoted to these specific issues. The multidisciplinary and multi-organisation research team steered a four-year action-research process in two territories of France. It also presents: i) the key dimensions to be considered when dealing with agroecological transition: diversity of agriculture models, management of uncertainties, polycentric governance, autonomies, and role of actors’ networks; ii) an operational and original participatory process and associated boundary tools to support local stakeholders in shifting from a shared diagnosis to a shared action plan for transition, and in so doing developing mutual understanding and involvement; iii) an analysis of the main effects of the methodology on research organisation and on stakeholders’ development and application; iv) critical analysis and foresights on the main outcomes of TATA-BOX, provided by external researchers.

Debate about how best to ensure the preservation of agricultural biodiversity is caught in a counter-productive polemic between proponents and critics of market-based instruments and agricultural modernization. However, it is argued in this book that neither position does justice to the range of strategies that farmers use to manage agrobiodiversity and other livelihood assets as they adapt to changing social, economic, and environmental circumstances.

This edited book provides a comprehensive account of the sustainable intensification process through various forms of case studies and scientific approaches studied across the globe. It also focuses on the agroecosystem services and their subsequent management for ecological integrity. The book helps to understand the interconnection of food, nutrition, economic growth, and environmental security on the planet. It provides comprehensive information with photographic illustration and various other forms of scientific databases on sustainable intensification of agroecosystems. The book also supports decision-making, strategies, and policy formulation for effective implementation of sustainable intensification towards higher productivity along with maintenance and management of agroecosystem services. Proper sustainable intensification of agroecosystem services and their management by maintaining ecological harmony is the future prospect for sustainable development. High input agriculture gives rise to a high-energy footprint, agricultural pollution, resource depletion, loss of agro-biodiversity, and decline of human health. Through this connection, the sustainable intensification approach addresses the advanced food security, sustainability, and overall prosperity of humankind. The book is helpful for both undergraduate and postgraduate students, policymakers, the farming community, as well as the scientific community across the globe to understand the concept of sustainable intensification and its application in relevant fields for proper management of agroecosystems services.

Indian agriculture has witnessed a remarkable progress during the past three decades. Apart from high yielding varieties and modern agricultural technologies, a number of agricultural inputs have played a key role in achieving the phenomenal increase in agricultural production. The present book provides the state of agroecosystem vis-a-vis environment and outlines future directions so that sustainable agriculture is achived without causing extensive damage to the fragile agroecosystem. This book is a unique compilation of 71 research articles of eminent scientists, which would prove useful to students, teachers and research scholars in various disciplines of agricultural science. It would be also helpful to administrators and policy planners to devise strategy to provide pollution-free environment and food to the teeming population. Contents Chapter 1: Role of Vermicompost in Agroecosystem by Arvind Kumar and Chandan Bohra; Chapter 2: Use of Green Manure and Green Leaf Manure in Rice Agroecosystem by A Solaimalai, P T Ramesh and M Baskar; Chapter 3: Accumulated Soil Enzymes in a Soil Profile under Different Agroecosystem by V Sunitha and M A Singara Charya; Chapter 4: Cement Dust Pollution in Kashmir: Response of Phaseolus vulgaris to Cement Dust Treatment under Soil Amendments by A H Zargar, M Y Zargar and M A Khan; Chapter 5: Weed Control Efficiency of Different Herbicides in Transplanted Paddy under Temperate Conditions of Kashmir Himalaya by Zafar Reshi and B L Sapru; Chapter 6: Effect of Azospirillum Inoculation and Growth Regulators Application of Sunflower (Helianthus annus L) by D Reetha, D Stellan and M D Sundaram; Chapter 7: Climatic-Planning and Weather-Monitoring of Crop Production by Venkataraman; Chapter 8: Biodegradation of Lignocelulosic Paddy Straw by Soil Fungi by Ch Vijaya and M A Singaracharya; Chapter 9: Influence of Irrigation Schedules and Herbicide Application Methods on Nodulation in Groundnut by G M Sujith; Chapter 10: Effect of Rice-cum-Fish Culture on Soil Fertility Status of Soil in Rainfed Lowland Ecosystem of Coastal Saline Zone of West Bengal by M Ghosh, D Maiti, P K Jana, P Bandyopadhyay and A K Pal; Chapter 11: Management of Radish Mosaic Disease in Himachal Pradesh by Usha Sharma, S C Chowfla, Anil Handa, P D Thakur and Bhupesh Gupta; Chapter 12: Effect of Simulated Acid Rain on Germination and Seedling of Cymopsis tetragonoloba Var Cazg-9819 by T I Khan and Shikha Devpura; Chapter 13: Isoproturon: A Suitable Herbicide for Weed Management in One of the Rabi Cereal-Wheat by Jaishree Dubey; Chapter 14: Effect of Moisure Conservation Practices on Soil Moisture Content and Growth of Khejri (Prosopis cineraria) by B L Jat, S R Naga, Mahendra Singh and G L & Yadav; Chapter 15: Correlation, Path Coefficient and Partition of Correlation in Summer Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L) under Irrigated Environment by J M L Gulati, D Lenka and B Mishra; Chapter 16: Performance of Castor Genotypes on Growth and Yield under Rainfed Condition by R Govindan, B Sannappa, V P Bharathi, M Byre Gowda, M P Singh and D M Hegde; Chapter 17: Effect of Mulching; Nitrogen Management and Organic Manure and Fertilizer Doses on the Growth and Yield of Sorghum by Shiva Kant, Bhagwan Singh, Vinod Kumar and Hiralal Prasad; Chapter 18: Edible Oil Extraction from Sunflower Seeds: A Review by Ritu Srivastava, B N Mishra, D S Bhargava and Shipra Agrawal; Chapter 19: Effect of Zinc Nurtition on Grain Yield of Cowpea under Rainfed Condition by Narayana S Mavarkar, C Sunil, C J Sreedhara and K S Kamath; Chapter 20: Combined Effect of Organic and Inorganic Nitrogen Sources on Growth and Yield of Sugarcane by D A Sonawane; Chapter 21: A Protocol to Reduce the Cost of Nutrient Media for Large Scale Multiplication of Ginger by M C Gayatri, Seema Prakash and S Kiran; Chapter 22: Inheritance of Resistance in Interspecific Hybrid Cotton to Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner) by B Mohite Pandurang and S Uthamasamy; Chapter 23: Studies on the Effects of Pesticidal Seed Treatments on Morphological and Physiological Changes in Some Cultivars of Sunflower during Germination by G Panduranga Murthy and S Leelavthi; Chapter 24: Impact on Secretion of Pectolytic and Cellulolytic Enzymes by Blight Pathogen Alernaria triticina on Tomato Plant Parts Extract of Susceptible and Resistance by M P N Singh, J Ahmed and M P Sinha; Chapter 25: Trends in Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering of Horticultural Crops by Anil Handa, Bunty Shylla and Uday Sharma; Chapter 26: Microflora Population and Phenol Content in the Root-Zone Soil of Rice Cultivars under Problem Soils by R Saraswathy, G Arunachalam and P V Jeegadeeswari; Chapter 27: Effect of EMS on Sex Expression and Yield in Cucumis pubescens Willd by M Babu Rao and J K Bhalla; Chapter 28: Performance of NB4D2 Silkworm Breed Reared at Varied Feeding Regimes on Rainfed Mulberry Raised at Different Levels of Calcium Ammoniumnitrate by B Sannappa, M C Devaiah, R Govindan and Ramakrishna Naika; Chapter 29: Performance of Sunflower-Groundnut Intercropping System as Influenced by Sowing Dates of Groundnut by Sumit Chakravarty, K K Dhingra and Maninderpal Singh; Chapter 30: Germination Performance of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L) Genotypes as Influenced by Application of Saline Water by Gurmeet Singh Buttar; Chapter 31: Effect of Spacings, Nitrogen Levels and Bio-Fertilizers on Growth and Yield of Sugarcane by M Dinesh Kumr, H Narayanaswamy and S Pradeep; Chapter 32: Plate Trapped Antigen-Elisa and Partial Characterization of a Distinct Potyvirus in Chillies by Anil Handa, P D Thakur, S C Chowfla and Usha Sharma; Chapter 33: Effect of Growth Regulators in Seed Production on Sunflower (Helianthus Annuus L) by Sanket Sharma, R K Bajaj, Nrinder Kaul and Gurmit Singh; Chapter 34: Effect of Post-Inoculation Sprays of Virus Inhibitors of Plant Origin on Inhibition of Tomato Mosaic Virus by Bhupesh Gupta and Anil Handa; Chapter 35: Adsorption of Cadmium in Selected Sewer Water Irrigated Soil of Semi-Arid Zone by J S Brar; Chapter 36: Heavy Metal Removal by Food and Non-food Crops in Sludge amended Soils by T Chitdeshwari and P Savithri; Chapter 37: Nutrient Management in Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L) Cultivitation Through Different Sources-A Review by D A Sonawane and S B Kharbade; Chapter 38: Growth and Yield Attributes of Some Castor Genotypes under Rainfed Condition by R Govindan, B Sannappa, V P Bharathi, M P Singh and D M Hedge; Chapter 39: Study of the Combined Effect of Herbicide Clomazone with Pendimenthalin for Weed Control in Soybean by D A Sonawane and RM Gethe; Chapter 40: Quality Parameters of Leaves of Some Castor Varieties with Varies Cultivation Practices in Different Locations of Karnataka by R Govindan, B Sannappa, V P Bharathi, M P Singh and D M Hegde; Chapter 41: Recycling of Waste Water for Agricultural Production by M Elayarajan and P Jothimani; Chapter 42: Par Interception and Light Use Efficiency of Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L) and Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L) in Intecropping System by Sumit Chakravarty, K K Dingra and Maninderpal Singh; Chapter 43: Study of Correlation of Coefficient of Physical, Chemical and Biological Characteristics with Catalse Activity in Industrially Polluted and Unpolluted Soils of Warangal (DT) AP by B Lalitha Kumari and M A Singara Charya; Chapter 44: Assessment of Polluted Soils near Aluminium Industry (Industrial Estate) Warangal, Andhra Pradesh by B Lalitha Kumari and M A Singara Charya; Chapter 45: Development of Issues on Mulberry Cultivation in Relation to Silk Production by N Chenthilnayaki, Selvi Sabhanayakam and V Mathivanan; Chapter 46: Population Dynamics of Sucking Pests in Rainfed Cotton and Its Relationship with the Weather Parameters at Akola, Maharashtra by Pradnya Kadam and H G Dandale; Chapter 47: In vitro Micropropagation of Cardiospermum halicacabum Lin from Nodal Segments by Anamika Baro and M C Kalita; Chapter 48: Effect of Plant Growth Regulators on Physiological Disorders, Quality and Yield of Summer Tomato by A B Bhosale, A N Wagh, S B Kharbade and D P Pacharne; Chapter 49: Soil Nutrient Content and Correlations in an Apple Growing Region of Himachal Pradesh by Uday Sharma, B Shyalla and S K Chaudhary; Chapter 50: Flowering and Fruitset in Gherkin (Cucumis anguria L) as Influenced by Plant Densities and Ethrel Concentrations by G M Sujith and Mallikarjun Janamtti; Chapter 51: Cytological Effect of Sewage Water on Root Meristem of Allium cepa by M Sakhivel and S Muthalagi; Chapter 52: Partial Characterization of a Potyvirus Causing Mosaic Disease in Radish (Raphanus sativus) from Himachal Pradesh by Usha Sharma, S C Chowfla, P D Thakur, Anil Handa and I D Garg; Chapter 53: In vitro Interspecific Hybridization in the Genus Gossypium by Pandurang B Mohite and S Uthamasamy; Chapter 54: Influence of Sulphur Sourse and Level on Yields Uptake and Sulphur Use Efficiency of Rice by M Ravichandran, M Rasavel and M V Sriramachandrasekharan; Chapter 55: Dry Matter Production and Nutrient Uptake by Rice in Rice-cum-Fish Farming System in Coastal Saline Zone of West Bengal by M Ghosh, D Maiti, G Sounda, A K Pal and P Bandyopadhyay; Chapter 56: Performance of Different Fish Species in Rice-Fish Farming System in Coastal Saline Zone of West Bengal by M Ghosh, D Maiti, D Datta, A K Pal and P Bandhyopadhyay; Chapter 57: Deposition and Movement of Mercury in MEMC Exposed Rice Seeds During Germination by Narasing Prasad Padhi, Pallabi Padhi and Ashok Kumar Panigrahy; Chapter 58: Influence of Feeding Leaves of Some Castor Varieties on Rearing Performance of ERI Silkworm, Samia cynthia Ricini Boisduval by R Govindanm B Sannappa, V P Barathi, M P Singh and D M Hedge; Chapter 59: Successional Trends of Vegetation on 2-10 Years of Coal Waste Dump of Jharia Coal Field by S K Singh; Chapter 60: Effect of Salinity Stress in the Chlorophyll Content of Three Rice Cultivars of Manipur under Low Temperature Exposures by M H Khan and P K Singh; Chapter 61: A Study on Impact of Hinterland Farm Practices on Coringa Mangroves with Some Eco-economic and Sustainable Solutions by E U B Reddi; Chapter 62: Study on Adoption of Scientific Farm Innovations in Some Selected Areas of Andaman and Nicobar Islands by A K Bandyopadhyay & Shakila Nawaz; Chapter 63: Correlation and Regression Studies in Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L) by Banwari Lal Jat and M S Shktawat; Chapter 64: Autogamy Studies in Sunflower (Helianthus annus L) by R K Bajaj, Sanket Sharma, Narinder Kaur and S R Sharma; Chapter 65: Influence of Weather Parameters on the Incidence of Mosaic Disease of Broadbean by Anil Handa, S V Bhardwaj, Usha Sharma and Bhupesh Gupta; Chapter 66: Effect of Different Herbicidal and Mechanical Methods for Weed Control in Kharif Soybean by D A Sonawane & R M Gethe; Chapter 67: Seed Mycoflora of Some Paddy (Oryza sativa) Varieties Grown in Karnataka (India) by V Lalitha and K A Raveesha; Chapter 68: Yield and Yield Attributes of Maize (Zea mays L) as Influenced by Flooding under Different Planting Methods and Nitrogen Levels by S S Mahal, D G Dejenu, M S Gill and D S Kler; Chapter 69: Effect of Vermicompost of Lantana on Two Cultivars of Wheat by Kavita Grag and Nagendra Bhardwaj; Chapter 70: The Changing Pattern of Demand for Jute Goods in the Context of Environment-An Economic Analysis by Tapati Bhattacharya and Kamal Ray; Chapter 71: Mechanism of Lodging and its Control in Maize (Zea mays L): A Review by D S Kler, Sumit Mishra, Anshuman Kohli, R S Uppal and Monica Mahajan.