This book contains a collection of different biodegradation research activities where biological processes take place. The book has two main sections: A) Polymers and Surfactants Biodegradation and B) Biodegradation: Microbial Behaviour.
The quality of agricultural soils are always under threat from chemical contaminants, which ultimately affect the productivity and safety of crops. Besides agrochemicals, a new generation of substances invades the soil through irrigation with reclaimed wastewater and pollutants of organic origin such as sewage sludge or cattle manure. Emerging pollutants such as pharmaceuticals, nanomaterials and microplastics are now present in agricultural soils, but the understanding of their impact on soil quality is still limited. With focus on in situ bioremediation, this book provides an exhaustive analysis of the current biological methodologies for recovering polluted agricultural soils as well as monitoring the effectiveness of bioremediation.
This new volume offers comprehensive information on microbial adaptation for pesticide degradation. Among the many topics covered in its 20 chapters are a general description of enhanced biodegradation as it occurs in an agricultural context; the microbial aspects of enhanced biodegradation, including the genetics, biochemistry, and ecology of pesticide-degrading microorganisms; and the potential impact of enhanced degradation on pesticide fate in aquatic systems and groundwater. Practical options for the management of enhanced biodegradation are also examined, both to enable continued agricultural use of susceptible pesticides and also to exploit the degrading capacity of microorganisms for waste disposal and environmental remediation.
When first developed, chlorinated pesticides such as DDT, dieldrin, and mirex were received with open arms, quickly becoming popular as effective, economic agents against pests. But evidence began to mount that residues of these chemicals remained in the environment, not breaking down, often appearing in plants and animals. By the late seventies many pesticides had achieved a terrible notoriety and were subsequently banned in a number of countries. Of tremendous concern, then, is the persistence of pesticides in the environment. The major thrust of research and development in the area of pesticides has properly been the creation of substances that are both effective and degradable. Yet in order to successfully promote the use of biodegradable pesticides, one must fully understand the mechanism of degradation, and it is to this vital subject that we address ourselves in the present volume. According to the Biodegradation Task Force, Safety of Chemicals Com mittee, Brussels (1978), biodegradation may be defined as the molecular degradation of an organic substance resulting from the complex action of living organisms. A substance is said to be biodegraded to an environmentally acceptable extent when environmentally undesirable properties are lost. Loss of some characteristic function or property of substance by biodegradation may be referred to as biological transformation.
SOIL BIOREMEDIATION A practical guide to the environmentally sustainable bioremediation of soil Soil Bioremediation: An Approach Towards Sustainable Technology provides the first comprehensive discussion of sustainable and effective techniques for soil bioremediation involving microbes. Presenting established and updated research on emerging trends in bioremediation, this book provides contributions from both experimental and numerical researchers who provide reports on significant field trials. Soil Bioremediation instructs the reader on several different environmentally friendly bioremediation techniques, including: Bio-sorption Bio-augmentation Bio-stimulation Emphasizing molecular approaches and biosynthetic pathways of microbes, this one-of-a-kind reference focuses heavily on the role of microbes in the degradation and removal of xenobiotic substances from the environment and presents a unique management and conservation perspective in the field of environmental microbiology. Soil Bioremediation is perfect for undergraduate students in the fields of environmental science, microbiology, limnology, freshwater ecology and microbial biotechnology. It is also invaluable for researchers and scientists working in the areas of environmental science, environmental microbiology, and waste management.
The information on biofumigation and solarization for the management of soil-borne plant pathogens (bacteria, fungi, nematodes, insects and weeds) in horticultural (fruits, vegetables, plantation, spice, tuber, ornamental, medicinal and aromatic crops) and other crops (cotton, wheat, tobacco, soybean, sugar beet and sunflower) is very much scattered. There is no book at present which comprehensively and exclusively deals with the above aspects on horticultural and other crops. The present book is divided into two parts. The first part deals with the principles of biofumigation and solarization. The second part deals with crop-wise management of soil-borne plant pathogens using biofumigation and solarization in horticultural and other crops. The book is illustrated with excellent quality photographs enhancing the quality of publication. The book is written in lucid style, easy to understand language along with adoptable recommendations for enhancing the productivity.
Pesticides play an important role in controlling pests that carry diseases and threaten crop production. In recent years, however, there has been increased concern about the adverse impacts of pesticides and their degradation products on public health and the environment. A considerable amount of work is being done to develop nonchemical methods of pest control, but it is not yet feasible to dispense with the use of chemical pesticides. Pesticides: Evaluation of Environmental Pollution brings together, in a single volume, current knowledge on environmental pollution caused by pesticides. It helps readers evaluate the effects that pesticide residues have in all compartments of the environment. Featuring contributions by eminent scientists from around the world, the book gives an overview of the fate and transport of pesticides and their degradation in the environment. Detailing the sources, concentration, and hazards of residues, it examines their effects in humans, birds and mammals, fish, soil invertebrates, soil microflora, aquatic invertebrates, water, milk products, and more. The book also addresses endocrine-disrupting pesticides and explores biopesticides as alternatives to chemical pesticides. A review of data on the potential hazards of pesticides, this reference will be of interest to readers working in the areas of chemical crop protection and pollution management. It adds a balanced perspective to the debate between those who think that pesticides should be banned and those who consider the continued use of large quantities to be necessary for the survival of humanity. See also Handbook of Pesticides: Methods of Pesticide Residues Analysis (CRC Press, 2009).
This text brings together fundamental information on insect taxa, morphology, ecology, behavior, physiology, and genetics. Close relatives of insects, such as spiders and mites, are included.
Reference to the design of new insecticides nontoxic to the environment and the public emphasizing optimal food production with greater safety. Some 30 international experts examine topics including new types of active molecules among natural products and animal toxins; insect metabolic and organ sy