Managing and Breeding Wheat for Organic Systems
Managing and Breeding Wheat for Organic Systems

Author: Muhammad Asif

Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media

Published: 2014-03-19

Total Pages: 82

ISBN-13: 3319050028

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Genetically uniform cultivars in many self-pollinated cereal crops dominate commercial production in high-input environments especially due to their high grain yields and wide geographical adaptation. These cultivars generally perform well under favorable and high-input farming systems but their optimal performance cannot be achieved on marginal/organic lands or without the use of external chemical inputs (fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides). Cereal breeding programs aim at evaluating candidate lines/cultivars for agronomic, disease and quality traits in a weed free environment that makes it impossible to identify traits conferring competitive ability against weeds. Moreover, quantification of competitive ability is a complex phenomenon which is affected by range of growth traits. Above (e.g. light) and below (e.g. water and nutrients) ground resources also influence competitiveness to a greater extent. Competitiveness is quantitatively inherited trait which is heavily influenced by many factors including genotype, management, environment and their interaction. Sound plant breeding techniques and good experimental designs are prerequisites for maximizing genetic gains to breed cultivars for organically managed lands. The brief is focused on breeding wheat for enhanced competitive ability along with other agronomic, genetic and molecular studies that have been undertaken to improve weed suppression, disease resistance and quality in organically managed lands. The examples from other cereals have also been highlighted to compare wheat with other cereal crops.

Organic Crop Breeding
Organic Crop Breeding

Author: Edith T. Lammerts van Bueren

Publisher: John Wiley & Sons

Published: 2012-02-28

Total Pages: 312

ISBN-13: 0470958588

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Organic Crop Breeding provides readers with a thorough review of the latest efforts by crop breeders and geneticists to develop improved varieties for organic production. The book opens with chapters looking at breeding efforts that focus on specific valuable traits such as quality, pest and disease resistance as well as the impacts improved breeding efforts can have on organic production. The second part of the book is a series of crop specific case studies that look at breeding efforts currently underway from around the world in crops ranging from carrots to corn. Organic Crop Breeding includes chapters from leading researchers in the field and is carefully edited by two pioneers in the field. Organic Crop Breeding provides valuable insight for crop breeders, geneticist, crop science professionals, researchers, and advanced students in this quickly emerging field.

Organic Farming
Organic Farming

Author: Charles A. Francis

Publisher: ASA-CSSA-SSSA

Published: 2009

Total Pages: 382

ISBN-13: 9780891181736

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This book represents a current look at what we know about organic farming practices and systems, primarily from the U.S. and Canadian perspectives. the discussion begins with history and certification, ecological knowledge as the foundation for sustaining food systems, and biodiversity. The next chapters address crop-animal systems; forages, grain, oil seed, and specialty crops; organic cropping and soil nutrient needs; and vegetation and pest management. Readers will next learn about marketing organics, organic foods and food security, and education and research. The book concludes with a survey of the future of organic farming and a perspective on the agricultural industry and the future of the rural sector.--COVER.

The Organic Grain Grower
The Organic Grain Grower

Author: Jack Lazor

Publisher: Chelsea Green Publishing

Published: 2013

Total Pages: 483

ISBN-13: 1603583653

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The Organic Grain Grower is an invaluable resource for both home-scale and commercial producers interested in expanding their resiliency and drop diversity through growing their own grains. Longtime farmer and organic pioneer Jack Lazor covers how to grow and store wheat, barley, oats, corn, dry beans, soybeans, oilseeds, grasses, nutrient-dense forages, and lesser-known cereals. In addition, Lazor argues the importance of integrating grains on the organic farm (not to mention within the local food system) for reasons of biodiversity and whole-farm management. The Organic Grain Grower provides information on wide-ranging topics, from nutrient density and building soil fertility to machinery and grinding grains for livestock rations.--COVER.

Managing Energy, Nutrients, and Pests in Organic Field Crops
Managing Energy, Nutrients, and Pests in Organic Field Crops

Author: Ralph C. Martin

Publisher: CRC Press

Published: 2014-02-07

Total Pages: 438

ISBN-13: 1466568364

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The use of organic management practices in field cropping continues to rise globally, and these methods have proven to be a viable way to produce food with reduced resource use and environmental damage. Managing Energy, Nutrients, and Pests in Organic Field Crops challenges the popular misconception that organic systems are weak at managing energy, nutrients, and pests and shows how innovative farm designs can enhance organic performance. It provides information for assessing the current state of knowledge on organic field cropping and for making the systems more viable. Each chapter summarizes the latest data from a wide range of sources, creating a comprehensive and coherent picture of the issues and integrating agronomic, economic, and policy aspects. Many chapters also include recent research from the authors. Section I, Soil Health, examines the importance of phosphorus balance, soil fertility, and tillage reduction. Section II, Pest Management, focuses on integrated weed management and long-term approaches to insect management. Section III, Integrating Approaches, addresses multiple field cropping challenges. Chapters cover the oldest organic rotational trials in Canada, the issue of using cereals bred for conventional systems and more targeted organic cereal breeding strategies, and case studies of a broad spectrum of farming experiences that explore the broader social and ecological landscape. The final section, Economics, Energy, and Policy, examines environmental issues not previously addressed in the text as well as consumer, economic, and rural community matters. It also presents a reprint of an article that describes policies and programs (and their costs) needed to advance adoption of organic farming in Ontario. The text wraps up with key conclusions and a discussion of overarching themes for the book, summarizing the strengths of the available tool box for organic producers and the challenges that remain.

Ecological Management of Agricultural Weeds
Ecological Management of Agricultural Weeds

Author: Matt Liebman

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Published: 2001-07-19

Total Pages: 546

ISBN-13: 1139427245

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This book presents principles and practices for ecologically based weed management in a wide range of temperate and tropical farming systems. Special attention is given to the evolutionary challenges that weeds pose and the roles that farmers can play in the development of new weed-management strategies.

Integrated Organic Farming Systems: Approach for Efficient Food Production and Environmental Sustainability
Integrated Organic Farming Systems: Approach for Efficient Food Production and Environmental Sustainability

Author: Subhash Babu

Publisher: Frontiers Media SA

Published: 2023-10-24

Total Pages: 209

ISBN-13: 2832536514

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Researchers and policy planners are in search of a solution to address the twin challenges of maximizing agricultural production while maintaining/ improving ecosystem sustainability. Enhancing farm productivity is needed in certain regions of the world to satisfy local food consumption and farmers' needs. Linear economy-based-input intensive conventional agriculture (CAPS) has increased production output but has not made agriculture more sustainable. Henceforth, a farming system that aims to reduce the adverse impact on the environment, as well as enhance agricultural productivity by reducing environmental footprint and improving soil health and economic wellbeing is needed in the present day. Integrated organic farming systems (IOFS) involve residue recycling, bio-intensive cropping, high-tech horticulture, mushroom, dairy, poultry, fishery, apiary, etc can improve the ecosystem health and augment the income and livelihood security of the growers. Worldwide, IOFS are gaining popularity due to improved ecosystem services and improving farm productivity and livelihood security. Hence, IOFS- a circular economy-based (reuse-recycle-repair) agricultural production system can be alternatives to energy-intensive inputs based on CAPS. Hence, there is an urgent need to select suitable IOFS models with proper resource optimization for productivity maximization and better ecosystem sustainability. Undoubtedly IOFS reduces energy use from synthetic agrochemicals but food production in IOFS is highly dependent on fossil fuel energy that must be addressed urgently. Despite the enormous positive outlooks, there are several challenges in the adoption of IOFS models. The IOFS is a multiproduct-oriented production system that needs multi specialties and marketing. Capacity building and infrastructure development are also great challenges in adopting IOFS. Moreover, the development of IOFS models is highly individualistic, and location-specific production systems need proper resource optimization and characterization. Hence, the development of site-specific IOFS models to maintain food quality with productivity improvement is a genuine issue to the researchers, which needs to be addressed. Papers (original research/review/letter to the editors) spanning across the discipline related to the IOFS development in sustainable ways are encouraged for inclusion in this research topic. Papers should explicitly cover ecosystem restoration, farm productivity, and profitability and could have a specific focus on the following areas: -the IOFS models for enhancing productivity and environmental quality through an integrated management approach aiming at the maximization of use efficiencies -the management of biomass waste to restore the soil fertility, and ecosystem services the effect of integrated management practices on greenhouse gas emissions and energy use -Critical approaches for climate-smart food production systems

Advances in Agronomy
Advances in Agronomy

Author: Donald L. Sparks

Publisher: Academic Press

Published: 2022-01-13

Total Pages: 364

ISBN-13: 0323988423

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Advances in Agronomy, Volume 171, the latest release in this leading reference, contains a variety of updates and new advances in the field, including updates on Elevated CO2 in Semi-arid Cropping Systems: A Synthesis of Research from the Australian Grains Free Air CO2 Enrichment (AGFACE) Research Program, Simultaneous Effects of Legume Cultivation on Carbon and Nitrogen Accumulation in Soil, Growing Small Grains Organically in the Semiarid West: A Review of Markets and Management Practices to Optimize Productivity and Sustainability, Principles and Applications of Topography in Precision Agriculture, Retention of Heavy Metals by Dredged Sediments and their Management Following Land Application, and more. Other chapters focus on Genetic Diversity for Developing Climate-resilient Wheats to Achieve Food Security Goals and A Century of Subclover: Lessons for Sustainable Intensification from a Historical Review of Innovations in Subterranean Clover Seed Production. - Includes numerous, timely, state-of-the-art reviews on the latest advancements in agronomy - Features distinguished, well recognized authors from around the world - Builds upon this venerable and iconic review series - Covers the extensive variety and breadth of subject matter in the crop and soil sciences

Baking Business Sustainability Through Life Cycle Management
Baking Business Sustainability Through Life Cycle Management

Author: João Miguel Ferreira da Rocha

Publisher: Springer Nature

Published: 2023-04-27

Total Pages: 303

ISBN-13: 3031250273

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This timely and comprehensive text focuses on important recent advances in applied sustainability in the baking industry, connecting all the current methods and strategies into a single book. Those involved in bread production will find the latest developments at the theoretical and practical levels, including information and communication requirements, reporting and regulatory aspects, economic and environmentally sustainable business models, supply chain management, life cycle assessment, product and organizational environmental footprints and more. For small bakery business owners to industry leaders and policymakers, governmental authorities, regulatory authorities and standardization bodies, this book offers a compilation of technical information about sustainability in the market for the bakery sector. Baking Business Sustainability Through Life Cycle Management begins by presenting basic information on the life cycle assessment and product environmental footprint of the bread industry, proposing an analysis of sustainability assessment using environmental and social footprints and providing recommendations for integral optimization of economic and environmental performance. A second section focuses on sustainability in the baking industry, providing a regional focus from Europe to the Americas to Africa and beyond. The third section takes a deep look at economic feasibility and efficiency in the bread industry, including the economic viability of different scenarios for bread-based value chains, and forming efficient business models for bakeries. A final section zeroes in on the most up-to-date innovations in the current bakery industry, including the impact of bakery innovation on business resilience growth, commercial systems, and new business models in regional food systems for farmers and companies, based on multi-actor approach. Innovations within the bakery industry are at an all-time high, with new sustainability and economic models being introduced, along with associated market risks. This timely and ambitious text aims to cover all the most recent advances and methods for successful incorporation into bakery businesses.