Self-Sufficient Agriculture
Self-Sufficient Agriculture

Author: Robert Tripp

Publisher: Taylor & Francis

Published: 2012-04-27

Total Pages: 256

ISBN-13: 1136557628

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Low external-input technology (or LEIT) is an increasingly prominent subject in discussions of sustainable agriculture. There are growing calls for self-sufficient agriculture in an era experiencing diminishing returns from reliance upon expensive synthetic pesticides and fertilizers. There are many reasons to support strategies for low external input farming, including a concern for environmental sustainability, increased attention to resource-poor farmers and marginal environments, and the conviction that a better use of local resources in small-scale agriculture can improve farm productivity and innovation. But despite the increased attention to self-sufficient agriculture, there is little evidence available on the performance and impact of LEIT. This book examines the contributions and limitations of low external input technology for addressing the needs of resource-poor farmers. For the first time a balanced analysis of LEIT is provided, offering in-depth case studies, an analysis of the debates, an extensive review of the literature and practical suggestions about the management and integration of low external input agriculture in rural development programmes.

Biofuel Crops
Biofuel Crops

Author: Bharat P. Singh

Publisher: CABI

Published: 2013

Total Pages: 537

ISBN-13: 1845938852

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Providing comprehensive coverage on biofuel crop production and the technological, environmental and resource issues associated with a sustainable biofuel industry, this book is ideal for researchers and industry personnel. Beginning with an introduction to biofuels and the challenges they face, the book then includes detailed coverage on crops of current importance or with high future prospects, including sections on algae, sugar crops and grass, oil and forestry species. The chapters focus on the genetics, breeding, cultivation, harvesting and handling of each crop.

Enhancing Agricultural Research and Precision Management for Subsistence Farming by Integrating System Models with Experiments
Enhancing Agricultural Research and Precision Management for Subsistence Farming by Integrating System Models with Experiments

Author: Dennis J. Timlin

Publisher: John Wiley & Sons

Published: 2022-04-26

Total Pages: 212

ISBN-13: 0891183914

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Enhancing Agricultural Research and Precision Management for Subsistence Farming Insightful applications of crop system models to developing countries to explore climate change mitigation and management decision tools Enhancing Agricultural Research and Precision Management for Subsistence Farming by Integrating System Models with Experiments delivers an authoritative collection of applications of crop system models to Asian and African environments and evaluates current agricultural systems in developing nations. The book provides models to assist in the precision management of soil, water, fertilizers and manures, soil organic matter, alternative crops, and cultivars in both rainfed and irrigated systems. Contributions cover recent and ongoing research in knowledge gap areas such as modeling the long-term effect of management soil health, the effect of extreme temperatures and drought on evapotranspiration and crop growth, root growth and the uptake of water and nutrients. The book also includes An introduction to system models integrated with experiments as tools to develop improved management practices for subsistence farming Explorations of models of soil erosion impacts and trade-offs for sustainable land management practices in Kenya Discussions of the crop simulation model as a tool to quantify the effects of crop management practices in northern Ethiopia In-depth examinations of models of water dynamics for assessing and managing ecosystem services in India Perfect for field research scientists and graduate students studying cropping and range systems, and essential reading for agricultural consultants, progressive farmers, plant breeders, and policymakers. Advances in Agricultural Systems Modeling Transdisciplinary Research, Synthesis, and Applications Lajpat R. Ahuja, Series Editor Agricultural system modeling has made substantial progress, but there are still many critical gaps in our knowledge. The American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, and Soil Science Society of America are taking a leadership role with the initiation of this new series. Future breakthroughs in science and technology lie at the boundaries of disciplines. The new series will Advance critical transdisciplinary research, and its synthesis and quantification Encourage collaboration among top researchers in building and improving models Promote the application of system models to solve practical problems Achieve better instruction in these models and their applications

Livestock and water interactions in mixed crop-livestock farming systems of Sub-Saharan Africa: interventions for improved productivity
Livestock and water interactions in mixed crop-livestock farming systems of Sub-Saharan Africa: interventions for improved productivity

Author: Descheemaeker, Katrien

Publisher: IWMI

Published: 2009-06-25

Total Pages: 45

ISBN-13: 9290907029

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Focusing on mixed crop-livestock farming systems of sub-Saharan Africa, this review brings together the available knowledge in the various components of the livestock and water sectors. Through an analysis of livestock-water interactions, promising strategies and interventions to improve Livestock Water Productivity are proposed. In the biophysical domain, the numerous interventions relate to feed, water and animal management. These are interlinked with interventions in the socio-political-economic domain. The paper identifies critical research and development gaps in terms of methodologies for quantifying water productivity and integrating different scales, and also in terms of institutions and policies.

Smallholder Tree Growing for Rural Development and Environmental Services
Smallholder Tree Growing for Rural Development and Environmental Services

Author: Denyse J. Snelder

Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media

Published: 2008-07-19

Total Pages: 498

ISBN-13: 1402082614

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Recent history reveals that both the large-scale reforestation projects of the 20th century have often been less successful than anticipated, and that tree growing by smallholders – as an alternative means to combat deforestation and promote sustainable land use – has received relatively little attention from the scientific and development communities. Taking a first step to addressing that balance, this collection of peer-reviewed papers adopts a comparative approach to explore the potential role that tree growing by farmers can play in sustainable forest management. The goal of this approach is to identify common threads and to start to develop a framework for future research and practice. Presenting case studies from the Philippines and comparative data from a number of Asian countries the book reveals that farmer tree growing has the potential to play a significant role in sustainable forest management, and discusses the surrounding issues which must be addressed in order to realise this potential. The book is primarily aimed at research scientists and graduate students interested in relevant aspects of forestry, agroforestry, agricultural diversity, natural resource management and conservation in agricultural landscapes, as well as those involved in sustainable development and international development studies. It will also provide a valuable reference for professionals, managers, consultants, policy makers and planners dealing with issues in sustainable development, natural resource management, land use change issues and participatory approaches to resource management.

Green Manure/Cover Crop Systems of Smallholder Farmers
Green Manure/Cover Crop Systems of Smallholder Farmers

Author: Marjatta Eilittä

Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media

Published: 2007-05-08

Total Pages: 386

ISBN-13: 1402020511

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In the 1980s and 1990s, green manure/cover crop (GMCC) systems became a popular agricultural technology in research and development efforts for smallholder tropical and subtropical farmers. However, few syntheses of these experiences have been conducted. This volume of case studies contributes to bridging this gap by reviewing field-level experiences with these systems. Twelve case studies are included. Eleven of them describe experiences from Latin America (4 cases), Africa (6 cases) and Asia (1 case) and the twelfth case reports on the development of a GMCC systems database. Two concluding chapters, `Learning from the Case Studies' and `Future Perspectives', build upon the cases. The systems described are diverse. Some systems have been spontaneously adopted by farmers, while others have been introduced to the farmers through diffusion efforts. Some of the cases reviewed describe small, localized efforts while others report on large-scale, well-known ones, such as the combination of GMCCs and conservation tillage in Santa Catarina, Brazil, the maize-Mucuna system in northern Honduras, and the improved fallow systems in Eastern Zambia. Most experiences include both development and research aspects and to the extent possible the cases integrate these two. Discussion of the strengths and shortcomings of the systems and efforts is frank, and the goal is to learn from these experiences to benefit future efforts. It is expected that both researchers and development practitioners and students of tropical farming systems and soil management will find this volume of case studies useful.

Climate Change and Multi-Dimensional Sustainability in African Agriculture
Climate Change and Multi-Dimensional Sustainability in African Agriculture

Author: Rattan Lal

Publisher: Springer

Published: 2016-11-23

Total Pages: 716

ISBN-13: 3319412388

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This 35-chapter book is based on several oral and poster presentations including both invited and contributory chapters. The book is thematically based on four pillars of sustainability, with focus on sub-Saharan Africa (SSA): Environment, Economic, Social and Institutional. The environmental sustainability, which determines economic and social/institutional sustainability, refers to the rate of use of natural resources (soil, water, landscape, vegetation) which can be continued indefinitely without degrading their quality, productivity and ecosystem services for different ecoregions of SSA. This book will help achieve the Sustainable Development Goals of the U.N. in SSA. Therefore, the book is of interest to agriculturalists, economists, social scientists, policy makers, extension agents, and development/bilateral organizations. Basic principles explained in the book can be pertinent to all development organizations.