The Alfalfa Management Guide is designed especially for busy growers, with to-the-point recommendations, useful images of diseased plants and pests, and quick-reference tables and charts. Revised in 2011, this edition of Alfalfa Management Guide covers the latest strategies for alfalfa establishment, production, and harvest-soil testing, fertilizing, integrated pest management, rotation, and more.
This comprehensive guide for western alfalfa growers brings together the most current information and recommendations in nearly all areas of alfalfa management, including stand establishment, fertilization, irrigation, pest management, and harvesting
Cover crops slow erosion, improve soil, smother weeds, enhance nutrient and moisture availability, help control many pests and bring a host of other benefits to your farm. At the same time, they can reduce costs, increase profits and even create new sources of income. You¿ll reap dividends on your cover crop investments for years, since their benefits accumulate over the long term. This book will help you find which ones are right for you. Captures farmer and other research results from the past ten years. The authors verified the info. from the 2nd ed., added new results and updated farmer profiles and research data, and added 2 chap. Includes maps and charts, detailed narratives about individual cover crop species, and chap. about aspects of cover cropping.
Genetically engineered (GE) crops were first introduced commercially in the 1990s. After two decades of production, some groups and individuals remain critical of the technology based on their concerns about possible adverse effects on human health, the environment, and ethical considerations. At the same time, others are concerned that the technology is not reaching its potential to improve human health and the environment because of stringent regulations and reduced public funding to develop products offering more benefits to society. While the debate about these and other questions related to the genetic engineering techniques of the first 20 years goes on, emerging genetic-engineering technologies are adding new complexities to the conversation. Genetically Engineered Crops builds on previous related Academies reports published between 1987 and 2010 by undertaking a retrospective examination of the purported positive and adverse effects of GE crops and to anticipate what emerging genetic-engineering technologies hold for the future. This report indicates where there are uncertainties about the economic, agronomic, health, safety, or other impacts of GE crops and food, and makes recommendations to fill gaps in safety assessments, increase regulatory clarity, and improve innovations in and access to GE technology.
Responsible for a high proportion of the world's crop losses, weedstake away food that the world badly needs. They decrease thequality and quantity of vegetable fibers, wool, and hides, andinterfere with fishing, irrigation, hydroelectric power production,and the movement of shipping vessels. In order to recognize thetrue magnitude of the weed problem, and to be better equipped todesign effective weed control methods, it is vital to identify andlearn as much as possible about the many different species of thisdestructive agricultural predator. The culmination of four decades of global research, World Weedspresents comprehensive and up-to-date information on over 100weeds--addressing recent changes in such areas as crop tillagemethods, herbicide use, and agricultural runoff. This monumentalwork, featuring a wealth of original data from the authors,provides extensive coverage of the known biology of each species.Each entry contains a full botanical description, plus importantdetails on habitat requirements and distribution, seed production,ecology, physiology, crop impact, and more. Generously suppliedwith dozens of unique illustrations and species distribution mapscovering over 100 countries, this definitive resource boasts anextensive multilingual index of common names, and a massivebibliography with over 3,000 references to facilitate furtherreading and research. World Weeds is a truly masterful referencethat will be celebrated by weed and crop scientists, botanists, andothers for years to come.
The Georgia Pest Management Handbook provides current information on selection, application, and safe use of pest control chemicals. This handbook has recommendations for pest control around homes and on pets; for pests of home garden vegetables, fruits, and ornamentals; and for pests of public health interest associated with our homes. Cultural, biological, physical, and other types of control are recommended where appropriate. Pesticide recommendations are based on information on the manufacturer labels and on performance data from research and extension trials at the University of Georgia and its sister institutions. Because environmental conditions, the severity of pest pressure, and methods of application vary widely, recommendations do not imply that performance of pesticides will always be acceptable. This publication is intended to be used only as a guide. Trade and brand names are used only for information. The University of Georgia does not guarantee nor warrant published standards on any product mentioned; nor does the use of a trade or brand name imply approval of any product to the exclusion of others that may also be suitable. Always follow the use instructions and precautions on the pesticide label. For questions, concerns, or improvement suggestions regarding the Georgia Pest Management Handbook, please contact your county agent.
This interdisciplinary text offers updated knowledge on pest management. It discusses dissemination and impact on a range of crops across the globe on industrialized and subsistence level farms. It also explores the effect of the green revolution on IPM.
Although chemical pesticides safeguard crops and improve farm productivity, they are increasingly feared for their potentially dangerous residues and their effects on ecosystems. The Future Role of Pesticides explores the role of chemical pesticides in the decade ahead and identifies the most promising opportunities for increasing the benefits and reducing the risks of pesticide use. The committee recommends R&D, program, and policy initiatives for federal agriculture authorities and other stakeholders in the public and private sectors. This book presents clear overviews of key factors in chemical pesticide use, including: Advances in genetic engineering not only of pest-resistant crops but also of pests themselves. Problems in pesticide useâ€"concerns about the health of agricultural workers, the ability of pests to develop resistance, issues of public perception, and more. Impending shifts in agricultureâ€"globalization of the economy, biological "invasions" of organisms, rising sensitivity toward cross-border environmental issues, and other trends. With a model and working examples, this book offers guidance on how to assess various pest control strategies available to today's agriculturist.
Weeds hold an enigmatic and sometimes-controversial place in agriculture, where they are generally reviled, grudgingly tolerated, and occasionally admired. In most cases, growers make considerable effort to reduce the negative economic impact of weeds because they compete with crops for resources and hinder field operations, thereby affecting crop productivity and quality, and ultimately the sustainability of agriculture. Weed control in production agriculture is commonly achieved through the integration of chemical, biological, and mechanical management methods. Chemicals (herbicides) usually inhibit the growth and establishment of weed plants by interfering with various physiological and biochemical pathways. Biological methods include crop competition, smother crops, rotation crops, and allelopathy, as well as specific insect predators and plant pathogens. Mechanical methods encompass an array of tools from short handled hoes to sophisticated video-guided robotic machines. Integrating these technologies, in order to relieve the negative impacts of weeds on crop production in a way that allows growers to optimize profits and preserve human health and the environment, is the science of weed management.
