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An important requirement in agriculture is controlled and regulated irrigation. It refers to the application of water in requisite amounts to crops at regular intervals. This facilitates the growth of crops, maintenance of landscapes and revegetation in disturbed soils in dry climates or areas with low rainfall. It also plays a significant role in suppressing weed growth, frost protection, dust suppression and preventing soil consolidation. The varied methods of irrigation include micro-irrigation, surface irrigation, sprinkler irrigation, center pivot irrigation, etc. Most of the topics introduced in this book cover new techniques and the applications of irrigation systems and technologies. Some of the diverse topics covered in this book address the varied types that fall under this category. This book is an essential guide for both academicians and those who wish to pursue this discipline further.
Carbon dioxide undergoes exchange between the earth, biosphere, air and water. The processes of exchange between these reservoirs are mediated through the processes of transpiration, combustion, respiration and decomposition. The balance achieved between these is called the carbon balance. The widespread use of fossil fuels has led to the accumulation of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere resulting in adverse consequences, such as global warming. These effects can be managed by adhering to carbon cycle rebalancing strategies, which involve carbon capture and storage, promotion of carbon-offset mechanisms, adoption of sustainable energy, design and transport, etc. An example of a sustainable environmental practice is the burning of domestic waste to generate power. This book brings forth some of the most innovative concepts and elucidates the unexplored aspects of carbon balance management. Also included in this book is a detailed explanation of the strategies for sustainable environment. It will serve as a reference to a broad spectrum of readers.
The study of the changes in an organism's genome expressed with time and the influence the organism's evolutionary past has on it, is studied under evolutionary genetics. Such changes occur within and between populations. This area of genetic study is under the domain of population genetics. It is vital to the development of modern evolutionary synthesis. Adaptation, population structure, speciation, dominance, epistasis, etc. are fundamental areas in the understanding of evolutionary genetics. Studies in these fields allow an understanding of the levels of genetic variation, demographic inference, evolution of genetic systems and detection of the genes undergoing selection. This book discusses the fundamentals as well as modern approaches of evolutionary genetics. Also included herein is a detailed explanation of the various concepts and applications of evolutionary genetics. It aims to serve as a resource guide to population geneticists, evolutionary geneticists, biologists, researchers and students involved in this area of study.
Evolutionary biology is a subfield of biology, concerned with the study of the evolutionary processes that cause diversity of life on Earth. The most significant evolutionary processes are natural selection, speciation and common descent. Some of the branches of this field are evolutionary ecology, evolutionary developmental biology, etc. Research in this field explores speciation and the evolution of ageing, evolvability, sexual reproduction and cooperation. The study of the gene changes due to point mutations, genome duplication and gene duplication is of significant emphasis in this field. The topics included in this book on evolutionary biology are of utmost significance and bound to provide incredible insights to readers. It strives to provide a fair idea about this discipline and to help develop a better understanding of the latest advances within this field. Students, researchers, experts and all associated with this field will benefit alike from this book.
The branch of agriculture that deals with the raising of animals for the provision of food, fiber and other products is referred to as animal husbandry. Many commercial sectors are dependent on the optimum production and management of animals. These include the dairy and meat industry, aquaculture production, honey manufacture, silk farming, etc. Animals can be reared both intensively and extensively. In extensive farming, animals are allowed to roam at will. In intensive systems, they are kept in high-density feedlots, climate-controlled buildings, barns, cages, etc. and their forage is provided. There is an increased reliance on intensive animal farming and production systems suited to the land available in modern animal husbandry. Besides these, there is also an increased use of chemical and mechanized methods. Embryo transfer and artificial insemination are common practices today to improve productivity or quality of the animals. This book discusses the fundamentals as well as modern approaches of animal husbandry. It attempts to understand the multiple branches that fall under this discipline and how such concepts have practical applications. For all readers who are interested in modern animal husbandry, the case studies included herein will serve as an excellent guide to develop a comprehensive understanding.
Farm animals are domesticated animals that are raised to produce labor and commodities like, eggs, milk, wool, and meat, etc. These include cattle, goats, swine, poultry, etc. To maintain the health of farm animals, good husbandry practices such as hygiene maintenance and proper feeding are extremely important. Diseases like foot-and-mouth disease, classical swine fever, rabies, tuberculosis, etc. affect farm animals. Vaccines and antibiotics are available for the prevention and cure of some of these diseases. To promote animal welfare, animal husbandry involves considerations of aspects of animal reproduction, behavior, longevity, physiology, freedom from immunosuppression and diseases, etc. This book provides significant information of this discipline to help develop a good understanding of farm animals and their health and management. It is appropriate for students seeking detailed information in this area as well as for experts.
Geoinformatics is a field of science and technology, which employs and develops information science infrastructure to understand, analyze and solve cartographic, geoscientific and geographic problems. Research in this field has enabled its use in global and local environmental, security and energy programs. Some of the focus areas of geoinformatics include the development of geospatial database, analyzing geoinformation by using geographic information systems and geovisualization, geospatial analysis and modeling among many others. Various advances in this field have expanded its applications in diverse areas including virtual globes, urban planning, environmental modeling, transport network planning and management, public health, oceanography, land-use management, aviation, telecommunications, archeological reconstruction, biodiversity conservation, etc. This book unravels the recent studies in the field of geoinformatics. It strives to provide a fair idea about this discipline and to help develop a better understanding of the latest advances within this field. Students, researchers, experts and all associated with this subject will benefit alike from this book.
Earth science, also referred to as geoscience, is a field concerned with the study of the Earth's physical characteristics. It studies and analyzes natural phenomenon occurring on the Earth's surface like earthquakes, floods, raindrops and fossils. Geology is a sub-field of earth science. It refers to the study of the solid Earth, which includes the study of rocks that constitute the Earth and the processes of their formation. Earth science aims to understand the evolution and mechanisms of Earth by using quantitative tools of physics, mathematics, chronology, geography, etc. This book elucidates the concepts and innovative models around prospective developments with respect to earth science, geology and the environment. It strives to provide a fair idea about these disciplines and to help develop a better understanding of the latest advances within these fields. Students, researchers, experts and all associated with earth science will benefit alike from this book.
Poultry refers to the domesticated birds, which are reared for their eggs, feathers and meat. These birds belong to the Galliformes order, which consists of quails, turkeys and chickens. Poultry is widely eaten all over the globe. These birds provide nutritionally beneficial food, which contains low fat and high quality protein. Poultry are kept in coops and hatcheries, but they are more often reared in battery cages and furnished cages. They can suffer from diseases like avian influenza and also cause outbreaks of infectious agents like Salmonella, Campylobacter and Escherichia coli. Therefore, they are generally farmed intensively with routine use of antibiotics for preventing or managing disease outbreaks. All these aspects of poultry farming and disease management are studied under the domain of poultry science. This book provides comprehensive insights into the field of poultry science. The topics covered herein offer the readers new insights into this subject. This book is a vital tool for all researching or studying poultry science as it gives incredible insights into emerging trends and concepts.
Plant breeding is the science concerned with the modification of the traits of plants for the generation of improved characteristics. These include high yield, drought tolerance, disease resistance and adaptability. Classical plant breeding is developed around the practices of selection and interbreeding. It relies on the technique of homologous recombination between chromosomes for generating genetic diversity. The in vitro techniques of embryo rescue and protoplast fusion are used for creating hybrid plants. Radiation, chemical mutagens and transposons can also be used to create mutated plants. This book provides comprehensive insights into the diverse areas of plant breeding. It traces the progress of this field and highlights some of its key concepts and techniques. A number of latest researches have been included to keep the readers up-to-date with the global concepts in this area of study.
The field of sedimentology is primarily concerned with the study of sediments and the processes that cause their formation. Sedimentary rocks can be divided into four primary classes, namely carbonates, chemical, clastics and evaporites. Human society has always benefited from the use of sedimentary rocks. They play a crucial role in art and architecture, deriving various building materials, procurement of various precious metals and minerals, and for the generation of energy. Studies in sedimentology involve investigations in sequence stratigraphy, isotope geochemistry, petrology, etc. This book is a valuable compilation of topics, ranging from the basic to the most complex advancements in the field of sedimentology. Different approaches, evaluations, methodologies and advanced studies in this field have been included in this book. With state-of-the-art inputs by acclaimed experts of this field, this book targets students and professionals.
The atmosphere is made up of gaseous layers which surround the Earth. The main layers of the atmosphere are the exosphere, thermosphere, mesosphere, stratosphere and troposphere. The study of the Earth's atmosphere and atmospheric processes, its effect on other systems and their effects on the atmosphere fall under the field of atmospheric sciences. An understanding of the physical and optical properties of the atmosphere is vital to the study of atmospheric science. It can be divided into the fields of meteorology, climatology and aeronomy. The discipline of meteorology is concerned with weather forecasting and focuses on atmospheric physics and chemistry. Climatology studies short-term and long-term atmospheric variations and their changes with time. Aeronomy studies the dissociation and ionization in the upper layers of the atmosphere. This book contains some path-breaking studies in this field. It provides significant information of this discipline to help develop a good understanding of atmospheric science and related disciplines. As this field is emerging at a rapid pace, the contents of this book will help the readers understand the modern concepts and applications of the subject.
Cereals are the edible components of grains that are composed of the germ, the endosperm and the bran. Some examples of cereal crops are rice, maize, wheat, oats and barley. They are an important source of carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins and minerals. Cereals are genetically modified using biotechnological methods in order to develop desirable characteristics. Rice can be genetically modified to increase vitamin A levels, enhance tolerance to herbicides and resistance to pests, accelerate photosynthesis, produce human proteins, etc. Specific strains of maize are also genetically engineered to increase nutritional value and drought resistance. Wheat can be genetically modified by transgenic, biolistic methods and Agrobacterium methods. This book elucidates the principles and techniques of cereal biotechnology in a multidisciplinary manner. The topics included herein are of utmost significance and bound to provide incredible insights to readers. With state-of-the-art inputs by acclaimed experts of this field, this book targets students and professionals.
All plants, which are not native to a specific location and have a potential to cause damage to the human economy, environment and human health are known as invasive plants. Exotic pest plants and invasive exotics are two primary categories of invasive plants. Kudzu vine, yellow starthistle and Andean pampas grass are some examples of such plants. They possess specific traits that guarantee their survival as compared to native species. Some of the traits of invasive species are rapid reproduction, fast growth, high tolerance and dispersal ability, etc. Some of the adverse effects of invasive species are extinction of native species, biodiversity loss, reduction in agricultural yield and forage loss. The geomorphological effects of invasive plants can be positive in nature such as bioprotection and bioconstruction. Restoration is an effective tool in the reduction of the spread of invasive plant species. This involves removing such species, reducing the invasive seeds that are dispersed to surrounding areas, using native species that are similar to invasive species to compete with invasive species, etc. The topics included in this book on invasive plants and their impacts and control are of utmost significance and bound to provide incredible insights to readers. It is appropriate for students seeking detailed information in this area as well as for experts.
Animal genetics refers to the study of genes, variation and heredity in animals. An animal's behavior, development and genetic processes are influenced by their environment and experiences. Genetic changes occur due to mutations, natural selection and evolution. The study of the heritable changes in gene function that do not arise due to a change in the DNA sequence is under the domain of epigenetics. Histone modification and DNA methylation are few mechanisms that can produce such changes. Macromolecules found in the cells, which consist of protein, RNA and DNA form a complex, which is called the chromatin. Its fundamental function is to prevent DNA damage, allow mitosis by reinforcing the DNA macromolecule, pack DNA more densely and compactly, and control the DNA replication and gene expression. The topics covered in this extensive book deal with the core aspects of animal genetics, epigenetics and chromatin. Scientists and students actively engaged in this field will find this book full of crucial and unexplored concepts. It traces the progress of this discipline and highlights some of its key concepts and applications.
Greenhouse gases are the gases which absorb and emit radiant energy in the thermal infrared zone. This mechanism is the primary cause of greenhouse effect, which causes critical environmental issues and threats to ecosystems, biodiversity and human life present on Earth. Some primary greenhouse gases are methane, ozone, carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide and water vapor. The contribution of each of these gases to the greenhouse effect depends on their atmospheric lifetime, radiative forcing and global warming potential. The main causes of greenhouse gas emission are deforestation, burning of fossil fuels like oil, coal and natural gas, use of chlorofluorocarbons for refrigeration, livestock enteric fermentation, etc. This book presents researches and studies performed by experts across the globe on greenhouse gases and their effects on the environment. Different approaches, evaluations, methodologies and advanced studies on greenhouse gases have been included herein. Coherent flow of topics, student-friendly language and extensive use of examples make this book an invaluable source of knowledge.
As a branch of engineering, environmental engineering refers to the science of applying different engineering and scientific principles in order to protect humans from the harmful effects of environmental factors. The field also encapsulates the improvement of environment quality and protection of the environment. The issues of human and animal waste control, asset protection and energy preservation are vital to this field. Some of the areas of focus in environmental engineering are pollution, global change, solid waste management, risk assessment, resource recovery, etc. Sustainable design is one of the solutions to global environmental crisis. It deals with the theory and practice of designing objects, environment and services in compliance with the principles of economic, ecological and social sustainability. It may involve innovative practices in the areas of architecture, landscape and garden design, agriculture and manufacturing, besides others. This book studies, analyzes and upholds the pillars of environmental sustainability and its utmost significance in modern times. The objective of this book is to give a general view of the different areas of environmental engineering and their applications. It will serve as a reference to a broad spectrum of readers.
The measure of the biological, radiological, chemical and physical characteristics of water with respect to human consumption is known as water quality. Mining, urban runoff, construction and discharge of sewage are some common activities which pollute the water and affect its quality. Treatment of water focuses on eliminating impurities like organic chemical contaminants produced by industrial processes and petroleum use, microorganisms, inorganic contaminants like metals and salts, radioactive contaminants, and pesticides and herbicides. This book unfolds the innovative aspects of water quality modelling, monitoring and treatment which will be crucial for the progress of this field in the future. The aim of this book is to present researches that have transformed this discipline and aided its advancement. Those with an interest in this field would find this book helpful.
Air pollution is caused due to the release of harmful components like greenhouse gases, biological molecules and particulates into the atmosphere. Air pollution poses the threat of critical diseases like asthma, lung cancer, cardiovascular diseases and allergies in human beings, and also causes harm to food crops and animals. Both human activities and natural processes lead to air pollution. Human activities result in the release of harmful substances into the air like carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, sulphur oxides, carbon monoxide, chlorofluorocarbons, etc. The main cause of air quality degradation and air pollution are anthropogenic activities, like fossil fuel burning, waste deposition in landfills, use of nuclear weapons, fumes from aerosol sprays, controlled burning practices, etc. This book provides significant information on this discipline to help develop a good understanding of air pollution and air quality degradation and their related aspects. It presents researches and studies performed by experts across the globe. This book will prove to be immensely beneficial to students and researchers in this field.
Global warming is the rise in the average temperature of Earth's climate system. Anthropogenic activities are the primary reason for this phenomenon, chief among which is the emission of harmful greenhouse gases like methane, carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide. Some of the other reasons of global warming include deforestation, aerosols and soot produced by human-made pollutants, etc. Climate change can cause many problems for Earth's inhabitants. Some of these problems include the rise of sea level, melting of glaciers, tropical cyclones, changes in ecosystem and even extinction of species. Some of the mitigation strategies that can be employed are the adoption of low-carbon energy technologies, reforestation and energy conservation. This book unravels the recent studies in the field of global warming. The topics included in this book are of utmost significance and bound to provide incredible insights to readers. Scientists and students actively engaged in this field will find this book full of crucial and unexplored concepts.
The process of waste management includes the techniques and methods used for the management of waste from its creation to disposal. Municipal solid waste contributes the maximum amount of waste produced due to industrial, commercial and household activities. Waste is incinerated or disposed in landfills. It can be recycled and reprocessed into new usable products. Waste management is based on waste hierarchy or the principles of the 3Rs namely, reduce, reuse and recycle. Designing products to be reusable, use of second-hand products and repairing broken items are some ways we can minimize waste generation. Beverage cans, rubber tires, food cans, glass bottles, jars, newspapers, etc. are common recyclable consumer products. This book elucidates the concepts and innovative models around prospective developments with respect to solid waste management. It outlines the processes and applications of solid waste management in detail. This book is appropriate for students seeking detailed information in this area as well as for experts.
A healthy ecosystem is vital for the survival of all life on Earth. Human activities have a significant impact across all ecosystems. Due to the rise in human population and per capita consumption, the problems of environmental pollution, biodiversity loss and climate change are increasingly being observed. Terrestrial ecosystems face threats that include deforestation, air pollution and soil degradation. Overfishing, microplastics pollution, encroachment into coastal areas, etc. cause severe damage to the aquatic ecosystem. The primary objective of ecosystem management is the sustainable and ethical use of natural resources. Adaptive management, natural resource management, strategic management, and command and control management are few approaches to effective ecosystem management, both at a local and landscape level. This book includes some of the vital pieces of work being conducted across the world, on various topics related to sustainable ecosystems. It will serve as an elaborate reference text for environmentalists, ecologists, researchers and students engaged in this area of study.
The study of the mapping, function, structure, evolution and editing of genomes is studied under genomics. Genes direct the production of proteins through enzymes and messenger molecules. Research in genomics delves into functional genomics, which studies gene transcription, translation and protein-protein interactions. It further strives to understand the functional role of DNA at the level of genes, RNA transcripts and protein products. Proteomics is the in-depth study of proteins. It is an interdisciplinary field which has rapidly advanced due to the progress in genomics. This book is a valuable compilation of topics, ranging from the basic to the most complex advancements in the fields of genomics and proteomics. It includes some of the vital pieces of work being conducted across the world, on various topics related to the functional and computational aspects of these domains. It is a complete source of knowledge on the present status of these important fields.
Remote sensing is the technique of gathering data and information about an object or phenomenon without making direct contact with the studied entity. This technique has vast environmental applications, which facilitate investigations in the fields of hydrology, geology, glaciology, ecology, geography, etc. Remote sensing is divided into the two classifications of active and passive remote sensing. The different data acquisition techniques used for environmental remote sensing are hyperspectral imaging, geodetic remote sensing, radar, LIDAR, etc. This book elucidates new techniques and applications of environmental remote sensing and systems analysis in a multidisciplinary manner. It strives to provide a fair idea of this discipline and to help develop a better understanding of the latest advances within this field. As this field is emerging at a rapid pace, the contents of this book will help the readers understand the modern concepts and applications of the subject.
The field of systems biology provides a computational and mathematical framework for the study of complex biological systems. It involves the study of interactions within biological systems. It strives to model and explore properties of cells, tissues and organisms functioning as a system. Such investigations involve cell signaling networks or metabolic networks. The study of these diverse complex systems can be approached from the multiple domains of phenomics, epigenomics, transcriptomics, metabolomics, etc. The topics included in this book on systems biology are of utmost significance and bound to provide incredible insights to readers. While understanding the long-term perspectives of the topics, it makes an effort in highlighting their impact as a modern tool for the growth of the discipline. Students, researchers, experts, biologists and all associated with the study of complex biological systems will benefit alike from this book.
The food industry includes the processes of agriculture, food manufacturing, processing, marketing, distribution, research and development. Food processing refers to the transformation of raw materials into finished products for consumption, using various methods such as mincing, liquefaction, cooking, pickling, pasteurization, preservation, etc. The process of conversion of carbohydrates into alcohol or organic acids with the help of microorganisms such as bacteria or yeasts, under anaerobic conditions is known as fermentation. It is a significant process in food processing. Some common fermented foods are cheese, vinegar, bread, etc. This book contains some path-breaking studies in the field of food production and processing. It discusses the fundamentals as well as modern approaches of these fields. This book will serve as a reference to a broad spectrum of readers.
Meteorology is a branch of the atmospheric sciences that is concerned with weather forecasting. The different variables of the Earth's atmosphere such as temperature, air pressure, water vapor and mass flow are subject to change with time and their interactions with each other. These changes contribute to variations in the weather. The quantities of temperature, pressure, humidity and wind are measured by using the thermometer, barometer, hygrometer and the anemometer. Air quality sensors for analyzing carbon monoxide, methane, carbon dioxide, ozone, dust or smoke in the air are also widely used. Flood sensor, rain gauge, seismometer, lightning sensor, etc. are other instruments that are crucial for gathering meteorological data. The applications of meteorology are in agriculture, military, energy production, transport and construction. This book is a compilation of chapters that discuss the most vital concepts and emerging trends in the field of meteorology. It aims to shed light on some of the unexplored aspects and the recent researches in this field. It is a collective contribution of a renowned group of international experts. Those in search of information to further their knowledge will be greatly assisted by this book.
Bioenergy is a form of renewable energy that is derived from biological sources. Biomass is a plant or plant-based material that is used directly via combustion to produce heat or indirectly after conversion into biofuel. Such conversion of biomass to biofuel is achieved by different thermal, chemical and biochemical methods. Biomass fuels are usually a by-product or residue of forestry, farming or animal husbandry. Various solid and sewage biomass are used as sources of energy. Solid biomass includes manure, garden waste and crop residues. Some agricultural products like corn, soya bean, sugarcane, jatropha, sugar beet, etc. are specifically grown for biofuel production across the world. Some examples of biofuels are bioethanol, biodiesel, biofuel gasoline, etc. This book aims to equip students and experts with the advanced topics and upcoming concepts in the field of bioenergy. As this field is emerging at a fast pace, this book will help the readers to better understand the concepts of biomass and biofuels. This book will help new researchers by foregrounding their knowledge in this domain.
Phylogenetics is a field of biology that studies the evolutionary history and relationship among individuals or groups of organisms. Phylogenetic inference methods, that evaluate observed heritable traits using studies of morphology or DNA sequences, are crucial in the development of a phylogenetic tree. Such studies are fundamental to the understanding of biodiversity, ecology, evolution and genomes. Phylogenetic inference involves computational techniques for implementing the criterion of optimality, methods of parsimony, maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference. This book is a valuable compilation of topics, ranging from the basic to the most complex advancements in the field of phylogenetics. It presents the complex subject of phylogenetics in the most comprehensible and easy to understand language. A number of latest researches have been included to keep the readers up-to-date with the global concepts in this area of study.
Plants are multicellular photosynthetic eukaryotes. There are nearly 300,000 species of green plants. Plants have evolved from algal mats, through bryophytes, lycopods and ferns to the highly complex angiosperms and gymnosperms. Some of the largest genomes among all organisms occur in plants. Besides the inheritance of traits, the genome of a plant is also responsible for its growth and development. Plants experience different biotic and abiotic stresses, which cause DNA damage whether directly or indirectly. Plants resist such DNA damage with a damage response, which is critical for maintaining stability of the genome. This is vital especially during seed germination, as the seed quality deteriorates with age. This book covers in detail some existing theories and innovative concepts revolving around this field. Different approaches, evaluations, methodologies and advanced studies on plant genetics with respect to biodiversity and evolution have been included herein. With state-of-the-art inputs by acclaimed experts of this field, this book targets students and professionals.
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