Optimizing Plasticulture Bed Geometries for Enhancing the Sustainability of Vegetable Production

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Publisher :
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 163 pages
Book Rating : 4.:/5 (974 download)

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Book Synopsis Optimizing Plasticulture Bed Geometries for Enhancing the Sustainability of Vegetable Production by : Nathan L. Holt

Download or read book Optimizing Plasticulture Bed Geometries for Enhancing the Sustainability of Vegetable Production written by Nathan L. Holt and published by . This book was released on 2014 with total page 163 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Vegetables throughout the world are increasingly being grown using raised soil beds covered by plastic mulch in a practice known as plasticulture. Plasticulture vegetable production systems are intensively managed with large inputs of water, nutrients, cost, and energy. One avenue to improve the sustainability of these systems is by using compact bed geometries that are narrower and taller than the conventional bed geometries in use today. A two-season measurement and modeling (HYDRUS 2D) tomato study was conducted in southern Florida to evaluate three compact beds (61 cm x 25 cm, 45 cm x 30 cm, and 41 cm x 30 cm) against a conventional short and wide bed (76 cm x 20 cm). A single-season eggplant study was also conducted to evaluate two compact beds (61 cm x 25 cm and 45 cm x 30 cm) with one drip tape against a conventional bed (91 cm x 15 cm) with two drip tapes. Overall, study results indicate that compact bed geometries can be used to improve the sustainability of plasticulture vegetable systems with one or two drip tapes without conceding yield. Compact beds were found to: provide up to 50% in irrigation water savings, decrease production costs by $150 to $670 per hectare, increase the productivity of applied fertilizer nitrogen and phosphorus by up to 10%, reduce the carbon footprint of both the tomato and eggplant plasticulture production systems by 5 to 10%, and be adaptable to climate change through improving flood protection.

Good Agricultural Practices for Greenhouse Vegetable Crops

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Publisher : Food & Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO)
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 640 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 ( download)

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Book Synopsis Good Agricultural Practices for Greenhouse Vegetable Crops by :

Download or read book Good Agricultural Practices for Greenhouse Vegetable Crops written by and published by Food & Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO). This book was released on 2013 with total page 640 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This publication capitalizes on the experience of scientists from the North Africa and Near East countries, in collaboration with experts from around the world, specialized in the different aspects of greenhouse crop production. It provides a comprehensive description and assessment of the greenhouse production practices in use in Mediterranean climate areas that have helped diversify vegetable production and increase productivity. The publication is also meant to be used as a reference and tool for trainers and growers as well as other actors in the greenhouse vegetables value chain in this region.

Managing Cover Crops Profitably (3rd Ed. )

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Publisher : DIANE Publishing
ISBN 13 : 1437903797
Total Pages : 248 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (379 download)

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Book Synopsis Managing Cover Crops Profitably (3rd Ed. ) by : Andy Clark

Download or read book Managing Cover Crops Profitably (3rd Ed. ) written by Andy Clark and published by DIANE Publishing. This book was released on 2008-07 with total page 248 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 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.

A Guide to the Manufacture, Performance, and Potential of Plastics in Agriculture

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Publisher : Elsevier
ISBN 13 : 0081021763
Total Pages : 225 pages
Book Rating : 4.0/5 (81 download)

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Book Synopsis A Guide to the Manufacture, Performance, and Potential of Plastics in Agriculture by : Michael Orzolek

Download or read book A Guide to the Manufacture, Performance, and Potential of Plastics in Agriculture written by Michael Orzolek and published by Elsevier. This book was released on 2017-03-16 with total page 225 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The use of plastics in agriculture – to increase crop output, improve food quality and improve sustainability – has grown substantially in both quantity and the range of applications. Many of the early researchers that conducted field research in the use of plastics in agriculture have either retired or are deceased. These early pioneers in plasticulture research, the basis of plant production using plastics, were very creative and persistent in discovering uses of plastics in agricultural applications. A Guide to the Manufacture, Performance, and Potential of Plastics in Agriculture contains both references not only to their accomplishments but also their publications. The book discusses plasticulture-the basis of plant production using plastics – including topics such as plastic mulch, row covers, drip irrigation, and high/low tunnels. It covers the process of producing polyethylene and polypropylene plastics that are used in plant and animal production agriculture, and the many uses of plastics in all aspects of agriculture, including plastic greenhouses, rigid mold plastics, disposal of plastics, and plastics in animal production. This book introduces a range of academics and industrial practitioners to the impact of plastics in agriculture, both historically and in a range of current applications. It also provides new perspectives on future developments to enable further research and application. It is an invaluable reference on the use of polyethylene, polypropylene films, and such products in all aspects of agricultural production. Discusses plasticulture, the basis of plant production using plastics, including topics such as plastic mulch, row covers, drip irrigation, and high/low tunnels Contains 10 chapters that cover the process of producing polyethylene and polypropylene plastics that are used in agriculture Covers the many uses of plastics in all aspects of agriculture, including plastic greenhouses, rigid mold plastics, disposal of plastics, and plastics in animal production

Remote Sensing in Precision Agriculture

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Publisher : Elsevier
ISBN 13 : 0323914640
Total Pages : 555 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (239 download)

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Book Synopsis Remote Sensing in Precision Agriculture by : Salim Lamine

Download or read book Remote Sensing in Precision Agriculture written by Salim Lamine and published by Elsevier. This book was released on 2023-10-20 with total page 555 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Remote Sensing in Precision Agriculture: Transforming Scientific Advancement into Innovation compiles the latest applications of remote sensing in agriculture using spaceborne, airborne and drones’ geospatial data. The book presents case studies, new algorithms and the latest methods surrounding crop sown area estimation, determining crop health status, assessment of vegetation dynamics, crop diseases identification, crop yield estimation, soil properties, drone image analysis for crop damage assessment, and other issues in precision agriculture. This book is ideal for those seeking to explore and implement remote sensing in an effective and efficient manner with its compendium of scientifically and technologically sound information. Presents a well-integrated collection of chapters, with quality, consistency and continuity Provides the latest RS techniques in Precision Agriculture that are addressed by leading experts Includes detailed, yet geographically global case studies that can be easily understood, reproduced or implemented Covers geospatial data, with codes available through shared links

Sustainable Horticultural Systems

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Publisher : Springer
ISBN 13 : 3319069047
Total Pages : 400 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (19 download)

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Book Synopsis Sustainable Horticultural Systems by : Dilip Nandwani

Download or read book Sustainable Horticultural Systems written by Dilip Nandwani and published by Springer. This book was released on 2014-10-14 with total page 400 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Sustainable horticulture is gaining increasing attention in the field of agriculture as demand for the food production rises to the world community. Sustainable horticultural systems are based on ecological principles to farm, optimizes pest and disease management approaches through environmentally friendly and renewable strategies in production agriculture. It is a discipline that addresses current issues such as food security, water pollution, soil health, pest control, and biodiversity depletion. Novel, environmentally-friendly solutions are proposed based on integrated knowledge from sciences as diverse as agronomy, soil science, entomology, ecology, chemistry and food sciences. Sustainable horticulture interprets methods and processes in the farming system to the global level. For that, horticulturists use the system approach that involves studying components and interactions of a whole system to address scientific, economic and social issues. In that respect, sustainable horticulture is not a classical, narrow science. Instead of solving problems using the classical painkiller approach that treats only negative impacts, sustainable horticulture treats problem sources.

Greenhouse Technology and Management

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Publisher : CABI
ISBN 13 : 1780641036
Total Pages : 373 pages
Book Rating : 4.7/5 (86 download)

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Book Synopsis Greenhouse Technology and Management by : Nicolás Castilla

Download or read book Greenhouse Technology and Management written by Nicolás Castilla and published by CABI. This book was released on 2013 with total page 373 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Translation of the second ed.: Invernaderos de plaastico: tecnologaia y manejo.

Plastic Waste and Recycling

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Publisher : Academic Press
ISBN 13 : 0128178817
Total Pages : 686 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (281 download)

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Book Synopsis Plastic Waste and Recycling by : Trevor M. Letcher

Download or read book Plastic Waste and Recycling written by Trevor M. Letcher and published by Academic Press. This book was released on 2020-03-10 with total page 686 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Plastic Waste and Recycling: Environmental Impact, Societal Issues, Prevention, and Solutions begins with an introduction to the different types of plastic materials, their uses, and the concepts of reduce, reuse and recycle before examining plastic types, chemistry and degradation patterns that are organized by non-degradable plastic, degradable and biodegradable plastics, biopolymers and bioplastics. Other sections cover current challenges relating to plastic waste, explain the sources of waste and their routes into the environment, and provide systematic coverage of plastic waste treatment methods, including mechanical processing, monomerization, blast furnace feedstocks, gasification, thermal recycling, and conversion to fuel. This is an essential guide for anyone involved in plastic waste or recycling, including researchers and advanced students across plastics engineering, polymer science, polymer chemistry, environmental science, and sustainable materials. Presents actionable solutions for reducing plastic waste, with a focus on the concepts of collection, re-use, recycling and replacement Considers major societal and environmental issues, providing the reader with a broader understanding and supporting effective implementation Includes detailed case studies from across the globe, offering unique insights into different solutions and approaches

Degradable Polymers

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Publisher : Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN 13 : 9401105715
Total Pages : 284 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (11 download)

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Book Synopsis Degradable Polymers by : G. Scott

Download or read book Degradable Polymers written by G. Scott and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2012-12-06 with total page 284 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Few scientific developments in recent years have captured the popular imagination like the subject of'biodegradable' plastics. The reasons for this are complex and lie deep in the human subconscious. Discarded plastics are an intrusion on the sea shore and in the countryside. The fact that nature's litter abounds in the sea and on land is acceptable because it is biodegradable - even though it may take many years to be bioassimilated into the ecosystem. Plastics litter is not seen to be biodegradable and is aesthetically unacceptable because it does not blend into the natural environment. To the environmentally aware but often scientifically naive, biodegradation is seen to be the ecologically acceptable solution to the problem of plastic packaging waste and litter and some packaging manufacturers have exploited the 'green' consumer with exaggerated claims to 'environmentally friendly' biodegradable packaging materials. The principles underlying environmental degradation are not understood even by some manufacturers of 'biodegradable' materials and the claims made for them have been categorized as 'deceptive' by USA legislative authorities. This has set back the acceptance of plastics with controlled biodegradability as part of the overall waste and litter control strategy. At the opposite end of the commercial spectrum, the polymer manufactur ing industries, through their trade associations, have been at pains to discount the role of degradable materials in waste and litter management. This negative campaign has concentrated on the supposed incompatibility of degradable plastics with aspects of waste management strategy, notably materials recycling.

Integrated Greenhouse Systems for Mild Climates

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Publisher : Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN 13 : 3642145825
Total Pages : 363 pages
Book Rating : 4.6/5 (421 download)

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Book Synopsis Integrated Greenhouse Systems for Mild Climates by : Christian von Zabeltitz

Download or read book Integrated Greenhouse Systems for Mild Climates written by Christian von Zabeltitz and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2010-10-01 with total page 363 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Crop production in greenhouses is a growing industry, especially in mild climates, and is very important for the population as a source of income and clean, fresh food. Greenhouses create optimal climate conditions for crop growth and protect crops from outside pests. At the same time greenhouse production increases water use efficiency and makes integrated production and protection (IPP) possible. This book provides technical instructions for practice (what to do and what not to do) and gives answers to the question: How to produce more clean crops and better quality with less water, less land and less pesticide. Suitable greenhouse constructions and their design, adapted to local climates in subtropical, tropical and arid regions and infrastructure conditions are presented. The necessary climate control measures - light transmittance, ventilation, cooling, heating, and CO2 enrichment - and physical measures for pest control, as well as methods for using solar energy to desalinate salty water are described. The results of theoretical research are transferred into methods for practical use, so that readers are equipped to solve their problems in practice as well as to get stimulation for further research and development.

Vegetable Grafting

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Publisher : Cabi
ISBN 13 : 9781780648972
Total Pages : 0 pages
Book Rating : 4.6/5 (489 download)

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Book Synopsis Vegetable Grafting by : Giuseppe Colla

Download or read book Vegetable Grafting written by Giuseppe Colla and published by Cabi. This book was released on 2017 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book provides comprehensive and current scientific and practical knowledge on vegetable grafting, a method gaining considerable interest as an alternative to the use of fumigants to protect crops from soil-borne diseases.

Plant Production in Closed Ecosystems

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Publisher : Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN 13 : 9401588899
Total Pages : 343 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (15 download)

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Book Synopsis Plant Production in Closed Ecosystems by : E. Goto

Download or read book Plant Production in Closed Ecosystems written by E. Goto and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2013-03-09 with total page 343 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Plant Production in Closed Ecosystems provides overviews of the current trends and concepts in plant production in closed or semi-closed environments. The overviews reflect both the present and future challenges that face the agricultural industry and the methods and tools which will meet these challenges. Plant Production in Closed Ecosystems contains the full texts of the Special Lectures from the International Symposium on Plant Production in Closed Ecosystems, plus several contributed papers. The challenges which await the agricultural industry are diverse. This diversity is reflected in the topics that were covered in the special lectures given by experts in the field. These topics included: greenhouse horticulture, hydroponics, micropropagation, food production in space, environmental control, co-generation, controlled ecological life support systems (CELSS), and resource conservation.

Sustainable Crop Protection under Protected Cultivation

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Publisher : Springer
ISBN 13 : 9789812879509
Total Pages : 0 pages
Book Rating : 4.8/5 (795 download)

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Book Synopsis Sustainable Crop Protection under Protected Cultivation by : P. Parvatha Reddy

Download or read book Sustainable Crop Protection under Protected Cultivation written by P. Parvatha Reddy and published by Springer. This book was released on 2016-01-18 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book focuses on pests (insect and mite) and diseases (fungal, bacterial, viral and nematode) in protected horticulture (fruits, vegetables and ornamentals) using physical, cultural, chemical, biological, host resistance, and integrated methods. It opens with chapters describing the setting in which integrated pest and disease control operates, i.e., the greenhouse and its environment. Subsequent chapters present the basic strategies and tactics of different control methods including integrated control, with special reference to greenhouse crops. Further chapters include the different facets of biological pest and disease control – its scientific bases, its development in practice, its commercialization and quality control. The concluding chapters of the book highlight the present status of integrated pest and disease control for the most important greenhouse crops (fruits, vegetables and flower crops) worldwide. The book’s final chapter explores future challenges for researchers assigned to identify non-pesticide methods and integrate sustainable pest management technologies that can contribute to increased productivity, such as breeding for durable resistance, biological control and devising integrated methods that will have minimal adverse environmental and social impacts. Among productivity-enhancing technologies, protected cultivation has a tremendous potential to increase the yield of vegetables and flower cro ps by several fold. Pests and diseases are one of the major challenges to protected cultivation. Year-round warm temperatures and relatively high humidity together with abundant food make the protected environment of greenhouses highly attractive to pests and diseases. Nevertheless, very little attention has been paid to the manipulation of greenhouse environments expressly to avoid disease epidemics and insect infestations, which together can easily account for 30% of crop losses. This book will be of immense value to all members of the scientific community involved in teaching, research and extension activities on protected horticulture. It also offers a useful reference guide for policymakers and practicing farmers, and can be used as a textbook for postgraduate courses.

Fruit and Vegetable Processing

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Publisher : Elsevier
ISBN 13 : 1855736640
Total Pages : 405 pages
Book Rating : 4.8/5 (557 download)

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Book Synopsis Fruit and Vegetable Processing by : Wim Jongen

Download or read book Fruit and Vegetable Processing written by Wim Jongen and published by Elsevier. This book was released on 2002-08-13 with total page 405 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Fruit and vegetables are both major food products in their own right and key ingredients in many processed foods. There has been growing research on their importance to health and techniques to preserve the nutritional and sensory qualities desired by consumers. This major collection summarises some of the key themes in this recent research.Part one looks at fruit, vegetables and health. There are chapters on the health benefits of increased fruit and vegetable consumption, antioxidants and improving the nutritional quality of processed fruits. Part two considers ways of managing safety and quality through the supply chain. A number of chapters discuss the production of fresh fruit and vegetables, looking at modelling, the use of HACCP systems and ways of maintaining postharvest quality. There are also two chapters on instrumentation for measuring quality. Two final chapters look at maintaining the safety and quality of processed fruit and vegetables. Part three reviews technologies to improve fruit and vegetable products. Two chapters consider how to extend the shelf-life of fruits and vegetables during cultivation. The following three chapters then consider how postharvest handling can improve quality, covering minimal processing, new modified atmosphere packaging techniques and the use of edible coatings. Two final chapters discuss two major recent technologies in processing fruit and vegetables: high pressure processing and the use of vacuum technology.With its distinguished editor and international team of contributors, Fruit and vegetable processing provides an authoritative review of key research on measuring and improving the quality of both fresh and processed fruits and vegetables. Reviews recent research on improving the sensory, nutritional and functional qualities of fruit and vegetables, whether as fresh or processed products Examines the importance of fruits and vegetables in processed foods and outlines techniques to preserve the nutritional and sensory qualities desired by consumers Discusses two major technologies in processing fruits and vegetables: high pressure processing and the use of vacuum technology

Material Selection for Thermoplastic Parts

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Author :
Publisher : William Andrew
ISBN 13 : 0702062871
Total Pages : 712 pages
Book Rating : 4.7/5 (2 download)

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Book Synopsis Material Selection for Thermoplastic Parts by : Michel Biron

Download or read book Material Selection for Thermoplastic Parts written by Michel Biron and published by William Andrew. This book was released on 2015-09-02 with total page 712 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: As new applications are developed and plastics replace traditional materials in a widening spectrum of existing applications, the potential personal injury, property damage, financial and legal consequences of failure can be high. However, nearly half of plastics failure can be traced back to the original specification and selection of the material. This book gives engineers the data they need to make an informed decision about the materials they use in their products, imparting a thorough knowledge of the advantages and disadvantages of the various materials to choose from. The data also suggests other candidate materials which the reader may not have originally considered. More than 30,000 thermoplastics grades are grouped into circa. 300 subfamilies, within which over 20 properties are assessed. The abundance or scarcity of a material and its cost are also often important deciding factors. In this book, an economical overview of the plastics industry helps clarify the actual consumption and costs of thermoplastics including bioplastic, and the relationship of cost vs. performance is also examined for each thermoplastic subfamily. Immediate and long-term common properties are reviewed, including mechanical behavior, impact, thermal properties, and many more. Environmental considerations are also covered, including ease of recycling and sustainability. Helps engineers to implement a systematic approach to material selection in their work Includes more than 300 subfamilies of thermoplastic, and a wide range of properties including chemical resistance, thermal degradation, creep and UV resistance Evaluates cost/performance relations and environmental considerations

Soil Degradable Bioplastics for a Sustainable Modern Agriculture

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Author :
Publisher : Springer
ISBN 13 : 3662541300
Total Pages : 192 pages
Book Rating : 4.6/5 (625 download)

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Book Synopsis Soil Degradable Bioplastics for a Sustainable Modern Agriculture by : Mario Malinconico

Download or read book Soil Degradable Bioplastics for a Sustainable Modern Agriculture written by Mario Malinconico and published by Springer. This book was released on 2017-02-14 with total page 192 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book shows how the use of biodegradable plastics in agriculture can have a profound positive impact on plasticulture. Starting with an organic chemistry approach to biodegradable and compostable plastics, both natural and synthetic, it then analyzes the technological and agronomic aspects of existing bioplastics for protected cultivation (mulching, direct cover, low tunnels). It describes the new sprayable biodegradable mulching method, which is based on the use of waterborne polysaccharides and cellulosic fibers. A further chapter describes the research and technology of biodegradable plastics for different agricultural practices. It also includes chapters on life cycle assessment (LCA) of biodegradable plastics for agriculture, and existing and developing standards in the field. It is a valuable resource for agronomists, chemical and materials engineers, polymer technologists and scientists, as well as for a more general readership interested in the application of green chemistry principles to the vast world of crop production. Mario Malinconico is Research Director at the Institute of Polymers, Composites and Biomaterials, National Research Council, Italy. /p

Environmental Biotechnology Volume 4

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Publisher : Springer Nature
ISBN 13 : 3030777952
Total Pages : 269 pages
Book Rating : 4.0/5 (37 download)

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Book Synopsis Environmental Biotechnology Volume 4 by : K. M. Gothandam

Download or read book Environmental Biotechnology Volume 4 written by K. M. Gothandam and published by Springer Nature. This book was released on 2021-09-24 with total page 269 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book reviews the production of bioplastic from various raw materials and recycling wastewater into useful bioproducts by bacteria. In addition, it also addresses the recent advancement in pest control in rice plants, different methods to analyse genotoxicity on soil samples and the effect of phytocompounds on acrylamide-induced toxicity in Drosophilla. Interestingly, this book also discusses mesoporous silica nanoparticles' role as nanocarrier material for inhibiting the cancer cell, especially breast cancer and various biotechnological applications of marine fungal exopolysaccharides.