Organic Crop Production - Ambitions and Limitations

Organic Crop Production - Ambitions and Limitations PDF Author: Holger Kirchmann
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 1402093160
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 247

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Book Description
Many people believe that organic agriculture is a solution for various problems related to food production. Organic agriculture is supposed to produce healthier products, does not pollute the environment, improves the fertility of soils, saves fossil fuels and enables high biodiversity. This book has been written to provide scientifically based information on organic agriculture such as crop yields, food safety, nutrient use efficiency, leaching, long-term sustainability, greenhouse gas emissions and energy aspects. A number of scientists working with questions related to organic agriculture were invited to present the most recent research and to address critical issues. An unbiased selection of literature, facts rather than standpoints, and scientifically-based examinations instead of wishful thinking will help the reader be aware of difficulties involved with organic agriculture. Organic agriculture, which originates from philosophies of nature, has often outlined key goals to reach long-term sustainability but practical solutions are lacking. The central tasks of agriculture - to produce sufficient food of high quality without harmful effects on the environment - seem to be difficult to achieve through exclusively applying organic principles ruling out many valuable possibilities and solutions.

Organic Crop Production - Ambitions and Limitations

Organic Crop Production - Ambitions and Limitations PDF Author: Holger Kirchmann
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 1402093160
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 247

Get Book Here

Book Description
Many people believe that organic agriculture is a solution for various problems related to food production. Organic agriculture is supposed to produce healthier products, does not pollute the environment, improves the fertility of soils, saves fossil fuels and enables high biodiversity. This book has been written to provide scientifically based information on organic agriculture such as crop yields, food safety, nutrient use efficiency, leaching, long-term sustainability, greenhouse gas emissions and energy aspects. A number of scientists working with questions related to organic agriculture were invited to present the most recent research and to address critical issues. An unbiased selection of literature, facts rather than standpoints, and scientifically-based examinations instead of wishful thinking will help the reader be aware of difficulties involved with organic agriculture. Organic agriculture, which originates from philosophies of nature, has often outlined key goals to reach long-term sustainability but practical solutions are lacking. The central tasks of agriculture - to produce sufficient food of high quality without harmful effects on the environment - seem to be difficult to achieve through exclusively applying organic principles ruling out many valuable possibilities and solutions.

Organic Agriculture

Organic Agriculture PDF Author: Acram Taji
Publisher: CSIRO PUBLISHING
ISBN: 0643099395
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 480

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Book Description
With global revenue surpassing twenty-five billion dollars annually, organic agriculture is a highly visible and rapidly growing component of agricultural production. In Organic Agriculture: A Global Perspective, Paul Kristiansen, Acram Taji, and John Reganold, and their international group of contributors scientifically review key aspects of organic agriculture. At the intersection of research, education, and practice, the contributors look at the organic agricultural movement’s successes and limitations. The first half of this book critically evaluates the agricultural production of both plants and livestock in organic farming systems. All major aspects of organic agriculture are explored, including historical background and underlying principles, soil-fertility management, crop and animal production, breeding strategies, and crop protection. This global and comprehensive overview also addresses the economic, social, and political aspects of organic farming. These include economics and marketing; standards and certification; environmental impacts and social responsibility; and research, education, and extension. The book is a unique and timely science-based international work documenting current practices in organic agriculture and evaluating their strengths and weaknesses. For more than two decades, research into organic methods by mainstream scientists has generated a large body of information that can now be integrated and used for assessing the actual impacts of organic farming in a wide range of disciplines. The knowledge of selected international experts has been combined in one volume, providing a comprehensive review of organic farming globally. Researchers, teachers, extensionists, students, primary producers and others around the world who are interested in sustainable agriculture will find this book to be a valuable and reliable resource.

Sustainable Agriculture–Beyond Organic Farming

Sustainable Agriculture–Beyond Organic Farming PDF Author: Sean Clark
Publisher: MDPI
ISBN: 3038423041
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 357

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Book Description
This book is a printed edition of the Special Issue "Sustainable Agriculture–Beyond Organic Farming" that was published in Sustainability

Conventional and Organic Farming: A Comprehensive Review through the Lens of Agricultural Science

Conventional and Organic Farming: A Comprehensive Review through the Lens of Agricultural Science PDF Author: Victor M. Shorrocks
Publisher: 5m Books Ltd
ISBN: 1912178745
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 466

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Book Description
Organic farming comes with many connotations of ‘natural’, ‘wholesome’, ‘healthy’, ‘superior’, ‘environmentally friendly’, and ‘sustainable’. But just what is the scientific evidence behind the claims of healthier food and better farming systems made by the organic movement? Using peer reviewed literature, the latest studies and a rigorous investigation of claims made by opponents of conventional farming, the author provides an even handed and scientifically objective review of the contributions of organic farming to human health, crop yields, the environment and agriculture from a global perspective. The aim is to separate out the marketing spin, the claims of one camp or another and political ideologies to provide a straightforward appraisal of both the benefits and exaggerated claims of organic farming. The approach taken is to present the evidence – in the form of data, study results and presentation of source material for the claims made by conventional and organic, and leave the reader to make their own judgements on the validity of the case for organic over conventional farming. The book also addresses a fundamental question in modern farming – organic agriculture’s ability to feed the world in the face of a growing population and growing demand for meat, and provides a timely scientific comparison of the practices, relative yields and benefits of organic versus conventional agriculture. The ways conventional farming has progressed from hunter gatherer days and possible future developments are discussed. Conventional and Organic Farming is an ideal book for agricultural policy makers, researchers and academics, as well as agricultural students, conventional and organic farmers. 5m Books

Fertilizer Application on Crop Yield

Fertilizer Application on Crop Yield PDF Author: Jagadish Timsina
Publisher: MDPI
ISBN: 3038976547
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 252

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Book Description
Fertilizer application can increase crop yields and improve global food security, and thus has the potential to eliminate hunger and poverty. However, excessive amounts of fertilizer application can contribute to groundwater pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, eutrophication, deposition and disruptions to natural ecosystems, and soil acidification over time. Small farmers in many countries think inorganic fertilizers are expensive and degrade soils, and thus policymakers want to promote organic instead of inorganic fertilizers. To develop practical fertilizer recommendations for farmers, yield responses to applied fertilizers from inorganic and organic sources, indigenous nutrient supply from soil, and nutrient use efficiency require consideration. There is a lack of sufficient scientific understanding regarding the need and benefit of integrated nutrient management (i.e., judicious use of inorganic and organic sources of nutrients) to meet the nutrient demand of high-yielding crops, increase yields and profits, and reduce soil and environmental degradation. Inadequate knowledge has constrained efforts to develop precision nutrient management recommendations that aim to rationalize input costs, increase yields and profits, and reduce environmental externalities. This Special Issue of the journal provided some evidence of the usefulness of integrated nutrient management to sustain soil resources and supply nutrients to crops grown with major cereal and legume crops in some developing countries.

Advances in Agronomy

Advances in Agronomy PDF Author:
Publisher: Academic Press
ISBN: 012805171X
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 290

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Book Description
Advances in Agronomy continues its reputation as a leading reference and first-rate source for the latest research in agronomy. Each volume contains an eclectic group of reviews by leading scientists throughout the world. Five volumes are published yearly, ensuring that the authors' contributions are disseminated to the readership in a timely manner. As always, the subjects covered are varied and exemplary of the myriad of subject matter dealt with by this long-running serial. - 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

Global Development of Organic Agriculture

Global Development of Organic Agriculture PDF Author: Niels Halberg
Publisher: CABI
ISBN: 1845930789
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 391

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Book Description
Agriculture and food systems, including organic agriculture, are undergoing a technological and structural modernization strongly influenced by growing globalization. Organic agricultural movements can be seen as a tangible effort towards more sustainable development. However, there are large differences between, on the one hand, industrialized farming and consumption based on global food chains and, on the other, smallholder farmers and resource poor people primarily linked in local food markets in low-income countries. This book provides an overview of the potential role of organic agriculture in a global perspective. The book discusses in-depth political ecology, ecological justice, ecological economics and free trade with new insights on the challenges for organic agriculture. This is followed by the potential role of organic agriculture for improving soil fertility, nutrient cycling and food security and reducing veterinary medicine use, together with discussions of research needs and the importance of non-certified organic agriculture.

Agroecology and Strategies for Climate Change

Agroecology and Strategies for Climate Change PDF Author: Eric Lichtfouse
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 9400719051
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 334

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Book Description
Sustainable agriculture is a rapidly growing field aiming at producing food and energy in a sustainable way for our children. This discipline addresses current issues such as climate change, increasing food and fuel prices, starvation, obesity, water pollution, soil erosion, fertility loss, pest control and biodiversity depletion. Novel solutions are proposed based on integrated knowledge from agronomy, soil science, molecular biology, chemistry, toxicology, ecology, economy, philosophy and social sciences. As actual society issues are now intertwined, sustainable agriculture will bring solutions to build a safer world. This book series analyzes current agricultural issues and proposes alternative solutions, consequently helping all scientists, decision-makers, professors, farmers and politicians wishing to build safe agriculture, energy and food systems for future generations.

Re-Thinking Organic Food and Farming in a Changing World

Re-Thinking Organic Food and Farming in a Changing World PDF Author: Bernhard Freyer
Publisher: Springer
ISBN: 9401791902
Category : Philosophy
Languages : en
Pages : 344

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Book Description
This book is based on the assumption that “organic has lost its way”. Paradoxically, it comes at a time when we witness the continuing of growth in organic food production and markets around the world. Yet, the book claims that organic has lost sight of its first or fundamental philosophical principles and ontological assumptions. The collection offers empirically grounded discussions that address the principles and fundamental assumptions of organic farming and marketing practices. The book draws attention to the core principles of organic and offers different clearly articulated and well-defined conceptual frameworks that offer new insights into organic practices. Divided into five parts, the book presents new perspectives on enduring issues, examines standards and certification, gives insights into much-discussed and additional market and consumer issues, and reviews the interplay of organic and conventional farming. The book concludes with a framework for rethinking ethics in the organic movement and reflections on the positioning of organic ethics.

Encyclopedia of Food Security and Sustainability

Encyclopedia of Food Security and Sustainability PDF Author:
Publisher: Elsevier
ISBN: 0128126884
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 1861

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Book Description
The Encyclopedia of Food Security and Sustainability, Three Volume Set covers the hottest topics in the science of food sustainability, providing a synopsis of the path society is on to secure food for a growing population. It investigates the focal issue of sustainable food production in relation to the effects of global change on food resources, biodiversity and global food security. This collection of methodological approaches and knowledge derived from expert authors around the world offers the research community, food industry, scientists and students with the knowledge to relate to, and report on, the novel challenges of food production and sustainability. This comprehensive encyclopedia will act as a platform to show how an interdisciplinary approach and closer collaboration between the scientific and industrial communities is necessary to strengthen our existing capacity to generate and share research data. Offers readers a ‘one-stop’ resource on the topic of food security and sustainability Contains articles split into sections based on the various dimensions of Food Security and Food Sustainability Written by academics and practitioners from various fields and regions with a “farm to fork understanding Includes concise and accessible chapters, providing an authoritative introduction for non-specialists and readers from undergraduate level upwards, as well as up-to-date foundational content for those familiar with the field