This book is the product of a six-year multi-disciplinary collaborative research program in sustainable agriculture and natural resource management. It describes the transition of the conflict-ridden agricultural and pastoral systems of arid and semi-arid regions of West Africa to more intensified agricultural and animal husbandry systems. The research investigates technological options and decision tools and explores a replicable methodology for building social capital within a rural community in the Inland Delta of the Niger River.

The chapters recount the efforts of researchers...

Why can Asia now feed its rapidly growing population, but Africa continues to experience famine? This book is the outcome of a three-year project coordinated by a group of Swedish researchers with collaborating scholars from Africa and Asia. It provides a comparative study between Asian agricultural development during the Green Revolution in food production and the current problematic agricultural situation in sub-Saharan Africa. Based on case studies of eight African and eight Asian countries (focusing on the early part of the Green Revolution), this book presents a causal and explanatory...

A comprehensive manual of phytobacteriology, this work is heavily illustrated with over 200 colour photographs and line illustrations. It begins by outlining the history and science of bacteriology and gives an overview of the diversity and versatility of complex bacteria. It then explains the characterization, identification and naming of complex bacteria, and explores how bacteria can cause disease and how plants react to such disease. The book also discusses the economic importance of bacterial diseases as well as strategies for their control and the reduction of crop losses. It concludes...

Toxocara is a parasitic helminth worm which continues to stimulate both public concern and scientific interest. Toxocara canis and T.cati, the most studied species, are gastrointestinal parasites of dogs and cats and their eggs can contaminate the environment, thus exposing humans and other mammals and birds to infection. Many questions remain unanswered about the host-parasite relationship, its epidemiology and public health significance. Veterinarians and clinicians are interested in its importance as a zoonosis. The parasite's capacity to cause ocular disease is of concern to...

Written in an easily-accessible style, this book provides a practical introduction to all aspects of tropical turf management. General topics covered include climate adaptation, the physiology and morphology of turf-grasses, an overview of the different turf-grass species, soil characteristics and testing, establishment techniques, cultivation, nutrition and fertilization, mowing procedures, irrigation requirements, compaction and thatch, and turf pests. It also discusses golf-course maintenance including the different methods needed for the tee, the fairway, the putting green and the rough....

Containing contributions from experts from the USA, Europe and New Zealand, this book provides an overview of the molecular mechanisms associated with flowering. The first edition was published in 1993 as The Molecular Biology of Flowering. The second edition has been thoroughly revised and updated to cover the major advances that have been made in the area in the last 13 years. It has also been extended to examine the new commercial opportunities provided by biotechnology. It explores three main themes: the external and internal regulation of flowering, floral development, and...

The history of modern tourism records many localized and some international crises characterized by extreme and sudden reduction in demand for specific destination areas or types of tourism product. Managerial responses to such events include both problem solving and market recovery steps, but these vary in effectiveness and recovery may be slow to occur after the initial problems are overcome. With examples drawn from the UK, Europe, America, Australia and Asia, this book brings together a range of expert academic analysis of the latest thinking and practice in this increasingly important...

The glycaemic index (GI) is a measure of the ability of a food to raise blood sugar. Written by one of the co-inventors of the term, this is a clear and balanced review of current knowledge on this controversial concept. The book explores all the key issues of the definition of the GI, how to measure the GI of a food, how to apply GI information to meals and diets, the reasons why foods have different GI values and the impact of altering a diet GI on health and disease. The book highlights the benefits and the problems surrounding the GI concept, while encouraging readers to think critically...

All aerial plant surfaces, including leaves, stems and flowers are inhabited by diverse assemblages of microorganisms, including filamentous fungi, yeasts, bacteria, and bacteriophages. These organisms have profound effects on plant health and thus impact on ecosystem and agricultural functions. This book is based on proceedings from the 8th International Symposium on the mircobiology of aerial plant surfaces, held in Oxford 2005. This is a five-yearly conference which brings together international scientists and provides a unique opportunity to discuss developments in this field.

Domestication of vertebrates is based on the understanding of the needs of animals in their natural environment. Thus the success of this domestication throughout human history is largely dependant of the knowledge of the animal feeding behavior. The aim of this volume is to provide advanced students and researchers with a review of current knowledge of feeding in domestic mammals and birds. The book also presents chapters on feeding behavior in particular species. The scope is wide, covering not only ruminants, poultry and pigs, but also more specifically horses, rabbits and ostrich....