Agronomy

The dramatic increases in food prices experienced over the last four years, and their effects of hunger and food insecurity, as well as human-induced climate change and its implications for agriculture, food production and food security, are key topics within the field of agronomy and agricultural research. Contested Agronomy addresses these issues by exploring key developments since the mid-1970s, focusing in particular on the emergence of the neoliberal project and the rise of the participation and environmental agendas, taking into consideration how these have had profound impacts on the practice of agronomic research in the developing world especially over the last four decades. This book explores, through a series of case studies, the basis for a much needed ‘political agronomy’ analysis that highlights the impacts of problem framing and narratives, historical disjunctures, epistemic communities and the increasing pressure to demonstrate ‘success’ on both agricultural research and the farmers, processors and consumers it is meant to serve. Whilst being a fascinating and thought-provoking read for professionals in the Agriculture and Environmental sciences, it will also appeal to students and researchers in agricultural policy, development studies, geography, public administration, rural sociology, and science and technology studies.

Advances in Agronomy continues to be recognized as a leading reference and a first-rate source for the latest research in agronomy. As always, the subjects covered are varied and exemplary of the myriad of subject matter dealt with by this long-running serial. * Maintains the highest impact factor among serial publications in agriculture * Presents timely reviews on important agronomy issues * Enjoys a long-standing reputation for excellence in the field

Cover -- Title -- Copyright -- CONTENTS -- List of abbreviations -- List of contributors -- Acknowledgements -- 1 Knowledge politics in development-oriented agronomy -- 2 On the movement of agricultural technologies: packaging, unpacking and situated reconfiguration -- 3 South-South cooperation and agribusiness contestations in irrigated rice: China and Brazil in Ghana -- 4 GM crops 'for Africa': contestation and knowledge politics in the Kenyan biosafety debate -- 5 Systems research in the CGIAR as an arena of struggle: competing discourses on the embedding of research in development -- 6 One step forward, two steps back in farmer knowledge exchange: 'scaling up' as Fordist replication in drag -- 7 When the solution became a problem: strategies in the reform of agricultural extension in Uganda -- 8 Sweet 'success': contesting biofortification strategies to address malnutrition in Tanzania -- 9 Crops in context: negotiating traditional and formal seed institutions -- 10 Laws of the field: rights and justice in development-oriented agronomy -- 11 A golden age for agronomy? -- References -- Index

A gripping biological detective story that uncovers the myth, mystery, and endangered fate of the world’s most humble fruit To most people, a banana is a banana: a simple yellow fruit. Americans eat more bananas than apples and oranges combined. In others parts of the world, bananas are what keep millions of people alive. But for all its ubiquity, the banana is surprisingly mysterious; nobody knows how bananas evolved or exactly where they originated. Rich cultural lore surrounds the fruit: In ancient translations of the Bible, the “apple” consumed by Eve is actually a banana (it makes sense, doesn’t it?). Entire Central American nations have been said to rise and fall over the banana. But the biggest mystery about the banana today is whether it will survive. A seedless fruit with a unique reproductive system, every banana is a genetic duplicate of the next, and therefore susceptible to the same blights. Today’s yellow banana, the Cavendish, is increasingly threatened by such a blight—and there’s no cure in sight. Banana combines a pop-science journey around the globe, a fascinating tale of an iconic American business enterprise, and a look into the alternately tragic and hilarious banana subculture (one does exist)—ultimately taking us to the high-tech labs where new bananas are literally being built in test tubes, in a race to save the world’s most beloved fruit.

Agronomy is an important field of study in the discipline of agricultural science that primarily deals with crop production and soil management for food, fuel and other useful products. The aim of this book is to provide an understanding of the multiple aspects of agronomy with the help of concepts such as sustainable agriculture, crop rotation, plant breeding and genetics, use of fertilizers, crop yield, etc. This book, with its detailed analyses and data, will prove immensely beneficial to professionals and students engaged in this field at various levels.

Agronomy is the core subject of agricultural sciences. A strong foundation for agricultural education emerges by understanding the principles of Agronomy. Majority of the Students who join for the degree programmes in agriculture universities are never exposed to the crops and crop production aspects.The beginner's to agriculture needs to be introduced the meaning, scope and principles of agronomy. With this back ground and keeping in mind the common syllabus prescribed by the Dean's committee for agriculture education in the country efforts are made to compile and present the information on introduction to agronomy, agriculture, meaning, scope and importance, history of development of agriculture, agricultural education and research in the country and elsewhere, factors affecting plant growth, manures and fertilizers, principles of agronomy viz. soil management, crop management, weed management, management of problematic soils, cropping systems, selection of planting materials, their treatment in simple language. At the end of each chapter subjective and objective questions are provided for practice. The author hopes that this book will be useful for the students for learning and for the faculty for teaching the course "Fundamentals of Agronomy" for the undergraduate degree programme in the Agricultural Universities.