eChapters

Abstract
Aquatic ecosystems comprising freshwater, coastal, and marine environmentsarem vital for biodiversity, food security, and economic well-being, particularly in developing countries. Nevertheless, human activities increasingly threaten these ecosystems, including overfishing, pollution, habitat destruction and climate change. This chapter examines the conservation of these ecosystems through an ecosystem-based management (EBM) approach, which is crucial for enhancing ecosystem resilience and preserving biodiversity. EBM provides a holistic framework incorporating ecological, social, and economic dimensions, moving beyond traditional management strategies focusing on individual policies or species. By considering the entire socialecological system, EBM fosters sustainable fisheries and aquaculture while
ensuring the long-term availability of ecosystem services. The chapter underscores the significance of policy integration, stakeholder involvement, and innovative solutions to safeguard and sustain aquatic ecosystems amid persistent environmental challenges.
Keywords: Aquatic ecosystems, EBM, Biodiversity, Sustainability, Climate
change

Orchids represent a premium segment of commercial floriculture because of their distinctive flowers, long vase life and high market value. This chapter introduces major commercial orchid groups, including Dendrobium, Cymbidium, Cattleya, Phalaenopsis and Paphiopedilum. It discusses botanical features, climate requirements, growing media, propagation, tissue culture, planting, nutrition, irrigation, shade management and greenhouse production. Important pests, diseases and physiological problems are covered along with harvesting, grading, storage and postharvest handling. The chapter also includes commercial standards and cultivar characteristics, making it useful for understanding the specialized management required for high-value orchid production and export-oriented floriculture.

Sugarcane is the most important sugar crop contributing more than 62% of the world's sugar production. With increasing human population in the world, sugar requirement has also gone up. Molasses is an important by-product of sugar industry. It is used for the production of alcohol by the distillaries. Alcohol serves as a base material in pharmaceuticals and several other industries. The manufacture of gur (jaggery) and khandsari as alternative sweetening agents in India from sugarcane also plays considerable role in the Indian economy, particularly in rural area. Nearly 40 % of the sugarcane produced is utilised for manufacture of gur and khandsari. Sugarcane is bound to play a greater role in the Indian economy in the years to come by offering a stable income to the farmers by way of cane price, by providing employment to rural masses, by realising excise duty, Cane Cess/ purchase tax and foreign exchange earning.

Acreage and production

Sugarcane is grown in tropical and sub tropical regions. Brazil has largest area and production of sugarcane.India is second to Brazil in sugarcane production. It is followed by Cuba and China. Other important cane growing countries are Pakistan, Mexico, South Africa, Australia, Indonesia etc. So far, as average sugarcane productivity is concerned Peru ranks first in average sugarcane yield. To meet the sugar requirement of increasing population in future, it is essential that sugarcane production is stepped up. Since there is no scope at present to bring additional land under sugarcane, productivity of sugarcane, the targets have to be achieved only through increased productivity.

ABSTRACT

Plants are the basic requirement upon which all other living organisms depend. Plant resources have been used over the decades for human welfare in promotion of health as medicine, flavour and fragrance. Natural essential oils derived from plants are used as cosmetics, perfumes and flavors in foods and beverages. Development of processsing industries are directly linked to specific needs, available resources and intervention of technological capabilities. Resourgence of public interest in herbal products has created a huge market for plant based products which not only satisfies human needs, but also provides quality and safety insurance. Himalaya range in Southeast Asia is a hub of medicinal and aroma bearing plants globally recognized for their chemical constituents as well as endemic and threatened nature. These plant resources has high demand in international market for development of value added products, for isolation of commercial important compounds used in drug discovery programmes, preparation and formulation for development of new nutraceutical products and semi-synthetic derivatives for medicines. Aromatic plants are valued for their aromas, tastes and their applications in treatment of various illness, and mostly prefered in cosmatics, perfumes, confectionery food items and medicines. More than 3000 aroma bearing plants have been characterized world wide, of which, 116 aromatic plants are recorded from Indian Himalayas. Lavender, Geranium, Lemongrass and other aroma bearing plants are the main primary ingredient for many new and existing herbal products. An attempt has been made in this communication to present an account of different aromatic wealth of Himalaya, extraction techniques and their major chemical constituents, which will be helpful to pharmaceutical industries in development of value added products in time to come.

Estimation of organic carbon in soil (Walkley and Black, 1934)

Principle: Soil organic carbon is oxidized to CO₂ by heat of dilution obtained when a known amount of soil is treated with excess of standard K₂Cr₂O₇ in the presence of concentrated H₂SO₄. The excess of K₂Cr₂O₇ not reduced by the organic matter is back titrated with standard ferrous ammonium sulphate in the presence of phosphoric acid or sodium fluoride using diphenyl indicator. At the point colour changes from violet to blue or bright green.

Apparatus: 500 ml conical flasks, Pipettes of 10 and 20 ml, Burette, Balance, Measuring cylinder, Asbestos sheet.

Most of the plant parasitic-nematodes (PPNs)are worm-shaped microscopic animals. They are virtually invisible through naked eyes when present in soil or plant materials. It has been estimated that of the known nematode species, approximately 50% are free-living found in soil and fresh water, 25% are marine (found in sea water), 15% are animal parasites, and 10% are plant-parasites (Walia and Bajaj, 2004; Sasser and Freckman, 1987). Free living nematodes contribute to maintain the soil bio-dynamic system, by influencing microbial colonization of substrates and mineralization of nutrients (Neher, 2001), whereas PPNs feed on plants and reduce crop growth and yield efficiency. Among the PPNs, a few nematode species feed on aerial plant parts (leaves, stems, flowers and seeds), but the majority of feed on underground plant parts (roots, bulbs, and tubers).

1. Introduction

The Online Dictionary of Library and Information Science (ODLIS) defines best practice as, “in the application of theory to real-life situations, procedures that, when properly, applied consistently yield superior results and are therefore use as reference points in evaluation of the effectiveness of alternative methods of accomplishing the same task. Best practices are identified by examining empirical evidence of success”. Commonly, best practices are those services, which satisfy the respective users’ community on their desired level. Earlier, best practice term was used in the manufacturing industries for implementation of benchmarking methods so that ultimate quality results may be achieved. But later on the term “best practice” has also been used in academia and other fields as well. The mandate of any library is to work according to the informational needs of the user’s and other facilities, which are desired by the users. The service delivery pattern has totally been changed gradually due to the technological impacts and ever changing needs of the users. Now library users’ wants quality information services, which satisfy their needs so it becomes necessary for any library to provide the satisfactory services in the best and desired way. Best practices can play a major role in the comprehensive development of any academic institute and the agricultural university libraries are not exception to it.

1. California mastitis test

The California mastitis test (CMT) is conducted during milking of lactating cows. The CMT paddle is used to collect about three to four ml of fore milk from each quarter of cows after discarding few streams to which an equal volume of CMT reagent (composition mentioned below) is mixed immediately by circular motion (Fig. 1). The reaction is graded by intensity of gel formation and color changes as follows:

This chapter is framed with different factors relating to socio-economic profile of shrimp farmers in Dhamara coastal zone. Shrimp farming offers significant employment opportunities, which may help alleviate the poverty of the local coastal population in many areas, if it is properly managed. The published literature on that topic shows large discrepancies, and much of the available data is of anecdotal nature. Estimates of the labor-intensiveness of shrimp farms range from about three times less to three times more^] than when the same area was used for rice paddies, with much regional variation and depending on the type of farms surveyed. In general, intensive shrimp farming requires more labour per unit area than extensive farming. Extensive farms cover much more land area and are often but not always located in areas where no agricultural land uses are possible. Supporting industries such as feed production or storage, handling, and trade companies should also not be neglected, even if not all of them are exclusive to shrimp farming.

Typically, workers on a shrimp farm can get better wages than with other employments. A global estimate from one study is that a shrimp farm worker can earn 1.5-3 times as much as in other jobs; a study from India arrived at a salary increase of about 1.6, and a report from Mexico states that the lowest paid job at shrimp farms was paid in 1996 at 1.22 times the average worker salary in the country.

8. Introduction

The idea of sustainable development stands on the concept of maintaining the best possible environment within the availability of minimal resources and for the convenience of the society. Now-a-day the term “sustainability” gained a lot of attention due to challenges and problems faced in tackling the current situation of global pollution. One of the vital areas of research needs to be addressed in concern with sustainable development is the new innovations to enhance sustainability (Silvestre and Silva, 2014). 

Introduction

An entrepreneur is someone who starts or runs their own business. By having an equity stake in the company, the entrepreneur can profit greatly if things go well; however, they also take on a great deal of risk-far more than a regular employee of the company. Financial, career, emotional, and overall business risks are all examples of entrepreneurial risk. Because there is so much at stake in starting and growing a successful business, there are very specific skills that an entrepreneur usually requires to be successful. It could be a picture of a talented college dropout or a seasoned business professional with an uncanny ability to predict the next big thing. Replace whoever the persona is with ourselves. A successful entrepreneur does not have a specific demographic or personality profile. We can be entrepreneurs regardless of our age, race, gender, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, or upbringing if we have dedication, drive, and essential business skills. Unlike personality traits and demographic information, entrepreneurial skills can be learned and practiced. If we want to pursue entrepreneurship, use this list to assess our strengths and weaknesses and determine which skills we need to develop before launching our venture.

Radish, turnip, carrot and beet root are the major root crops grown in the country. In addition, root crops like rutabaga, parsnip, salsify, chervil and celeriac are grown in a limited scale in different areas. Though the crops belong to different families, their cultural requirements are uniform. The common features of root crops like radish, turnip, carrot and beet root are:

• In all root crops, the tap root and a portion of hypocotyl develop into fleshy root.
• All root crops are cool season crops and are the best grown during winter in plains and spring-summer in hills of North India
• All crops, except beet root, exhibit two distinct groups, viz., tropical or Asiatic or annual types and temperate or European or biennial types. In beet root, tropical annual types are not available.
• Seeds of annual types are produced in plains. Biennial types require a chilling temperature, after attaining or completion of vegetative phase, for transforming to reproductive phase. Since this chilling temperature is available during winter at high altitudes, seed production of biennial types are practiced only in hills of North India.
• All root crops require well drained loose and friable soil without any clods for raising a good crop. Seeds are sown on ridges or on raised beds for proper development of roots.

Introduction

Food demand is rising at an unprecedented rate as the world's population continues to rise. Meeting this rising demand is a significant challenge that requires innovative and sustainable solutions. While traditional agriculture has long been the backbone of food production, alternative methods such as aquaculture have gained recognition for their vital contribution to global food security. The projected global population of over 9 billion by 2050 presents a significant challenge in meeting the nutritional demands of an ever-expanding populace. Seafood represents a crucial source of animal protein, essential nutrients, and omega-3 fatty acids, making it a dietary staple for millions of individuals globally, particularly in coastal regions and developing nations.

The basic equipment for performing laparoscopy includes the laparoscope and corresponding trocar and cannula, light source, gas insufflator and the Veress needle. Laparoscope applicable for use in the small animals (dog, goat, sheep and lab animals) ranges in diameter from 2.7 to 10 mm in diameter, however, a 5mm diameter telescope is suitable for most cases and 2.7mm may be required for toy breeds of dogs and lab animals. A 0 or 30 degree direction of vision provides the operator with a “normal’ field of view and has proven most useful. Authors are using a 5-mm diameter 30-degree field of view telescope for routine diagnostic laparoscopy. The 5-mm diameter is adequate for most all small animal procedures in animals of variable size. The 0-degree designation means that the telescope views the visual field directly in front of the telescope.

Rainfed farming has a distinct place in Indian Agriculture, occupying 67% of the cultivated area, contributing 44% of the food grains and supporting 40% of the human and 65% of the livestock population. It is characterized by resource poor farmers, poor infrastructure and low investment in technology inputs (Singh, 1999). The land use in rainfed areas is quite diverse with a variety of crops, cropping systems, agroforestry and livestock farming. The productivity levels have remained low over the years and the share of rainfed crops in the total food grain production has been declining. The rainfed ecosystem suffers from the problems of (i) frequent droughts due to high variability in the quantum and distribution of rainfall, (ii) poor soil health due to continued degradation and inadequate replenishment of nutrient exhaustion, (iii) low animal productivity due to an acute scarcity of fodder and (iv) low risk bearing capacity of farmers due to poor socio-economic base, credit availability and infrastructure.

Climatic factors like increase in temperature, carbon dioxide (CO₂) concentration, moisture, and other factors directly or indirectly affect agriculture, which have been elaborately dealt in previous chapters. Climate change causes weather variability that may result in low production, hike in price of agricultural commodities including food grains, vegetables, fruits, meat, egg and milk. It is now realised that climate resilient agriculture (CRA) will be imperative to reduce the vulnerability of agriculture to the climate change.

1. Introduction
The world’s ecosystem is facing significant challenges because of risingpopulations, more urbanization, and industrialization (Juwarkar et al.,2014). Significant environmental contamination has been caused by moderncivilizations, industrialization, population increase, intensive agriculturalpractices, human activities, and technological advancement (Lalevic et al.,2016).

Aquaculture is the cultivation of fish, molluscs, crustaceans (shell fish) and aquatic plants in controlled conditions, provides an increasingly significant proportion of food production globally. The sector has represented the greatest growth of all food production systems in the last two decades and an estimated 10% yearly increase in output is likely to bring productivity to a predicted 47 million tonnes in the year 2010 (Pedini and Shehadeh, 1997). Significantly, the greatest contribution to total production and the greatest rate of uptake of aquaculture activity is in the developing world. More than 82% of the total global yield in 1999 was produced by developing countries (GESAMP, 2000) and growth rates between 1984 and 1995 were six times higher than that from developed countries (Rana, 1997; Tacon, 1996).

Introduction on Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA)

Extreme weather conditions like rainstorms, high wind pressures, high temperatures, flood and drought situations have profound influence on agriculture. Climate and agriculture are strongly interrelated universal processes and thus variations in climate influence agricultural activities (IPCC, 2007). The effects of climate change are seen in form of global warming, unseasonal and excess rainfall, and frequent natural calamities which affects agricultural production. At the same time emission of GHG to the atmosphere is a major source of climate change. The impact of climate change on crop yield, dairy and other livestock production including fishery will be felt in reduced production and consumption. Climate change will effect in additional increase in prices for main agricultural food crops such as rice, wheat, corn and soybeans (IFPRI, 2009).

A. PLANNING OF AN ORCHARD

Orchard is a long-term investment and needs proper planning and layout before establishment. Mistakes committed during planning and planting of fruit trees cannot be rectified. While planning and planting a new orchard, it is very important to carefully assess all the factors that will ultimately affect fruit yield and orchard sustainability. The aspects like location and site selection, suitability of soil and subsoil, suitability of fruit crop and varieties, plant spacing, market potential and source of nursery plants must be taken care of seriously. Thus, one should avail of expert advice on the establishment of new orchards and their proper maintenance.