eChapters

Weeds pose serious problems to agriculture and environment. Weeds are plants that are undesirable to human activity at a particular time and place, and therefore, weeds will always be associated with human endeavours. In agriculture these not only cause huge reductions in crop yields but also increase cost of cultivation, reduce input efficiency, interfere with agricultural operations, impair quality, act as alternate hosts for several insect pests, diseases and nematodes. In non-crop areas, they affect aesthetic look of the ecosystem as well as native biodiversity and health and quality of life. Weeds are a big constraint in crop production and are responsible for heavy yield losses in almost all the crops. “Being fore-warned is fore-armed” is the principle behind preparation of perspective plans. Weeds are big constraints in crop production and are responsible for heavy yield losses in all crops. Out of the losses due to various biotic stresses, weeds are known to account for nearly one third. Proper management of weeds is essential to meet the growing demand of foodgrains, pulses, oilseeds and other crops by the ever increasing population. As per the projections of IFPRI, Washington there is a likelihood of shortfall of 41 per cent in the food grain production in the country by 2020.

Integrated weed management (IWM) is a critical aspect of sustainable horticultural crop production, offering a multifaceted approach to effectively control weed populations while minimizing environmental impact. Horticultural crops, including fruits, vegetables, and ornamentals, are highly susceptible to weed competition, which can reduce yields, harbour pests and diseases, and hinder crop quality. IWM integrates various control methods, including cultural, mechanical, biological, and chemical approaches, tailored to the specific needs and characteristics of horticultural systems. Cultural practices such as mulching, crop rotation, and intercropping help suppress weeds by creating unfavourable conditions for their growth and development. Mechanical methods, including hand-weeding, hoeing, and the use of specialized machinery, physically remove weeds and disrupt their growth cycle. Biological control strategies involve the introduction of natural predators or competitive plants to reduce weed populations. Chemical controls, when necessary, are applied selectively, targeting specific weed species while minimizing herbicide use and environmental impact. By combining these diverse tactics, IWM in horticultural crops improves weed control efficacy, enhances crop health and vigour, and promotes long-term sustainability in horticultural production systems. This holistic approach contributes to higher yields, better crop quality, and reduced reliance on chemical inputs, ultimately ensuring the economic viability and environmental sustainability of horticultural crop production.

Pulses are gaining more important position in Indian agriculture. After green revolution, India became self sufficient in case of food grain production. However, India is still lagging behind in case of pulses production and is dependent on imports for the domestic consumption in present days. As there is little scope to increase area under pulse, the production can be increased by enhancing the productivity by various agro techniques. Among various factors which limit the pulse production and productivity, poor weed management at the early stages of crop growth, is one of them( Dash et al., 2003 and Dash & Mishra, 2014). Yield loss due to weed have been enumerated by different workers at different places to the tune of 20-65 per cent depending upon the crop growth stages, weed intensities and environment conditions. There are many methods available to control the weed menace at different crop growth stages but the integrated weed management (IWM) is considered to be a more practical and effective approach in the long run since combination of methods will take care of weeds in totality and prevents seed production of weeds and enrichment of soil seed bank (Das, 2008). IWM also provides continuous control of weeds over the crop growth stages than a single method in isolation. Hence application of suitable organic herbicide supplemented with one/two manual weeding are being advocated to control the weeds. Other weeding practices like hoeing, inter- cultivation, mowing, earthing up, weeding by mechanical weeder etc. may be substituted or supplemented to the manual weeding. IWM also reduces the modern day weed problems like weed shift, herbicide resistance, and preponderance of perennial and parasitic weed problems. Under high cropping intensity adoption of IWM practices always generate higher income and maximum profit to the growers.

Integrated Method of Weed Management

Definition

1. An integrated weed management may be defined as the combination of two or more weed-control methods at low input levels to reduce weed competition in a given cropping system below the economical threshold level. It has proved to be a valuable concept in a few cases, though much is still to be done to extend it to the small farmers’ level.
2. When more than one method is employed for controlling weeds, it is termed as integrated method weed management.

FAO Definition

It is a method whereby all economically, ecologically and toxicologically justifiable methods are employed to keep the harmful organisms below the threshold level of economic damage, keeping in the foreground the conscious employment of natural limiting factors.

IWM is the rational use of direct and indirect control methods to provide cost-effective weed control. Such an approach is the most attractive alternative from agronomic, economic and ecological point of view.

1. Introduction

There is an emergence of the concept of a Circular Economy as one of the transformational approaches toward sustainability, where greater emphasis is laid on rethinking and redesigning products and services for maximum resource efficiency. In contrast to the traditional linear model ("take, make, dispose"), CE emphasizes product reuse, recycling, and cascading with the clear ambition of closing the loop of product lifecycles through continuous recovery of resources. The key to this solution involves changing the paradigm, highly relevant to resolving pressing environmental issues facing the planet such as resource depletion, waste management, and climate change.

Conventionally regarded as information stores, libraries are increasing awareness of their potential to create an impact toward sustainable practices. Centres of information and meeting points for communities, libraries are at an advantageous position for leading by example in integrating the principles of CE into their system. This paper examines the current status of integrating the circular economy principles within library management and discusses a proposed conceptual framework that aims to guide libraries in adopting circular practices. The paper addresses the contribution that libraries might make to a more sustainable future by exploring the intersection between CE and library management through innovative practices and strategic plans.

Introduction

In the last two decades, there has been a significant change in the Indian society, not only in the terms of economics following the post 1991 reforms but also in the dietary and health sectors. There is an increasing demand for livestock products, as a result the farming systems are becoming more and more intensive. With the high input intensive agricultural practices on the one hand, the limitations in terms of environmental degradation, loss of biodiversity, health hazards to consumers, etc. are also on the rise which are acting as limiting factors to continue on the same path of intensification. To achieve sustainable intensification of agriculture, mixed crop-livestock systems, combining livestock and cash crops at farm level, are considered to be a good alternative (Russelle et al, 2007; Wilkins, 2008; Ryschawy et al., 2012). These practices benefit the environment by improving nutrient cycling (Hendrickson et al., 2008). In the agriculture based states of India, about 50% of the income is from the crop-livestock systems (Deshingkar et al., 2008). Mixed crop-livestock systems also generate higher economic efficiency in saving production costs through complementaries between crop and livestock (Wilkins, 2008). Apart from direct income by diversifying production, there is an added advantage of reducing risks with regard to market fluctuations (Russelle et al., 2007).

Learning Management Systems (LMSs) have become central to digital education by providing platforms for content delivery, communication, assessment, learner tracking, and academic administration. Integrating Generative AI into these systems can transform conventional LMS environments into more intelligent, adaptive, and responsive learning ecosystems. This chapter examines the integration of GenAI with LMS platforms and other educational technologies to support personalized instruction, automated content generation, intelligent assessment, student support, and learning analytics. AI can generate explanations, quizzes, summaries, learning activities, and feedback while using learner-performance information to recommend individualized pathways. Integration with digital whiteboards, productivity platforms, chatbots, interactive content, and other EdTech tools can provide students with immediate assistance and multiple explanations of difficult concepts. For educators, these systems can support course design, assessment development, progress monitoring, and instructional decision-making. However, implementation involves technical challenges such as API compatibility, computing requirements, real-time data processing, legacy-system integration, infrastructure limitations, and shortage of skilled personnel. Regulatory issues involving privacy, intellectual property, misinformation, bias, and liability must also be addressed. Successful LMS integration therefore requires robust infrastructure, governance, interoperability, human oversight, and continuous evaluation.

India is bestowed with a wide variety of livestock species which forms the backbone of the economy of majority of the farmers. Cattle are one of the important species domesticated by man mainly for their draftability in agricultural operations. Rearing of cattle is an integral part of the Indian agriculture as it is always considered as a subsidiary enterprise of the agriculture farming. The indigenous cattle are well known for their adaptability to the harsh tropical climatic conditions, ability to thrive in the resource poor production systems, better feed efficiency and disease resistance. Barring few dairy breeds, majority of the Indigenous cattle breeds are poor in their genetic potential for milk production. Considering the ever increasing demand from milk , the country has implemented many cattle improvement programmes like Central Herd Registration Scheme (CHRS), Intensive Cattle Development Programme (ICDP), All India Coordinated Research Project (AICRP) on Cattle National Programme for Bovine Breeding and Dairy Development (NPBBD), National Livestock Mission, National Project for Cattle and Buffalo Breeding (NPCBB), Rashtriya Gokul Mission (RGM) etc., for improving the milk productivity of cattle.

Abstract
Sustainable agriculture aims to meet current food needs while ensuring the health of the environment, economy, and society for future generations. The integration of innovations in technology, practices, and management is crucial for achieving this goal. This chapter explores various innovations that are transforming sustainable agriculture, including advancements in precision farming, biotechnology, renewable energy, and integrated pest management. By analyzing case studies and current research, the chapter demonstrates how these innovations contribute to increased productivity, resource efficiency,
and environmental protection. Challenges and opportunities associated with these innovations are also discussed, providing a comprehensive overview of the pathways towards a more sustainable agricultural future.
Keywords: Sustainable agriculture, precision farming, biotechnology, renewable energy, integrated pest management, resource efficiency, environmental protection.

Abstract

In recent years there has been a world-wide shift in consumer choice and preferences for herbal drugs. Herbal drugs are crude preparations of various kinds of medicinal plants. It involves dried plant or any part such as leaf, stem, root, flower, or seed. According to WHO survey, about 70-80% of the world population particularly in the developing countries rely on non-conventional medicines mainly of herbal sources for their primary health care.^[1] Herbal medicines are being widely accepted for their safety, efficacy, cultural acceptability, better compatibility with the human body and lesser side effects. With the legal acceptance in many countries of the world as an alternative system of medicine, the growth rate of ayurvedic and herbal industry is estimated to be more than 30% for the last 25 years. 

Introduction

With an ever-increasing global inclination towards the consumption of herbal medicines, there is a growing need of raw materials and to identify the active principles that should be available in optimum quantities at the requisite time. Currently, the herbal medicine sector faces numerous challenges such as narrow genetic base, identification and authentication of species, chemical characterization of active compounds and identification of the target molecules. The pharmacologically active metabolites are produced in very low amounts by the plants and their chemical synthesis is expensive, hence there is a growing pressure of procuring these active metabolites from the wild leading to diminishing the populations, loss of genetic diversity and local extinctions. Domestic cultivation of medicinal plants offers an attractive alternative but not much information is available regarding the cultivation practices for many plants and also, there are issues related to storage practices, quality, safety and stability assessment that need to be addressed. Futher, the study of secondary metabolites and their enhancement is a bottleneck due to lack of knowledge about characterized biosynthetic pathways and enzymes in many plants and how their synthesis is regulated at molecular level. To address these challenges, new molecular tools and biotechnological approaches are much warranted. However, the rapidly changing pace of technology and development of high-throughput research, the field of plant biotechnology is beginning to suffer from data overload. All biotechnological efforts have involved empirical, labor-intensive and time-consuming methods. Bioinformatics is one such approach in which biology and information technology converge. It is an interdisciplinary scientific tool that facilitates both the analysis and integration of information from ‘omics’ technologies including genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics and phenomics. The present chapter highlights some of the important areas in bioinformatics which play a significant role and could also have immense impact in medicinal plants research.

The integration of pharmacology and bioinformatics has ushered in a new era of drug discovery and therapeutic innovati on, particularly in veterinary medicine. This interdisciplinary approach leverages computational tools to enhance the identification of drug targets, optimize treatment strategies, and address challenges such as antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and species specific drug metabolism. Pharmacogenomics, one of the most promising applications, allows for personalized medicine by tailoring drug therapies based on genetic variations in animals. Additionally, bioinformatics is revolutionizing vaccine development by identifying conserved antigens, aiding in the design of broad-spectrum and species-specific vaccines. In silico screening accelerates drug discovery by predicting drug-target interactions, reducing the time and cost of developing new veterinary therapies. Predictive modeling enables the simulation of disease progression and treatment outcomes, improving disease management. As bioinformatics technologies advance, they are poised to transform veterinary pharmacology, offering more precise and effective therapeutic options. This paper explores the synergies and applications of integrating pharmacology with bioinformatics to improve veterinary therapeutics, combat AMR, and accelerate drug discovery.

Energy is essential for each and every single biological reaction in the body of an individual. Production, reproduction and physiological functions of an animal depend on its body state and utilization of energy from dietary source and its body reserves. Energy reserves are determined primarily by the relative amount of fat accessible as an energy source and are indicative of health condition. Adipose tissue (AT) is a primary reservoir of energy and recognized as an immunologically and endocrinologically active tissue. Cattle have the ability to utilize body reserve to meet energy demand due to negative energy balance during peripartum period, which is crucial for maintaining their health lactation and neonates. There are several methods to measure tissue reserves like body weight, metabolic and hormonal factors, respiratory calorimeter body water by dilution with D2 O, estimation of fat cells diameter, ultrasound techniques etc. Body weight is not a good indicator as it is affected by different factors such as; age, parity, gestation, body frame, gastrointestinal contents weight of vital organs and shows a greater variation in measuring fat stores. Other methods are inapplicable in field conditions as they are costly, time consuming and need laboratory facilities and skilled technicians. However Body Condition Score (BCS) is an easier and the most practical method, which is an assessment of thickness of fat cover, prominence of bone of tail and head region.

Introduction 
The ancient educational systems of renowned universities not only advanced knowledge across various disciplines but also significantly influenced the economic and social structures of their times. Education serves as a gateway to liberation and development, providing individuals with a wealth of opportunities. Conversely, a lack of education limits one’s ability to pursue personal and professional aspirations. In the educational environment, the initial relationship a child forms is with their teacher. When teachers understand their students, it fosters strong relationships, effective communication, innovative learning approaches, and capacity building. Since students spend a significant portion of their day at school, mutual respect and tolerance between students and teachers are essential for a productive learning environment. Over recent years, the education system has evolved rapidly, incorporating new teaching methods and strategies as alternatives to traditional models. However, traditional views often assert that “learners must submit themselves to teachers” (Menges, 1977, p.5), implying that teacher authority is crucial for student learning. Hurt, Scott, and McCroskey (1978) argued that a certain degree of teacher authority is always present in the classroom, and its usage tends to reinforce the need for more control. This perspective highlighted the critical role of the classroom as a space for students’ educational success (Anderson & Burns, 1989; Borich, 1988; Fraser & Walberg, 1991; Walberg, 1968). Positive teacher-student relationships are essential for fostering a sense of belonging and encouraged cooperative participation in classroom activities (Hughes & Chen, 2011, p.278). Such relationships not only engage students in learning but also enhance their holistic development, social skills, and confidence. As we know, historical institutions such as Takshila and Nalanda exemplify ancient centers of learning that combined theoretical and practical education. Takshila, located in present-day Pakistan, was one of the earliest centers of higher learning in ancient India, offering diverse subjects including medicine, engineering, astrology, and statecraft. Nalanda, in present-day Bihar, was a prominent center for Buddhist learning, focusing on philosophy, logic, and practical subjects like agriculture and technology. These ancient educational hubs were pivotal in advancing knowledge and contributing to the economic and intellectual development of their societies. The principles of vocational education and holistic development emphasized in the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 align with these historical practices (Makam, 2022). Effective implementation of NEP 2020 requires a fresh approach through comprehensive teacher training and rigorous evaluation of expectations and feedback focused on Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG4) is focused upon to create a relation with ancient practices.

Introduction
In recent years, global attention has increasingly focused on the interconnection between health, happiness, and sustainable development, recognizing their collective role in enhancing quality of life. Often viewed as personal endeavors these elements drive societal well-being and contribute to long-term sustainability. In this context, rooted in ancient India, yoga has become vital in promoting individual wellness and broader social progress. Yoga offers holistic benefits that address well-being across multiple dimensions—physical fitness, mental clarity emotional balance, and social cohesion—making it an invaluable approach to fostering contentment and sustainable living. Yoga integrates mindfulness minimalism, and responsible consumption, aligning with global initiatives to address environmental issues and advance sustainable development goals (SDGs). This chapter explores the transformative potential of yoga in promoting health, happiness, and sustainability. By reviewing its role in physical and psychological well-being, social development, and ecological consciousness, the chapter aims to demonstrate how yoga can serve as a personal wellness practice and a contributor to global sustainable development efforts. Through this examination, we can better understand the broader impacts of yoga, highlighting its capacity to support individual transformation while contributing to a more equitable and sustainable world.
Yoga: Historical and Philosophical Foundations
Yoga has its roots in ancient India, dating back over 5,000 years, which was developed as a system of physical, mental, and spiritual practices aimed at achieving harmony and self-realization (Sengupta, 2012). The term “yoga” is derived from the Sanskrit root yuj, which translates to “to unite” or “to join.” This signifies the interconnectedness of the body, mind, and spirit. The philosophical foundations of yoga are laid out in texts such as Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras and the Bhagavad Gita where yoga is described as a path to achieving balance, clarity, and peace through discipline, meditation, and ethical living. One of the significant branches of this system is Hatha Yoga, which emphasizes physical postures (asanas), breathing control (pranayama), and mental concentration. Hatha yoga is deeply rooted in ancient Indian texts such as the Hatha Yoga Pradipika by Svatmarama and the Gheranda Samhita, where it is described as a tool for mastering body and mind. While traditional yoga aimed at spiritual liberation, Hatha yoga was mainly concerned with physical and mental control, often seen as preparatory for more profound meditative practices. In the modern world, yoga has evolved into a global wellness practice, emphasizing physical postures (asanas), breathing techniques (pranayama) and meditation. This adaptation has made yoga accessible to a diverse audience including those seeking physical health, mental clarity, or spiritual growth. Yoga’s core values of mindfulness, non-attachment, and ethical living continue to offer relevant solutions to contemporary challenges, such as mental health, sustainability and social responsibility. Its holistic nature makes it a valuable tool for fostering individual well-being while promoting broader ecological and societal harmony.

The integration of all components of community mobilization for natural farming represents a complex, multidimensional process that requires systematic coordination across social, institutional, technological, and economic domains to create coherent and sustainable agricultural transformation. This integration transcends simple coordination of activities to encompass the development of synergistic relationships between different mobilization elements that collectively enhance the effectiveness, sustainability, and scalability of natural farming adoption while building resilient communities capable of ongoing innovation and adaptation. Systems thinking approaches provide the conceptual foundation for integration by recognizing that community mobilization components function as interconnected elements within broader social-ecological systems rather than isolated interventions. This perspective emphasizes understanding the relationships, feedback loops, and emergent properties that arise from component interactions while designing interventions that strengthen system coherence and resilience. Systems approaches require analyzing how training programs, institutional support, communication strategies, and policy frameworks influence each other 

Integrated Poultry Farming

Integration refers to the coordination and amalgamation of various stages in poultry production to create a seamless flow of inputs and outputs, reducing overall production costs. This approach ensures that each stage of production, from breeding to marketing, is efficiently managed within a unified system.

• Global Integration: In developed countries, poultry production is highly integrated, encompassing all stages from principal breeding to consumer distribution. This includes broiler farms, hatcheries, feed mills, processing plants, and animal healthcare products, which work together to streamline production and marketing processes.

• Indian Context: In India, integration and contract farming in poultry began with Suguna Poultry Farm Limited in 1991. While this marked the start of integration in broiler production, it did not fully represent the comprehensive integration seen in more developed systems.

• Current Practice in India: Integrators provide essential inputs such as chicks, feed, medicines, vaccines, and technical support. They also handle marketing of the final product. Poultry farmers, operating as contract growers, receive payments based on the weight of broilers or number of eggs produced. Despite these developments, integration within the layer sector remains underdeveloped in India.

Abstract

Scholars have long been interested in the effects of markets on the diet of native populations because of diet’s direct impacts on health. Exposure and assimilation into a market economy result in shifts in modes of subsistence and decision-making about food consumption. But the clear direction of influence is often elusive. Increased market integration predicts expanded access to goods and services that may improve household and individual diet. At the same time, greater involvement in market trade can shift economic priorities away from secure subsistence production toward the lure of material gain and novel items. Here, we analyze the effects of integration into the market economy on household diet using data from a panel study of two villages of Tsimane’, an indigenous group of lowland Bolivia. Because the Tsimane’ have been undergoing varying degrees of integration into the market economy, they provide an ideal population among which to examine the relation between markets and dietary change.

The perennial nature of fruit crops coupled with high heterozygosity, protracted juvenility, and lack of information on inheritance patterns of important traits of economic significance is responsible for slow progress in breeding of fruit crops. Citrus is one of the most popular fruit crops cultivated in around 140 countries of the world mainly in the Asia-Pacific region. In Asia, citrus fruits are a major crop for the local people in meeting their nutritional requirements and livelihood. Citrus is cultivated as an indispensable cash crop both for domestic consumption and the export market. Recently, the citrus production has shown an increasing trend mainly attributed to its increased demand as a nutritious and healthy drink owing to the possession of many medicinal and antioxidant properties in its fruits.
The clonal selection has been used primarily as one of traditional breeding methods because bud sport mutations arise frequently in Citrus (Iwamasa et al., 1981; Uzun et al., 2004). This method of breeding generally offers many advantages to select clones suitable for their identified uses. Yield and fruit quality are the major targets of breeding and both these can be enhanced through clonal selection of natural mutants or seedlings. The major aim of the clonal selection studies is the selection of clones bearing regularly for many years, improved fruit appearance and tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses. In general, identifying the elite clones, testing them under different climatic conditions, and freeing them from the virus and virus-like pathogens carried by the mother plants are major steps involved in clonal selection (Ulubelde et al., 1986) for the improvement of fruit crops.

Introduction

Coordinated and innovative efforts of government agencies and milk producers’ has immensely increased milk production and ushered in White revolution in India leapfrogging the country to the leading position in milk production (102 million tonnes) in the world. With an annual rate of 4-5% and with a share of 18% in the agricultural gross domestic product; milk is largest agricultural commodity in India (Economic Survey, 2007-08). However, the improvement in milk production in past few decades has not necessarily resulted in proportionate increase in profits to dairy farmers as animals with high milk production have increased frequency of health disorders.

Introduction
Identification of crop varieties is one of the major tasks required in modern agriculture, plant breeding, and seed certification systems. The correctness of identification ensures that the varietal purity is sustained, advocates the rights of plant breeders, and guarantees quality seeds that will perform expectedly under specified agro-climatic conditions to farmers (Yu and Chung, 2021). The growing number of crop varieties due to the intensive breeding programmes all over the world makes it equally important to be able to differentiate between cultivars. Variety identification serves several purposes, such as:
• Seed Quality Assurance: Used to prevent the sale of spurious or mislabeled seeds.
• Intellectual Property Rights (IPR): Legal protection of new plant varieties by acts like the Plant Variety Protection (PVP).
• Biodiversity Conservation: Tracking and documenting existing genetic resources.
• Regulatory Compliance: Aids in Distinctness, Uniformity and Stability (DUS) testing protocols.
• Traceability in Food Supply Chains: Ensures safety for consumers and compliance with labeling standards.
Thus, crop variety identification forms the basis of integrity in agricultural systems and is the coordination mechanism for protecting innovations in plant breeding with regulatory frameworks both at national and international levels (Jones et al., 2013; Kage et al., 2016; Cockram et al., 2012).