Book entitled "Forages and Fodder: Indian Perspective" contains different aspects viz., production, protection, PGR management, consumption; preservation and socio-economic aspects of forage and fodder crops. The present book is one of the latest and updated manuscripts related to forage and fodder in Indian context. Forage includes all plant species directly or indirectly consumed by animals and cultivated forage crops occupy about 5.0 per cent of the total cultivated area of India. The animal fodder consists of several plants species which are used to feed the cattle either raw (green and cut fodder) or after minor processing (such as silage) while pastures are grassland, usually with improved species, carefully managed with inputs such as irrigation and manures for grazing of livestock. The National Commission on Agriculture (1976) recommended that a minimum 10 per cent of the arable area in the country (about 16.5 million ha) should be under improved forage crops to meet the green forage needs of the ever growing livestock population. At the same time, plant genetic resource (PGR), which carries germplasm for present and future needs, can be utilized for producing varieties having resistance to biotic and abiotic stress as well as for its quality enrichments. Weed growth should not be overlooked as it hampers yield, lowers forage quality, increases the incidence of disease and insect problems, causes premature stand loss, and creates harvesting problems. Some weeds are unpalatable and may be poisonous for livestock. Updated information on insect pest problem is well documented in the book. It is established fact that insect and pests cause yield loss, both in quantitative and qualitative terms, and their effects depend on many factors like, the level of infestation, crop variety, agronomic practices and other related factors. Insect pests induced losses are not only in term of green or dry fodder yield but also on quality factors which affect the re-growth period and canopy structure. Among the other constraints, the diseases have always been a major limiting factor for fodder cultivation. Fertilizer management, organic farming and climatic conditions required for different fodder and forage crops are very well illustrated in the present volume. Women play a key role as seed selectors and in seedling production and their knowledge on seeds and seed storage contributes to viability of agricultural diversity and production. Women also play an important role in livestock management which includes, care of animals, grazing and fodder collection, cleaning of animal sheds, processing milk and livestock products. Despite their considerable involvement and contribution, women's role in livestock production has been underestimated, undervalued and widely ignored. The book also covers areas like marketing of forage and fodders and all together contains 32 chapters on various issues of forage and fodder production and management.

This new book, the first of two volumes on forage crops grown throughout the world, discusses the importance of fodder production of the major fodder crops for animals. It focuses on the 17 major forage crops, both non-leguminous perennial forages and leguminous forages. It discusses crop production methodology and agronomic management in a systemic way, providing an abundance of information on each type of forage crop, including preferred soil type, land capability, cropping patterns, climate, and socioeconomic conditions. It goes on to address pests of leguminous forage crops, disease management of non-leguminous seasonal forages, agroforestry in fodder and forage crops, preservation of forage crops, and forage production and climate change. This volume provides valuable information needed for effective forage crop production and management. The book, with chapters from highly qualified scientists, will be a rich resource for researchers, academicians, students, and those in the industry. Volume 2 of Forage Crops of the World focuses on minor forage crops. Key features: • Discusses 17 different types of major forage crops, including many types of grasses and other plants • Provides information on agronomic production practices • Covers pest and disease management practices for forage crops

This new 2-volume set discusses the importance of fodder production of the minor fodder crops for animals. The volumes focuses on fodder production for forage crops, cover 17 major forage crops and 25 minor forage crops. The volumes discuss crop production methodology and agronomic management in a systemic way, providing an abundance of information on each type of forage crop discussed, including preferred soil type, land capability, cropping patterns, climate, and socioeconomic conditions. They also address pests of the various forage crops, disease management, agroforestry in fodder and forage crops, preservation of forage crops, and forage production and climate change. Forage crops are very essential for quality milk and meat production. Farm animals are normally fed fodder available from cultivated areas, supplemented by a small extent with harvested grasses and top feeds. The three major sources of fodder are crop residues, cultivated fodder, and fodder from trees, pastures, and grazing lands. The patterns and types of fodder crops vary by geographical location.

This book provides comprehensive, indepth and up to date information on all aspects of silvipasture, wasteland management, forage production for livestock, tree - pasture interactions, establishment and management of silvipastoral systems and silvipastoral perspectives for climate change mitigation. For the first time in India, authors have attempted to divide whole of India in to four major natural silvipastoral covers which will make the book a matter of interest for all. Further, it also deals with the livestock production and silvipasture in light of contemporary issues like climate change while emphasizing future thrust areas in degraded land development and silvipasture. The glossary of important related terms and scientific names of common trees, grasses and legumes in the end increases its usefulness. This book is written in simple language and will be of great interest for students, teachers, researchers and planners.

This edited book is collection of information on molecular interventions needed for climate-resilient forage crops. The main focus is to address the gap in the advanced scientific knowledge for the forage species. Agriculture is extremely vulnerable to climate, and even slight change in climatic factors such as temperature causes tremendous losses in yield potential. Forage crops are crucial in global food security and environmental sustainability and face several environmental challenges in field conditions. However, the research on forage crops is far-off compared to agricultural crops and causes a substantial gap in forage demand and productivity. Further, this gap is directly associated with animal health, reproduction, and productivity. Abiotic stresses mainly affect the plant's crucial processes, ultimately reducing the final yield. The problem of abiotic stresses is more frequent in forage crops as they are growing and cultivated in less productive soil and harsh conditions. This book discusses current aspects of crucial physiological, biochemical and molecular processes in forage crops, which are essential for forage crops improvement. The text's major focus is on the advanced technologies and approaches such as seed priming, bio-fortification, breeding, omics, transgenic and bioengineering of metabolic pathways in unique ways, which helps us develop innovative solutions for forage crops. This book covers all the crucial advance technologies, which help mitigate the abiotic stresses in forage crops. We believe that this book will initiate and introduce the readers to state-of-the-art developments and unique in this field of study. This book is of interest to teachers, researchers, climate change scientists, capacity builders, and policymakers. Also, the book serves as additional reading material for undergraduate and graduate students of agriculture, forestry, ecology, soil science, and environmental sciences. National and international agricultural scientists and policymakers will also find this a worthwhile read.

This edited volume focuses on the characterization, reclamation, bioremediation, and phytoremediation of salt affected soils and waterlogged sodic soils. Innovative technologies in managing marginal salt affected lands merit immediate attention in the light of climate change and its impact on crop productivity and environment. The decision-making process related to reclamation and management of vast areas of salt affected soils encompasses consideration of economic viability, environmental sustainability, and social acceptability of different approaches. The chapters in this book highlight the significant environmental and social impacts of different ameliorative techniques used to manage salt affected soils. Readers will discover new knowledge on the distribution, reactions, changes in bio-chemical properties and microbial ecology of salt affected soils through case studies exploring Indian soils. The contributions presented by experts shed new light on techniques such as the restoration of degraded lands by growing halophyte plant species, diversification of crops and introduction of microbes for remediation of salt infested soils, and the use of fluorescent pseudomonads for enhancing crop yields.

Maize is a globally important crop mainly utilized as feed, food and raw material for diverse industrial applications. Among cereals, it occupies third place after rice and wheat and is a staple food for a large segment of population worldwide particularly in the Asian as well as African countries. This monogram discusses various aspects of nutritional quality of maize such as quality protein maize which has been considered as most significant discovery in enhancing nutritional quality of cereals in terms of increasing the concentration of essential amino acids. The biochemistry of starch which is an important industrial product of maize has been discussed in detail. Further, the role of maize oil which is highly regarded for human consumption as it reduces the blood cholesterol concentration has also been elaborated. Naturally, maize is a rich source of carotenoids such as beta-carotene, zeaxanthin, lutein, cryptoxanthin which have highly diverse health benefits ranging from maintaining normal vision to lowering of oxidative stress. The need for biofortification of maize for provitamin A carotenoids and their role in alleviating vision impairments have also been discussed. The effect of various biotic and abiotic stresses particularly carbon dioxide and temperature on quality has been discussed thoroughly. Many value-added products as well as fermented foods that have been produced from maize which is consumed in different forms worldwide are also discussed. The aspects related to the maize application as fodder and as a source of malting have also been covered concisely. Overall, the book provides complete information about various quality aspects of maize. The various stakeholders such as maize researchers, extension specialists, students, teachers as well as farmers will be immensely benefitted from this monogram.

This book addresses in detail multifaceted approaches to boosting nutrient use efficiency (NUE) that are modified by plant interactions with environmental variables and combine physiological, microbial, biotechnological and agronomic aspects. Conveying an in-depth understanding of the topic will spark the development of new cultivars and strains to induce NUE, coupled with best management practices that will immensely benefit agricultural systems, safeguarding their soil, water, and air quality. Written by recognized experts in the field, the book is intended to provide students, scientists and policymakers with essential insights into holistic approaches to NUE, as well as an overview of some successful case studies. In the present understanding of agriculture, NUE represents a question of process optimization in response to the increasing fragility of our natural resources base and threats to food grain security across the globe. Further improving nutrient use efficiency is a prerequisite to reducing production costs, expanding crop acreage into non-competitive marginal lands with low nutrient resources, and preventing environmental contamination. The nutrients most commonly limiting plant growth are N, P, K, S and micronutrients like Fe, Zn, B and Mo. NUE depends on the ability to efficiently take up the nutrient from the soil, but also on transport, storage, mobilization, usage within the plant and the environment. A number of approaches can help us to understand NUE as a whole. One involves adopting best crop management practices that take into account root-induced rhizosphere processes, which play a pivotal role in controlling nutrient dynamics in the soil-plant-atmosphere continuum. New technologies, from basic tools like leaf color charts to sophisticated sensor-based systems and laser land leveling, can reduce the dependency on laboratory assistance and manual labor. Another approach concerns the development of crop plants through genetic manipulations that allow them to take up and assimilate nutrients more efficiently, as well as identifying processes of plant responses to nutrient deficiency stress and exploring natural genetic variation. Though only recently introduced, the ability of microbial inoculants to induce NUE is gaining in importance, as the loss, immobilization, release and availability of nutrients are mediated by soil microbial processes.