Overview; Tools and methodologies for biophysical characterization; Biophysical characterization and mapping; Characterizing biotic stresses; Socioeconomic characterization; Integrating biophysical and socioeconomic characterization.

When first published in 2009, Nature’s Matrix set out a radical new approach to the conservation of biodiversity. This new edition pushes the frontier of the biodiversity/agriculture debate further, making an even stronger case for the need to transform agriculture and support small- and medium-scale agroecology and food sovereignty. In the first edition, the authors set out a radical new approach to the conservation of biodiversity. This is based on the concept of a landscape as a matrix of diverse, small-scale agricultural ecosystems, providing opportunities to enhance conservation under the stewardship of local farmers. This contrasts with the alternative view of industrial-scale farms and large protected areas which exclude local people. However, since then the debate around conservation and agriculture has developed significantly and this is reflected in this updated second edition. The text is thoroughly revised, including: a reorganization of chapters with new and timely topics introduced, updates to the discussion of agroecology and food sovereignty, bringing it in line with the current debates, greater coverage of the role of agroecology, in particular agroforestry, as an important component of climate change adaptation and mitigation, highlighting recent studies on the role of intensive agriculture in climate change and loss of biodiversity, and more attention given to the discussion of land sparing versus land sharing. By integrating the ecological aspects of agriculture and conservation biology, with a political and social analysis as well as historical perspective, the book continues to set a progressive agenda and appeals to a wide range of students and professionals.

Se ha avanzado considerablemente en el desarrollo de nuevas variedades de arroz de la India oriental, aunque la literatura sobre este tema es limitada. La evidencia de esto es el desarrollo y la liberación de muchas nuevas variedades mejoradas. Al menos 20 de estas variedades han sido liberados en la India de tierras bajas de secano traslado Network Cría Oriental (EIRLSBN). Además de producir nuevas variedades, esta red ha llevado a cabo una importante investigación sobre muchas características de alta prioridad y ha identificado los nuevos padres donantes, grupos de madurez clave para la región, las líneas de élite que se pueden trasplantar en tiempos normales o retardada, y perfiles de variedades de destino para este de la India. Más importante aún, la red ha sido un modelo ejemplar para las alianzas sinérgicas de mejoramiento del arroz. Demuestra los beneficios de la colaboración científica regional e internacional para trabajar para superar la inseguridad alimentaria. En efecto, ha influido en la formación y la estructura de muchas otras redes de cría.

This book addresses aspects of rice production in rice-growing areas of the world including origin, history, role in global food security, cropping systems, management practices, production systems, cultivars, as well as fertilizer and pest management. As one of the three most important grain crops that helps to fulfill food needs all across the globe, rice plays a key role in the current and future food security of the world. Currently, no book covers all aspects of rice production in the rice-growing areas of world. This book fills that gap by highlighting the diverse production and management practices as well as the various rice genotypes in the salient, rice-producing areas in Asia, Europe, Africa, the Americas, and Australia. Further, this text highlights harvesting, threshing, processing, yields and rice products and future research needs. Supplemented with illustrations and tables, this text is essential for students taking courses in agronomy and production systems as well as for agricultural advisers, county agents, extension specialists, and professionals throughout the industry.

This book is devoted to the analysis of causal inference which is one of the most difficult tasks in data analysis: when two phenomena are observed to be related, it is often difficult to decide whether one of them causally influences the other one, or whether these two phenomena have a common cause. This analysis is the main focus of this volume. To get a good understanding of the causal inference, it is important to have models of economic phenomena which are as accurate as possible. Because of this need, this volume also contains papers that use non-traditional economic models, such as fuzzy models and models obtained by using neural networks and data mining techniques. It also contains papers that apply different econometric models to analyze real-life economic dependencies.