Witches’ Brew is a fictional story set in the late 1920’s based on songs written by Melissa Dodd, a native Appalachian Mountaineer. The family in this story could have been any family with their strong religious beliefs combined with the ancient art of spells and witch doctors. Beth, the young girl is our story, chases an old family mystery which was set in motion years earlier when a bootlegger’s son and a preacher’s daughter met under the ol’ ‘Witching Tree’. Witches' Brew flows into the...

This collection features four peer-reviewed literature reviews on plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria in agriculture.The first chapter considers the use of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) as plant biostimulants in agriculture. It considers the benefits of PGPR, such as their ability to promote plant growth and productivity under both normal and abiotic-stressed induced environments. The chapter also looks towards PGPR application as a sustainable and e...

This collection features five peer-reviewed reviews on biostimulant applications in agriculture.The first chapter provides a comprehensive overview of the optimal design and formulation of microbial and non-microbial biostimulants. The chapter presents two case studies to demonstrate the successful commercialisation of microbial and non-microbial biostimulant products.The second chapter considers the utilisation of humic substances (HS) as plant biostimulan...

Comprehensive review of key topics in root science, including root architecture, root growth regulators, root anatomy and nutrient acquisitionCoverage of root response to both biotic and abiotic variablesDiscusses the range of techniques to optimize root function, from phenotyping to identify desirable root traits and exploiting the genetics of root traits to the use of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AM)

“Step by step, I retreated from God and went forth to meet the world, the flesh, and the devil. . . . I’d join the devil himself. . . . There is no doubt that I traveled with him at my side and that he extorted a great price for his company.”This is how Bella Dodd (1904–69) described her long battle with atheistic communism, an ideology her Church calls a “satanic scourge.” She later described it as a “school of darkness,” a school of “hate,” a school for which she was a master org...

The thrilling, unlikely story of Barack Obama's first presidential campaign, as told by the volunteers and staff who propelled the longshot candidate to the presidencyIn the year leading up to the Iowa caucuses, few thought a freshman senator named Barack Hussein Obama would be able to win the Democratic nomination--not to mention become the most popular leader in the world.But something was stirring. Hundreds of young people from all over the country began...

Reviews developments in understanding and protecting genetic diversity in rice, and how this translates into marker-assisted and other developments in breeding;Discusses advances in breeding varieties with enhanced properties such as high yield and drought tolerance;Summarises current research on understanding and improving nutritional properties such as vitamin and mineral content

Puts soil health in the broader context of ecosystem services, conservation and climate changeSummarises current research on soil structure and compositionReviews latest developments in understanding nutrient and other cycles in soil

Increasing consumer demand for low-input cultivation and minimal processing has significantly increased the risk of microbiological contamination of fresh produce. This both presents a health risk to consumers and undermines trust in the food supply chain from farm to fork.Advances in ensuring the microbiological safety of fresh produce reviews our current understanding of key pathogenic risks to fresh produce such as Salmonella, Listeria and E.coli