Assesses key developments in sensor technology to improve monitoring and management of complex agricultural systemsConsiders the growing influence of proximal crop sensors in assessing, monitoring and measuring the health of agricultural soilsExplores the potential of remote and aerial sensing towards achieving sustainable crop production through more targeted irrigation management, site-specific nutrient management and weed management

This collection features six peer-reviewed reviews on advances and in detecting and forecasting crop pests and diseases.The first chapter introduces the concept of machine learning to identify and diagnose crop diseases, focussing on the deep learning concept.The second chapter discusses recent advances in crop disease forecasting models, focussing on the application of precision agriculture technologies and Earth observation satellites to identify areas at...

This Open Access volume aims to methodologically improve our understanding of biodiversity by linking disciplines that incorporate remote sensing, and uniting data and perspectives in the fields of biology, landscape ecology, and geography. The book provides a framework for how biodiversity can be detected and evaluated—focusing particularly on plants—using proximal and remotely sensed hyperspectral data and other tools such as LiDAR. The volume, whose chapters bring together a large cross...

Comprehensive review of the development of plant phenotyping as a research field in a wide range of scientific communitiesExplores key advances in the use of plant phenotyping techniques to improve yield, growth and resource-use efficiency, such as robotics, aerial systems, sensors and controlled environmentsOffers a detailed analysis of the benefits of plant phenotyping through selected case studies that demonstrate the use of phenotyping techniques in analysing ...

Precision farming is an agricultural management system using global navigation satellite systems, geographic information systems, remote sensing, and data management systems for optimizing the use of nutrients, water, seed, pesticides and energy in heterogeneous field situations. This book provides extensive information on the state-of-the-art of research on precision crop protection and recent developments in site-specific application technologies for the management of weeds, arthropod pe...

Precision agriculture is now 'main stream' in agriculture and is playing a key role as the industry comes to terms with the environment, market forces, quality requirements, traceability, vehicle guidance and crop management. Research continues to be necessary and needs to be reported and disseminated to a wide audience. This book contains peer reviewed papers presented at the 9th European Conference on Precision Agriculture, held in Lleida, Spain. The papers reflect the wide range of disc...

Comprehensive overview of key advances in measuring soil biological, physical and chemical propertiesParticularly strong coverage of developments in measuring soil biological activity, including molecular techniques such as next-generation sequencing as well as improvements in measuring fauna such as earthworms, microbial and fungal communitiesFocus on ways of using analytical techniques in practice through the use of soil health indicators and decision support sy...

This open-access textbook provides a comprehensive, up-to-date guide for students and practitioners wishing to access in a single volume the key disciplines and principles of wheat breeding. Wheat is a cornerstone of food security: it is the most widely grown of any crop and provides 20% of all human calories and protein. The authorship of this book includes world class researchers and breeders whose expertise spans cutting-edge academic science all the way to impacts in farmers’ fields. T...

The civil engineering sector accounts for a significant percentage of global material and energy consumption and is a major contributor of waste material. The ability to recycle and reuse concrete and demolition waste is critical to reducing environmental impacts in meeting national, regional and global environmental targets. Handbook of recycled concrete and demolition waste summarises key recent research in achieving these goals.Part one considers techniques for managing construction and...

With increasing temperatures and an escalation in the frequency and severity of extreme weather events, agricultural productivity remains at risk of being compromised. With the food security of millions threatened, there remains a need to develop alternative, sustainable production models which can thrive in the face of climate change.Advances in plant factories: New technologies in indoor vertical farming reviews the wealth of research on optimising plant...

Methods in Stream Ecology, Second Edition, provides a complete series of field and laboratory protocols in stream ecology that are ideal for teaching or conducting research. This updated edition reflects recent advances in the technology associated with ecological assessment of streams, including remote sensing. In addition, the relationship between stream flow and alluviation has been added, and a new chapter on riparian zones is also included. The book features exercises in each chapter;...

The agricultural industry is dealing with enormous challenges across the globe, including the limited availability of arable lands and fresh water, as well as the effect of climate change. Machinery plays a crucial role in agriculture and farming systems, in order to feed the world’s growing population. In the last decade, we have witnessed major advances in agricultural machinery and technologies, particularly as manufacturers and researchers develop and apply various novel ways of automa...