With the agricultural sector pledging to improve its sustainability, there is an urgent need to move away from linear food production models which rely on significant raw material inputs and generate large amounts of residual waste.Developing circular agricultural production systems reviews the emergence of circular agriculture as an approach to improving the sustainability of the agricultural sector. The book addresses recent advances in understanding and...

This book features four peer-reviewed reviews on organic soil amendments.The first chapter examines the role of biofertilisers and consortia of microorganisms in improving the effectiveness of organic fertilisation, before moving on to consider the use of animal excrement, including manures, slurry and guano. The chapter also considers the use of products or by-products of both animal and plant origin as fertilisers.The second chapter provides a critical evaluation of the p...

This book features five peer-reviewed reviews on the utilisation of manure to improve soil management and health.The first chapter reviews ways to improve manure management in animal housing during storage and after application in the field. The chapter also considers manure application methods and their effects on nitrogen utilisation and soil carbon storage.The second chapter discusses the role of manure and compost in maintaining soil health, as well as ways of integrati...

Recycling and Deinking of Recovered Paper, Second Edition covers recent advances in recycling technologies. This second edition examines this new process, which is more eco-friendly than the virgin-papermaking process, and which uses less energy and natural resources, produces less solid waste and fewer atmospheric emissions, and helps to preserve natural resources and landfill space. In addition, the most recent information about the recycling of fibers into various grades of paper and bo...

This book presents a comprehensive exploration of advanced scientific techniques for reducing agricultural nutrient pollution in the context of climate change. It delves into the sources, pathways, and extent of nutrient release into the environment, offering stakeholders valuable insights into how scientific advancements can help reduce environmental footprints. The authors critically examine key knowledge gaps, policy interventions, and challenges related to nutrient management from agro...

This book covers all technologies, developments, and innovations for the manure treatment to explore various strategies for nutrient recovery as well as energy production around the globe. The main task of the present book is to explain readers the environmental parameters effect livestock production and living standard of rural and urban communities and how green technologies are useful for manure recycling and management. The chapters in the book present an up-to-date information on alte...

Biodegradable Waste Management in the Circular EconomyPresents the major developments in new technologies and strategies for more effective recovery of matter, resources, and energy from biodegradable wasteThe volume of biodegradable waste produced worldwide is progressively increasing—a trend that is predicted to continue well into the foreseeable future. Developing sustainable, cost-effective, and eco-friendly approaches for processing fo...

Nitrogen (N) is potentially one of the most complex elements on the Earth. It is necessary for all biological activity, but creates negative impacts on water and air quality. There is a balancing act between deficiency and surplus and the forms of N available further complicate our understanding of the dynamics. Biological fixation provides some plants with N supply while others are totally dependent upon N being available in the soil profile for the roots to extract. Nevertheless, the dem...

This book provides a comprehensive overview of and state-of-art information on the production and application of second- and third-generation bioplastics, such as polylactic acid (PLA) and polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs). The uses of alternative raw materials are presented, and innovations applied in bioplastics production processes to reduce costs and decrease environmental impacts in a circular bioeconomy are discussed.

Assesses the viability of management strategies implemented to improve soil health, e.g. intercropping and zero tillageProvides a comprehensive coverage of the dimensions of soil healthReviews the role of organic and other amendments in improving soil health

Sustainable agriculture is a rapidly growing field aiming at producing food and energy in a sustainable way for our children. This discipline addresses current issues such as climate change, increasing food and fuel prices, starvation, obesity, water pollution, soil erosion, fertility loss, pest control and biodiversity depletion. Novel solutions are proposed based on integrated knowledge from agronomy, soil science, molecular biology, chemistry, toxicology, ecology, economy, philosophy an...

Soil organic matter (SOM) is a highly reactive constituent of the soil matrix because of its large surface area, high ion exchange capacity, enormous affinity for water due to hygroscopicity, and capacity to form organo-mineral complexes. It is an important source and sink of atmospheric CO2 and other greenhouse gases depending on climate, land use, soil and crop management, and a wide range of abiotic and biotic factors, including the human dimensions of socioeconomic and political factor...