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Mobile phones are revolutionised the communication process and becoming all-in-one magical device for anytime and anywhere communication. The last decade has seen a flourish in the number of mobile based agro-advisory service initiatives in the developing countries and more are added regularly in some part of the world. Services that started with farmers help-lines accessed through landlines and messages (SMS) have evolved slowly to multimodal and multimedia based delivery of advisory and to m-agriculture applications for smartphones. In this rapidly changing m-Agriculture scenario, this book is an attempt to document the evolution of mobile phone based agro-advisory services around the world. The content of the book comprises of country s on mobile phone applications for agricultural extension from Asia, Africa, Latin America and Europe along with s on global review on m-agriculture initiatives, content generation process and socio-economic impact of mobile phone based agro-advisory services. This book delves into the development of mobile phone based agro-advisory and their content, delivery mode, business model and utility and provides an insight into the evolution of mobile phones as an extension tool in different countries across the globe. The book will provide valuable insights on m-agriculture initiatives for agricultural extension around the world to agricultural students, extension professionals, researchers and policy makers across the globe both for understanding them and working on them. The lessons from the m-agriculture initiatives can guide the mode of implementation and evolution of mobile based advisory services in agriculture.

The latest and most commonly used methods of assay of important enzymes associated with carbon, nitrogen, protein and lipid metabolism. Estimation of various plant pigments and micro and macro elements. Quantification of plant hormones like IAA, ABA, GA and Ethylene. Techniques of DNA and RNA estimation, Slab Gel Electrophoresis and Western Blot analysis of plant proteins. Methods to study plant biomass and plant-water relationship. Methods to measure photosynthesis and respiration. Method for preparation of common buffe Working principles and operation techniques of a few analytical equipments like Infra-Red Gas Analyzer (IRGA), Gas Liquid Chromatograph (GLC), Psychrometer, Pressure bomb/pressure chamber, flame photometer, atomic absorption spectrophotometer, Leaf Area Meter and Oxygen electrode. This book is useful for students in botany, plant physiology, biochemistry, horticulture, agronomy and other cognate disciplines and other research workers."

The umbrella of microbial biotechnology in agriculture covers numerous scientific activities, ranging from production of biofertilizers to that of microbial pesticides; from biological nitrogen fixation to ligno-cellulose degradation; from production of biomass and bio-fuels to transgenic plants. The object of this book is to cover comprehensively different groups of microorganisms used for sustained productivity of plants important in agriculture, horticulture and forestry. The readers may appreciate the potential and fascination of biotechnological approaches used for utilizing microorganisms in sustainable agriculture, horticulture and forestry. The book is a comprehensive and detailed analysis of the subject. The book will be useful to students, teachers and researchers interested in microbiology, biotechnology, natural resource management, organic farming and sustainable agriculture, horticulture and forestry.

The book entitled "Molecular Markers and Plant Biotechnology" is an exclusive collection of molecular marker based techniques narrated in 40 s through 578 along with figures makes it essential for biotechnology people. To supplement the practical working the relevant equipments have been described. Laboratory safety rules placed in the beginning is a wise task. Appendices include basic calculations; basic principles in preparation of reagents, abbreviations and glossary show the carefulness while preparing this text. This is an unavoidable text for biotechnology laboratory and class."

Safety is a matter of concern for human. Unsafe food has posed considerable health problems from time immemorial and many food safety problems encountered today are not new. The governments all over the world are doing their best to improve the safety of food supply. This book is presented with a view to provide the students on the various importance of clean milk production, handling and processing to public health. The book gives in a nutshell the importance of adopting various practices for a holistic approach towards safe market milk and milk products. The description of spoilage and pathogenic organism will help the students to think in terms of investigating food contamination and thus their preventive and control measures. The experiments given in the laboratory manual are meant to train the students in the microbiological aspect and safety of food.

Processing of milk into various dairy foods, i.e. Dairy Technology is underpinned by disciplines such as chemistry and biochemistry, microbiology and process engineering. Strong emphasis on public health aspects and product quality demands that proper attention be given to the points in the production and processing chain where both pathogenic and spoilage microorganisms can be controlled effectively. Keeping above points in view, a very comprehensive book has been written encompassing entire gamuts of chemical, physical and microbiological characteristics of milk, processing and preservation of milk. The main objective of the book is to provide the latest information in a consolidated form at one point to meet the requirements of not only undergraduate and postgraduates students but also teachers and dairy professionals.

In the backdrop of remarkable strength and achievements of modern medical science, an overwhelmingly large proportion of world population still depends upon varying indigenous systems for meeting its health care needs. These systems, exemplified by Ayurveda, Unani and Siddha, rely on traditional knowledge of indigenous communities about health-imparting and curative properties of plants. Such plants of health promoting and curative value are currently collected from the wild in large amounts and face threat of loss of diversity and extinction. Because of this reason, and the imperative of improving them genetically for productivity and the desired trait quality, it becomes imperative that the needed demands for them are met from organised cultivation and not by extraction from natural stands. Meeting complex demands of the above mentioned kind will require collation and presentation of detailed information about the targeted plant species. The book is an attempt to meet this requirement for nine important plant species, viz., Panax Ginseng, Polygonatum spp., Picrorhiza kurroa, Dactylorhiza hatagirea, Crepedium acuminatum, Tribulus terrestris, Ephedra spp. Crataegus rhipidophylla and Ginkgo biloba. Each chapter provides information on different plants on aspects such as, reproductive biology, medicinal, chemical and pharmacological aspects, threats and conservation, cultivation, commercial status, future directions for research, value addition, patents and literature cited. The book will be of interest to a very wide and diverse ience, which includes academics and researchers, interest groups of drug industry, administrators and policy makers.

Microorganisms are ubiquitous and indispensable for the existence of mankind. They show diversity in size, shape, metabolism and the range of positive functions they perform for sustaining the life on this planet. Bacteria have been exploited by the mankind since times immemorial for the production of various foods and enzymes. They reveal several types of metabolic reactions which are absent in eukaryotic organisms. The present book highlights the potential of microorganisms in solving the global energy crisis. Presently, the world is facing energy crisis due to depleting fossil fuels which are expected to get exhausted during the next 50 yeaOne of the alternative energy resources for the new millennium is expected to be the renewable energy including biomass from which a variety of biofuels can be obtained by the exploitation of microbes. This volume has been organized in 13 s which have been prepared to provide the readers with both an in-depth study and a broad perspective of microorganisms for sustainability of mankind. Further, it makes the readers familiar with the diversity in energy generating pathways among different groups of microorganisms and different types of biomass energy resources available on this planet and the various possibilities which can be exploited for converting these in to alternate energy sources with the help of microbes. A great effort has been made to provide the readers a comprehensive knowledge about different alternative fuels and value added products from microbes for the 21st century. It is hoped that this volume will prove useful to the students and professionals who are pursuing their career in Microbiology, Biotechnology, Biochemistry, Environmental sciences and Energy studies related to the alternate biofuels to solve the global energy crisis.

The word "nano agriculture" refers to the infusion of nanotechnology concepts and principles in agricultural sciences so as to develop processes and products that precisely deliver inputs and promote productivity without associated environmental harm. Nano Agriculture is quite appropriate in India in the context of changing scenarios in agricultural production systems which in the verge of transformation towards precision agriculture.

Microbial Biotechnology is wide-ranging, multi-disciplinary activities which include recombinant DNA techniques, cloning and the application of microbes to the production of goods from bread to antibiotics. This book is an attempt to highlight the significant aspects of the vast subject area of microbial biotechnology likes bioinformatics tool for PCR primer designing, fungal biotransformations, bioremediation by microbes, natural products from fungi, microbial diversity etc to provide a complete overview of the subject. It also addresses the role of bacterial plasmid in xenobiotic degradation, antimicrobial resistance in bacteria, ultraviolet-B radiation effect on microbes and human health. The book will be valuable to the researchers, biologist, microbiologist, scientists, post graduate students of microbiology, agriculture, biotechnology and medical science also.

It is predicted that the world population will reach about 9.7 billion by the year 2050 and to feed this population the food production has to be increased proportionately. Further we are all concerned about climate which in turn results in abiotic stresses like drought, salinity, etc. These abiotic stresses will seriously affect crop productivity. This approach has gained popularity in the recent years and seems to be a potential option for the future. The present book brings out the role of different groups of microorganisms in alleviating abiotic stress in crop plants.

Modern mineral exploration is the Modern Hunting of the Solid Earth". It provides a vital bridging between mineral explorations coupled with committed intellectual investment. Mineral explorers like: geochemists, geophysists, geomatists, geo-technical engineers, mineral chemists, environmental scientists, ceramic engineers, metallurgists and business communities with diverse range of interests and in training the experts of specific research needs. This volume covers major areas like: Mineral resources. Modern techniques for exploration of resources. Exploration and exploitation of water resources. Environmental studies. Economic development. This collection of illustrations with maps, photographs, figures, satellite images, colour photographs and tables will be found beneficial to students, researchers, field professionals and to decision makers." (jacket)

The book is designed as an introductory undergraduate and graduate course for engineering, science and mathematics students of all desciplines. The Numerical Methods book covers all the major aaspects such as numerical computation; linear system of equations; solutions of algenric and transcendental equations; numerical differentiation; finite differences and interpolation; curve fitting, regression and correlation; numerical integration; and solutions of ordinay and partial differential equations. This book is written in simple and easy language, in systematic manner, student-friendly and numerical problem solving orientation. Balance is maintained between theory and its examples. Each concept can be justified with the help of examples (which is unavailable in other books) as student may come dilemma to find the solution of the concept from other books. So learning is with the help of examples, as examples are the best source to learn and remember that particular problem. At the end of chapters, excercise questions will be given

MICROBIAL DIVERSITY AND FUNCTIONS: Since their very first appearance on this planet, the microorganisms have benefitted our society in many ways. They are supposed to be the simplest but most versatile and talented products of evolution. They thrive in habitats extremely hostile to human life and are infinitely more skilled than any human chemist in their synthetic activities. Their rich diversity and their functional aspects make them indispensable components of our ecosystems. This book has been published on the eve of 75th Birth Day of Prof. Sudhir Chandra, Former Head and Emeritus Professor, Department of Botany, University of Allahabad, Allahabad, who is well known for his concern to the microbes and made significant contributions in exploring their beneficial activities in different ecosystems. The book contains 31 articles written by distinguished scientists of the country having expertise in dealing with the microbes and exploiting their potential for the benefits of mankind. The articles included in the book are thought provocating and deals with: o the topics of Taxonomy, Diversity and Applications of VAM fungi in different Ecosystems o Applications of Microbial Technology for Treatment of effluents of a Gelatine Factory, Biodiversity of Mycotoxigenic Fungi and Trichoderma, o Useful microbes of Mangrove Ecosystem, Extremophiles, PGPRs, Phytotoxins, Litter decomposition, Biopesticides, Botanical Pesticides, biofertilizers and so many others including major concerns about the Evolution and Conservation of Microbial Biodiversity. o All the articles written by the authors are original, timely and appropriate.

Medicinal plant cultivation has received an impetus in the recent years due to revival of interest in herbal medicines necessitating authoritative information on cultivation and utilization of this valuable flora. The book on Medicinal Plants includes information on current status of medicinal plants, their phytochemistry, quality control, good agricultural practices and good manufacturing practices in medicinal plants and information on commercially grown medicinal plants and those important in trade. Details on botany, crop improvement, crop protection, crop production, post harvest handling, chemical composition, chemical analyses and uses of commercially grown crops are also included. The book which is a systematic compilation of available information on promising 65 medicinal species helps in providing specific information on the cultivation and utilization of these crops to farmers, academicians, students and related user industries. This documented information also serves to give an insight to the major research lacunae and formulate appropriate research strategies in these crops.

Soil is the natural medium for the growth of plants and it is doubtful that soilless agriculture will ever be a cost effective alternative for the production of the bulk of the food and fiber needed. For at least the foreseeable future the world will continue to rely on soil for agriculture. It is therefore essential that the soil is kept healthy. The present book "Managing Soil Health for Maximising Crop Productivity" has 10 chapters with a bibliography. There is a outline of the role of cover crops, mulching and conservation tillage as forms of agriculture that can help reduce soil erosion. This compilation would be a ready reference and perfect guide to all those in the profession of teaching soil science, agronomy, environ-mentalists, policy planners, students and the farmers in general.

The articles included in this book focuses on; Digital divide in rural India, e-Agriculture issues, Cyber extension, overview on Village Knowledge Centres (VKCs), Community Information Centre iniative in Orissa, SATCOM application in Karnataka State, Model e-Villages in Arunachal Pradesh State of North-East India, Nationwide InDG web portal initiative for rural development, Kisan Mobile Sandesh (KMS), Dynamic Market Information (DMI) by Web and Mobile in Tamil Nadu, Expert systems for pest and diseases diagnosis in rubber, Interactive Multimedia Compact Disc (IMCD), Village Information Centres among Dairy Farmers in Tamil Nadu, KISSAN initiative of Kerala State, Mobile Agricultural School and Services (MASS) in Jharkhand, Farmers Database creation in Darjeeling District of West Bengal, Village Resource Centres (VRCs) in Uttaranchal, Pest Surveillance of Rice using satellite data, Techmode Approach for Distance Learning Courses for Field Veterinarians in Maharastra, Information Retrieval System for Buffalo Reproduction, Web Portals and Digital Data base in Agroforestry, Watershed Modelling using GIS and Remote Sensing in Gujarat State, e-Readiness and Participation Level of Akshya and KISSAN Kerala Beneficiaries and VRC & CIC Network in Assam and Internet utilization pattern, evaluation of Kissan Call Centres (KCCs), ICT adoption level, impact, stakeholders feedback, policy implications and recommendations.

The present book "Laboratory Manual of Biochemistry: Methods and Techniques" is the outcome of 17 years of teaching and research experience of the authors. Biochemistry is a comparatively recent branch but the utility and variability of research work and the dazzling pace of its development has positioned this discipline in the forefront of scientific hierarchy. As Biochemistry works at a molecular level (i.e. finer than that accessed by the ultra-modern optical or phase-contrast microscopes) it embraces other disciplines also. Biochemistry has thus strengthened the integrated approach concept and solving biological riddles. Biochemical Techniques are used in all branches of biological sciences and biotechnology. Biochemical experiments are conducted in the laboratory as practical as well as for persuing research. A researcher has to refer to many journals and books before he/she could get to the working protocol for his/her experiment. This book attempts to give often-used methods in a single volume. This first edition is divided into 11 Units. Each experiment includes principle, requirements, procedure, calculation and observations. At the end of each , references for additional reading are provided. Important precautions, warnings and tips are given under the notes section. In addition, there are 12 appendices, which give minute details on basic chemistry, buffer preparations and other aspects required for the conduct of the experiments. The methods given in the book will be useful for conducting practical classes at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels in biochemistry, biotechnology, microbiology, agricultural sciences, environmental science, botany, zoology, nutrition, pharmaceutical science and other biology-related subjects. This book will be a bonanza for the research workers since it covers procedures from the classical basic biochemistry to the modern PCR techniques.

The present book covers major Livestock entrepreneurship skills in simple and lucid form. The first of the book focuses on concept of entrepreneurship, personal skills of entrepreneur such as innovation, risk taking, accepting challenges and responsibilities. The second of the book covers the different enterprising opportunities in livestock sector. In subsequent s forms of Livestock business, several factors to initiate a livestock business, bank support for entrepreneurship, entrepreneurial training, preparation of livestock entrepreneurial projects, project appraisals, financial management, sales and marketing communication, business acumen and communication have been covered. The textbook has been designed based on latest guidelines of Veterinary council of India and is extremely useful to graduates of veterinary science who otherwise have least exposure to principles of entrepreneurship. This book is also beneficial to undergraduate and postgraduate students of Veterinary Science, animal husbandry who wish to pursue livestock based entrepreneurship.

Studies have shown that there is a perfect link between strong IPR regime protected by the rule of law and economic development of a country. India is still at nascent stage when compared with the IPR regimes of developed economies. Hence, governmental and intergovernmental initiatives in association with commerce and industrial bodies are being taken up for creating awareness on IPR. As a signatory to many international treaties and conventions, India has modified many existing IPR laws and codified new ones to foster protection of Indian traditional knowledge and innovations emanate from research and professional institutions of India. Even though the researchers of software, pharmaceutical and biomedical fields are leading the pack of most number of patent applications received at Patent Offices in India, requirement of such awareness in other fields is necessary. It is felt that ignorance on legal and administrative procedures involved in filing for IPR is a major issue that needs to be addressed immediately. Although articles and books are written on the conventions/treaties and on the importance of IPR and its protection, non-availability of IPR information in the form of a concise ready reference on IPR/patents/designs/ copyrights/trade marks and laws, application forms and procedures thwarts common-man to understand IPR and related issues. Enhanced awareness on IPR laws and copyright procedures would help filings for IPR by scientists, teachers and researchePublication of this volume is an attempt to alleviate this ignorance and spread information on IPR, which may help the needy to understand the intricacies of IPR and apply for IPR. It covers topics on IPR including important definitions, history of evolution of IPR concepts, major organizations that control IPR in bilateral, multilateral and global forums, issues concerning developed and developing countries with reference to enforcement of IPR, implications of major treaties of IPR protection to which India is a signatory, management practices of IPR and finally suggestions on creating increased awareness on IPR. Written in a simple language and concise form, this volume is a comprehensive treatise on IPR required for common readers and professionals. In addition to individual papers that deal with specific topics in detail, provision of suitable application forms for copyrights, trade marks, patents, designs, etc., as annexure makes this volume necessary addition in libraries of private, public, academic and research institutions, legal institutions and practicing lawyers and charted accountants. As many academic institutions have included IPR in course curricula, this volume would serve as a textbook suitable for teaching too.

Knowledge Management is the process by which an organization identifies, creates, manages and delivers information to enhance workforce performance.KM is a discipline that promotes an integrated approach to identifying, capturing, evaluating, retrieving, and sharing all of an enterprise's information assets. These assets may include databases, documents, policies, procedures, and previously un-captured expertise and experience in individual workers. All these issues are covered in thirty three s in the book broadly divided into the following five sections. Fundamentals of Knowledge Management, Latest Tools and Techniques for Knowledge Management, Databases, Data mining, Knowledge Discovery in Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Data mining and Knowledge Discovery in Agriculture and Allied Fields, Indigenous Knowledge Protection and IPR Issues The book contains original research and case studies by academic and research contributors on strategies, tools, techniques and technologies for Knowledge Management. The focus of this book is on the identification of innovative KM strategies and the application of theoretical concepts to real-world situations. This first serves as a complete introduction to the concepts and principles of KM, starting with basics of data, information, knowledge and wisdom. Clarified differences among Explicit, Implicit and Tacit Knowledge. The book also covers traditional KM approaches as well as emerging topics such as cloud computing, Semantic Web, Rough Computing, Fuzzy logic, Artificial intelligence, Machine learning, social networks, Tools and Techniques for Geo Spatial Data Knowledge Discovery. The focus of the book is on how KM impacts organizations and individuals and steps that should be taken to maximize benefits, including directions for how to select, develop, and evaluate KM systems.

The contents of the book are divided into various chapters from Advances in Food Engineering, Developments in Food Quality and Safety, Emerging Food Processing Technologies, Innovations in Food Product Development and Developments in Food Property Analysis. The book includes topics like modelling approaches of various food processes namely drying, dehydration and absorption, quality characteristics, quality measurement and safety of food product. The book also contains topics related to emerging processing technologies for food namely ohmic heating, cold plasma, high pressure, ultrasound assisted processing etc., and development of new ingredient and food product. Some topics of the book deal with various types of properties of food such as antioxidant, physicochemical and rheological properties of food.

Library and Information Centres are continuing to provide information services in a changing environment. The advent of Information and communication Technologies has enabled libraries not only to improve the traditional library services but also to devise new methods of information services using latest technological tools. The information seeking behavior of the users has been changed and they demand latest information from any source through any method. Hence the application of latest ICT can be able to suffice the current information needs of the information stakeholders. Most of the information sources are being published in digital formats. The emergence of digital libraries has completely changed the information dissemination scenario. Users are now can be able to have access to any library for any information they seek. It is only the digital libraries which can develop such a system of information dissemination. But access to information is a problem. Such problems can be solved if digital libraries are developed in right platform. In order to discuss those emerging problems the Editors invited the contributors some useful papers. Hence, the book deals with some of the emerging topics on digital libraries which will be useful for the library and information professionals.

We are in the middle of the first decade of new millennium and facing lot of change in Indian agriculture particularly in the field of horticulture. In the last millennium the horticultural crops had the limited phase of development because of unawareness of the research potentiality. We will enter the second decade of new millennium and by the end of 2020; the golden revolution starts with new visions in application of modern and innovative techniques in breeding and farming. Qualitative production is just sufficient to meet the domestic market except for few crops like spices, condiments, plantation crops, flower crops and medicinal plants which has high demand in the international market. The horticultural crops contribute to the supplementary diet providing food security to the nation. All this needs application of innovative approaches of scientific culture. This book encompasses recent and pertinent field of horticulture viz., crop breeding, precision farming, biotechnology, therapeutic horticulture and post harvest practices covering fruits, vegetables, flowers and spices and plantations crops. The knowledge on recent research technologies viz., bioinformatics, biotechnology, transplastomics etc., will be helpful in production and consumption of horticultural crops. The practical application of breeding techniques like polyoidy and the selection technique will pave the way to increase the productivity. The exploitation of horticultural crops for the occurrence of antioxidants will serve for the human health and prevent the disease like cancer, cardio vascular disease, diabetics etc. The organic farming for vegetable and plantation crops is more informative. All this information is brought out in detailed in different s of this book."

Information Technology (IT) has permeated all spheres of life in the Twenty-First century, and veterinary science is no exception. The exposure of veterinary students to information technology has increased many-fold over the years with the advent of computer-aided learning, IT-enabled devices and the internet. Veterinary scientists routinely use advanced equipment with computer interfaces for their research. Field veterinarians in many states are already using computers and the internet for compiling data for sample surveys, livestock census, technical reports and human resource management. This has led to the creation of a whole new branch of science called "Veterinary Informatics". This book covers not only the basics of information technology like understanding computers and software, but also its various practical applications in the field of veterinary science like livestock health care, disease monitoring and surveillance, telemedicine, veterinary hospital management software, herd management software etc. The role of the internet in aiding veterinarians has been emphasized -separate s on internet usage, internet resources, online library resources, and social networking have been included, along with a classified list of useful websites. There are s on e-learning and the application of IT in the improvement of veterinary education. The language and expression used are simple, so that even people with no previous knowledge of computers can comprehend the concepts easily. Screenshots and illustrations have been used to better explain certain ideas. Many of the commonly-used IT terms are listed in a Glossary for easy reference. The day is not far when concepts like hospital management software, management information systems, paperless office, internet-enabled diagnosis, real-time disease monitoring and surveillance, geographical information systems, telemedicine etc. will become part of the day-to-day activities of veterinarians. This book aims to create awareness regarding these concepts and empower veterinarians with the necessary skills required to face future challenges.

Weather and climate play an important role in animal husbandry and livestock production. While climate determines the adaptability of a particular animal in a given region, weather determines animal health and day-to-day performance. Altogether twenty seven chapters are included in this book, covering basic aspects of atmospheric phenomena and its applications in the field of animal agriculture. In nutshell, the textbook revolves around basic concepts of livestock meteorology, effects of various weather elements and indices on animal physiology, relevance of modification of microclimate, livestock advisory based on weather forewarning, effects of weather and climate on diseases including UV radiation effects, meteorological instruments, units and computations, statistical methods in livestock meteorology and climatology of India. This is unique publication and is of immense use to the students, faculty members, researchers, scientists and students of animal husbandry, livestock meteorology, climate science. climate change and animal agriculture. It will be a reference material to all those who are interested to understand the impact of weather and climate on animal husbandry and livestock management. The Editors' earnest hope is that the textbook will be widely read and discussed among the scientific community in the field of climate change and animal agriculture.

The hydroinformatics tools viz. simulation modeling, SCADA, remote sensing and GIS, artificial intelligence etc are now a days, generally used in the planning of water based systems. These are quite young technologies, but complex and so budding engineers could keep a safe distance from these courses. This book will serve as a single textbook having comprehensive information of all above topics in a single book. In this book, a wide and varied scope of hydroinformatics is concise in the simple language for easy understanding and remembrance of the readers. The aim of this book is to introduce the budding engineers with hydroinformatics and it's tools for planning and management of water based systems. Each chapter describes basic preliminary information about the topic. This book will be helpful to undergraduate and postgraduate engineering students in preparation of the subject and research, thus giving wider application of hydroinformatics.

The book entitled, "Improving Productivity of Drylands by Sustainable Resource Utilization and Management" deals with a variety of aspects linked with utilization and management of resources used in dryland agriculture. The content of the book covers the topics on the natural resources management, biodiversity conservation, crop production and management, livestock management, energy, technology transfer and socio-economic issues. Subjects such as climate resilient agriculture, soil and water conservation measures, soil fertility appraisal, recycling of organic wastes, management strategies for livestock production, intercropping in agri-horti system, agro-morphological evaluation of crops, developing genotype for vegetable cultivation, crop diversification, farming systems, improved forage production, variability and heritability of grasses, weed management practices, economics of arable crop production, and energy conservation strategies through greenhouse have been incorporated under different chapters contributed by subject specialists. This book is an attempt to present collectively the scattered available information on several recently developed technologies and strategies for dryland management. Furthermore, the book contains 30 chapters that discuss both theoretical and practical knowledge for sustainable management of the drylands by improving productivity. Moreover, the book will be useful for professionals, researchers, scholars, and students involved in scientific activities of agricultural research in drylands.

LIBRARY SERVICES IN THE KNOWLEDGE WEB: Now more than ever, thanks to capabilities made available by the web and Internet, libraries are making materials available to patrons on an almost immediate basis provided those patrons have Internet access. Many journal articles are now made available online by libraries, provided patrons have the right entry id or password, these articles can now be accessed without any need to go to a physical library. The present Festschrift volume is a humble presentation to Dr Madan Kumar Stanley by his professional colleagues and friends to mark his professional valuable contributions and service to the library & information science community, especially to Agricultural Librarianship even after his retirement. A look of contributors of this volume and over whelming response received shows the affection and respect towards his senior professional Dr M.K. Stanely. We extend our sincere thanks to the learned contributors and grateful acknowledges to their contributions. A look of contributors of this volume and over whelming response received shows the affection and respect towards his senior professional Dr M.K. Stanely. We extend our sincere thanks to the learned contributors and grateful acknowledges to their contributions.