About Book

Research and development in agriculture is a very relevant topic in today’s society, especially given the evolution of land ownership structures and resources exploitation. Growing populations and expectations have placed extreme pressure on agriculture & forestry resources. Sustainability of resources and resource industries will be achieved only with commitment, ingenuity and cooperation at unprecedented scale. Agroforestry seeks positive interactions between its components, aiming to achieve a more ecologically diverse and socially productive output from the land than is possible through conventional agriculture. It is a practical and low-cost means of implementing many forms of integrated land management and it contributes to a green economy by promoting long-term, sustainable and renewable forest management, especially for small-scale producers. The contents included in this book deal with the advanced concepts that promote forest cultivation, conservation and agriculture management. From theories to research to practical applications, case studies related to all contemporary topics of relevance to this field have been included in this book. It explores tobamovirus management, waste management systems, multi-criteria methods, horticultural crops and evapotranspiration. It also presents climate change impact, neotropical forests, forest restoration techniques and future scenario. Highlighting theoretical concepts and empirical research, this book will be an all-encompassing reference source for professionals, researchers, academicians, practitioners and students in the field of agriculture and sustainable development, as well as in related disciplines.

Preface............................................................................................................v

Chapter 1 Aspects in Tobamovirus Management in Intensive Agriculture....1

Abstract...................................................................................................1

1. Introduction............................................................................................2

2. Tobamovirus worldwide spread........................................................2

3. Genome organization...........................................................................3

4. Particle pathogenicity and systemic disease spread......................3

5. Modes of infection................................................................................6

6. Management strategies.......................................................................10

7. Conclusions..........................................................................................14

Acknowledgements.............................................................................15

Chapter 2 Influence of Landsat Revisit Frequency on Time-Integration of Evapotranspiration for Agricultural Water Management................24

Abstract.................................................................................................24

1. Introduction..........................................................................................25

2. Methods and materials......................................................................31

3. Results...................................................................................................41

4. Conclusions..........................................................................................56

Conflict of interest..............................................................................57

Chapter 3 Forest Soil C: Stock and Stability under Global Change..............61

Abstract ................................................................................................61

1. Introduction ........................................................................................61

2. Storage of C in forest soil.................................................................63

3. Stability of storage C in soil.............................................................77

4. Conclusions..........................................................................................87

Chapter 4 Alternative Forest Restoration Techniques.......................................100

Abstract...............................................................................................100

1. Introduction ......................................................................................101

2. The traditional forest restoration...................................................102

3. Revamping traditional reforesting.................................................104

4. Natural regeneration........................................................................107

5. Nucleation techniques......................................................................109

6. Final considerations..........................................................................116

Chapter 5 Neotropical Forests from their Emergence to the Future Scenario

of Climatic Changes...............................................................................122

Abstract ..............................................................................................122

1. Introduction........................................................................................123

2. Evolution of the Neotropical forests.............................................125

3. Neotropical forests: a complex vegetation mosaic.....................128

4. Neotropical forests floristics and diversity are controlled by

environmental and anthropic traits...............................................133

5. Modeling floristic and biomass dynamics in rain and dry

forests..................................................................................................135

6. Environmental and anthropic drivers of biomass dynamics in

Neotropical forests............................................................................138

7. Neotropical forests facing the Anthropocene era.......................139

8. Conclusions........................................................................................144

9. Final considerations..........................................................................145

Chapter 6 Advances in the Assessment of Climate Change Impact on the

Forest Landscape.....................................................................................152

Abstract ..............................................................................................152

1. Introduction........................................................................................153

2. Methodology and overall studies .................................................155

3. Warming climate ..............................................................................155

4. Modeling and simulation procedures .........................................159

5. Remote sensing techniques for assessing climate change impact

on forest landscape...........................................................................164

6. Conclusions and recommendations .............................................165

Chapter 7 Forest Fire Model....................................................................................174

Abstract ..............................................................................................174

1. Introduction........................................................................................174

2. Cellular automaton...........................................................................176

3. Agent-based model...........................................................................177

4. Forest fire model...............................................................................182

Chapter 8 Copper Contamination in Mediterranean Agricultural Soils: Soil

Quality Standards and Adequate Soil Management Practices for

Horticultural Crops ...............................................................................199

Abstract...............................................................................................199

1. Introduction........................................................................................200

2. Study area and objectives................................................................202

3. Materials and methods....................................................................204

4. Results.................................................................................................207

5. Conclusions........................................................................................215

Chapter 9 Agricultural Waste Management Systems and Software

Tools .........................................................................................................224

1. Introduction........................................................................................224

2. Manure management systems ......................................................225

3. Animal Waste Management (AWM) ............................................227

4. Soil-Plant-Air-Water (SPAW) .........................................................229

5. An example dairy operation .........................................................230

6. Evaluating the design with AWM ................................................232

7. Evaluating the design with SPAW ...............................................233

8. Concluding remarks ........................................................................239

Chapter 10 Application of Multi-Criteria Methods in Natural Resource

Management – A Focus on Forestry..................................................242

1. Introduction........................................................................................242

2. About decision making....................................................................245

3. Multi-criteria decision making appr-oach....................................246

4. Main MCDM methods.....................................................................247

5. Applications of MCDM in forestry...............................................253

6. Some examples of conducted investigations...............................256

7. Conclusion..........................................................................................265

Citation......................................................................................................277

Index...........................................................................................................279

About Author

Peter Ekman received his Ph.D. in Agroforestry from Public Science University, Maine. He serves as a Senior Lecturer at Science Institute, Oaxaca. He was involved in a forestry research project which took into account major concerns in forestry (conservation, habitat, ecosystem, etc.). He has won several awards for his contributions to this field. He has authored and edited numerous articles, papers and book chapters in the field of forestry & agriculture. He is also on the editorial board of several renowned environmental journals.