This chapter talks mainly about mineral substances that the vines need to grow and produce fruit. The nutrient analysis (including soil and plant analysis) and correction strategies and well as the different macronutrients (N, P, S, K, Ca and Mg) and micronutrients (Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, Mo, B and Cl)...

This chapter highlights the central role of energy in addressing the current challenges of sustainable development. It looks at the global energy production and consumption and explores various renewable energy options for the residential, transportation and industrial sectors. In the...

This chapter considers various renewable and sustainable energy sources in comparison with the current status quo of fossil fuel use, with an emphasis on sustainability and feasibility. The chapter covers hydropower, solar power, wind power, wave energy, tidal energy, geothermal energy, natural gas ...

Almond requires 17 elements for growth and development and, if any of these elements are deficient, growth and production are impaired. These 17 elements are called essential elements and include carbon (C), hydrogen (H), oxygen (O), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), sulfur (S), calcium...

This chapter focuses on the various treatments applied to various fruit, vegetable and root crops prior to controlled atmosphere storage or modified atmosphere packaging, such as high temperature, irradiation, hydrogen fumigation, waxing and polishing, use of carboxymethylcellulose to extend...

The complexity of the rumen microbial ecosystem supports the efficient conversion of various carbohydrates to volatile fatty acids for fulfilling host energy requirement via stepwise disposal of hydrogen (H₂) through the reduction of carbon dioxide (CO₂) to methane (CH₄). Although, this mechanism...

Bacteria capable of producing acetate from H₂ and CO₂ using the acetyl-CoA pathway (4H₂+2CO₂ → CH₃COOH+2H₂O) are known as acetogens. They have been found in a variety of anaerobic ecosystems, including sediments, wastewater treatment systems, soils and animal gut systems. In recent years, acetogens ...

This chapter examines the current state of the art, the production costs, the supporting policies and the challenges for advanced biofuel technologies and practices. The chapter discusses the production of ethanol, biodiesel, and other liquid and gaseous biofuels, including: algal biofuels,...

This chapter describes the principle of current generation in microbial fuel cells (MFCs), and the mechanisms of electron transfer in these MFCs, viz., direct electron transfer, mediated electron transfer, and direct oxidation of exported catabolites. The components of MFCs as well as the uses of...

This chapter focuses on the use of an upcoming and advanced field of systems microbiology in two major avenues of bioenergy development: microbial fuel cells (MFCs) and biohydrogen production. Firs, the basics and background of these two promising technologies are discussed, followed by how systems ...