Rhizosphere Engineering is a guide to applying environmentally sound agronomic practices to improve crop yield while also protecting soil resources. Focusing on the potential and positive impacts of appropriate practices, the book includes the use of beneficial microbes, nanotechnology and metagenomics. Developing and applying techniques that not only enhance yield, but also restore the quality of soil and water using beneficial microbes such as Bacillus, Pseudomonas, vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhiza (VAM) fungi and others are covered, along with new information on utilizing nanotechnology, quorum sensing and other technologies to further advance the science.

Designed to fill the gap between research and application, this book is written for advanced students, researchers and those seeking real-world insights for improving agricultural production.

Macrophomina Phaseolina: Ecobiology, Pathology and Management provides insights into the sustainable prevention and treatment of this wide-spread challenge to plant health. With a focus on agricultural as well as non-food plant challenges, the book highlights diverse approaches and provides central insights. The pathogen?of M. phaseolina affects the fibrovascular system of roots and basal internodes of its host, impeding the transport of water and nutrients to the upper parts of the plant, thus resulting in progressive wilting, premature drying and dying, loss of vigor, and reduced yield.

Finally, the book explores the interaction of M. phaseolina with soil, microbes and ecological conditions to control disease-causing strategies. Recognizing the necessity that strategies applied to manage the disease should have no or minimum effect on ecological resources, the book focuses on alternative sustainable management technologies such as mix-cropping, the use of antagonistic bacteria and fungi and microbial biosurfactants, plant growth promoting antagonistic rhizobacteria and how cultural practices may also play an important role.

This book provides an overview of biosurfactants as biobased compounds, and highlights novel applications in several industries, including biotech, food processing, cosmetic, oil recovery/petroleum, pharmaceutical, detergent and textile. In the past few decades, biosurfactants have emerged as promising alternative surface-active agents to chemical surfactants due to their high biodegradability, low toxicity, multi-functionality under extreme pH and temperature conditions, long-term physicochemical stability, and their production from renewable sources. This book presents the fundamental aspects (classification, structure, genetics, and properties) of biosurfactants and how their features contribute to the global bioeconomy.

Chapters from expert contributors discuss the latest screening, purification and characterization methods of new biosurfactants and biosurfactant-producing fungi and bacteria, including extremophiles. Particular attention is given to the role of biosurfactants in the formulation of sustainable agrochemicals, and their application as eco-friendly mosquitocidal agents, and biopesticides. Readers will discover a perspective on the antiviral activity of biosurfactants, in which the latest in vitro and in silico studies are discussed. Readers will also find more about the foremost therapeutic attributes of biosurfactant-mediated nanoparticles as next-generation drug delivery systems.

Given its breadth, this book appeals to a wide readership, from students and academic researchers to scientists and professionals from industry, interested in the study and application of microbial surfactants.

This book covers the role and effects of nanofertilizers in agriculture and together with its companion book “Nanofertilizers for Sustainable Agriculture: Assessing Impacts on Health, Environment, and Economy” serves as an indispensable resource for researchers, agronomists, and policymakers exploring sustainable agriculture with nanotechnology.

The book outlines the synthesis and formulation of nanoparticles tailored for agricultural applications and discusses the impact of nanofertilizers on crop well-being and soil fertility, including the pivotal role of plant growth-promoting microorganisms in nanoparticle-mediated agriculture. Divided into four sections, the book begins with an introduction to the relevance and specificities of nanotechnology in agriculture, including nonfertilizer synthesis and formulation, followed by a section dedicated to rhizosphere microorganisms and the impact of nanofertilizers in agricultural systems. Readers will learn about the impact of nanofertilizers on crop well-being and soil fertility, including the pivotal role of plant growth-promoting microorganisms in nanoparticle-mediated agriculture. The subsequent section of the book is devoted to the mechanisms of action of nanofertilizers, namely the ones governing the release, absorption, and translocation of nanonutrients in soil, and discusses the potential of biocatalysis in nanofertilizer development. The final section of the book discusses crop productivity and biofortification while unravelling the nuanced effects of nanoparticle doses, shapes, sizes, and compositions on crop yields and physiological activities. In this section, readers will also find diverse applications of nanofertilizers in stress tolerance, salinity, and environmental stress mitigation.

This book covers the use and impacts of nanofertilizers from a sustainable agriculture perspective and together with its companion book “Nanofertilizers in Agriculture: Synthesis, Mechanisms, and Effect on Plants” serves as an indispensable resource for researchers, agronomists, and policymakers exploring sustainable agriculture with nanotechnology.

Divided into 4 main sections, the book begins with a critical overview of the impact of nanofertilizers on the ecosystem, their toxicity, and implications on the protection of the environment, followed by a section devoted to the use of nanoparticles for disease management. Subsequent sections offer a perspective of nanofertilizers in soil and water health, and economical analysis.

In this book, readers will find chapters covering topics such as the toxicity of nano fertilizers due to overuse, their role in controlling soil-borne fungal pathogens, and their potential for safe and sustainable agriculture with a focus on organic farming. Readers will also gain insights into nanotechnology applications for plant pathogen detection, viral disease management, and nematode disease control. The authors present an expert analysis of the impact of nano fertilizers on soil properties, crop productivity, groundwater, and soilless agricultural systems.

This book is particularly valuable for researchers in agricultural science, and it is also relevant for environmental scientists interested in sustainable practices and nanotechnologists exploring agricultural applications. Practitioners such as farmers and agronomists will find practical insights for integrating nanotechnology into their work. This volume is a must-read for anyone invested in the future of sustainable agriculture.

Rhizosphere Engineering is a guide to applying environmentally sound agronomic practices to improve crop yield while also protecting soil resources. Focusing on the potential and positive impacts of appropriate practices, the book includes the use of beneficial microbes, nanotechnology and metagenomics. Developing and applying techniques that not only enhance yield, but also restore the quality of soil and water using beneficial microbes such as Bacillus, Pseudomonas, vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhiza (VAM) fungi and others are covered, along with new information on utilizing nanotechnology, quorum sensing and other technologies to further advance the science.

Designed to fill the gap between research and application, this book is written for advanced students, researchers and those seeking real-world insights for improving agricultural production.

Macrophomina Phaseolina: Ecobiology, Pathology and Management provides insights into the sustainable prevention and treatment of this wide-spread challenge to plant health. With a focus on agricultural as well as non-food plant challenges, the book highlights diverse approaches and provides central insights. The pathogen?of M. phaseolina affects the fibrovascular system of roots and basal internodes of its host, impeding the transport of water and nutrients to the upper parts of the plant, thus resulting in progressive wilting, premature drying and dying, loss of vigor, and reduced yield.

Finally, the book explores the interaction of M. phaseolina with soil, microbes and ecological conditions to control disease-causing strategies. Recognizing the necessity that strategies applied to manage the disease should have no or minimum effect on ecological resources, the book focuses on alternative sustainable management technologies such as mix-cropping, the use of antagonistic bacteria and fungi and microbial biosurfactants, plant growth promoting antagonistic rhizobacteria and how cultural practices may also play an important role.

This book provides an overview of biosurfactants as biobased compounds, and highlights novel applications in several industries, including biotech, food processing, cosmetic, oil recovery/petroleum, pharmaceutical, detergent and textile. In the past few decades, biosurfactants have emerged as promising alternative surface-active agents to chemical surfactants due to their high biodegradability, low toxicity, multi-functionality under extreme pH and temperature conditions, long-term physicochemical stability, and their production from renewable sources. This book presents the fundamental aspects (classification, structure, genetics, and properties) of biosurfactants and how their features contribute to the global bioeconomy.

Chapters from expert contributors discuss the latest screening, purification and characterization methods of new biosurfactants and biosurfactant-producing fungi and bacteria, including extremophiles. Particular attention is given to the role of biosurfactants in the formulation of sustainable agrochemicals, and their application as eco-friendly mosquitocidal agents, and biopesticides. Readers will discover a perspective on the antiviral activity of biosurfactants, in which the latest in vitro and in silico studies are discussed. Readers will also find more about the foremost therapeutic attributes of biosurfactant-mediated nanoparticles as next-generation drug delivery systems.

Given its breadth, this book appeals to a wide readership, from students and academic researchers to scientists and professionals from industry, interested in the study and application of microbial surfactants.

This book covers the role and effects of nanofertilizers in agriculture and together with its companion book “Nanofertilizers for Sustainable Agriculture: Assessing Impacts on Health, Environment, and Economy” serves as an indispensable resource for researchers, agronomists, and policymakers exploring sustainable agriculture with nanotechnology.

The book outlines the synthesis and formulation of nanoparticles tailored for agricultural applications and discusses the impact of nanofertilizers on crop well-being and soil fertility, including the pivotal role of plant growth-promoting microorganisms in nanoparticle-mediated agriculture. Divided into four sections, the book begins with an introduction to the relevance and specificities of nanotechnology in agriculture, including nonfertilizer synthesis and formulation, followed by a section dedicated to rhizosphere microorganisms and the impact of nanofertilizers in agricultural systems. Readers will learn about the impact of nanofertilizers on crop well-being and soil fertility, including the pivotal role of plant growth-promoting microorganisms in nanoparticle-mediated agriculture. The subsequent section of the book is devoted to the mechanisms of action of nanofertilizers, namely the ones governing the release, absorption, and translocation of nanonutrients in soil, and discusses the potential of biocatalysis in nanofertilizer development. The final section of the book discusses crop productivity and biofortification while unravelling the nuanced effects of nanoparticle doses, shapes, sizes, and compositions on crop yields and physiological activities. In this section, readers will also find diverse applications of nanofertilizers in stress tolerance, salinity, and environmental stress mitigation.

This book covers the use and impacts of nanofertilizers from a sustainable agriculture perspective and together with its companion book “Nanofertilizers in Agriculture: Synthesis, Mechanisms, and Effect on Plants” serves as an indispensable resource for researchers, agronomists, and policymakers exploring sustainable agriculture with nanotechnology.

Divided into 4 main sections, the book begins with a critical overview of the impact of nanofertilizers on the ecosystem, their toxicity, and implications on the protection of the environment, followed by a section devoted to the use of nanoparticles for disease management. Subsequent sections offer a perspective of nanofertilizers in soil and water health, and economical analysis.

In this book, readers will find chapters covering topics such as the toxicity of nano fertilizers due to overuse, their role in controlling soil-borne fungal pathogens, and their potential for safe and sustainable agriculture with a focus on organic farming. Readers will also gain insights into nanotechnology applications for plant pathogen detection, viral disease management, and nematode disease control. The authors present an expert analysis of the impact of nano fertilizers on soil properties, crop productivity, groundwater, and soilless agricultural systems.

This book is particularly valuable for researchers in agricultural science, and it is also relevant for environmental scientists interested in sustainable practices and nanotechnologists exploring agricultural applications. Practitioners such as farmers and agronomists will find practical insights for integrating nanotechnology into their work. This volume is a must-read for anyone invested in the future of sustainable agriculture.