A History of Weed Science in the United States

A History of Weed Science in the United States PDF

Author: Robert L Zimdahl

Publisher: Elsevier

Published: 2010-02-04

Total Pages: 220

ISBN-13: 0123815029

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It is important that scientists think about and know their history - where they came from, what they have accomplished, and how these may affect the future. Weed scientists, similar to scientists in many technological disciplines, have not sought historical reflection. The technological world asks for results and for progress. Achievement is important not, in general, the road that leads to achievement. What was new yesterday is routine today, and what is described as revolutionary today may be considered antiquated tomorrow. Weed science has been strongly influenced by technology developed by supporting industries, subsequently employed in research and, ultimately, used by farmers and crop growers. The science has focused on results and progress. Scientists have been--and the majority remain--problem solvers whose solutions have evolved as rapidly as have the new weed problems needing solutions. In a more formal sense, weed scientists have been adherents of the instrumental ideology of modern science. That is an analysis of their work, and their orientation reveals the strong emphasis on practical, useful knowledge; on know how. The opposite, and frequently complementary orientation, that has been missing from weed science is an emphasis on contemplative knowledge; that is, knowing why. This book expands on and analyzes how these orientations have affected weed science’s development. The first analytical history of weed science to be written Compares the development of weed science, entomology and plant pathology Identifies the primary founders of weed science and describes their role

Handbook of Weed Management Systems

Handbook of Weed Management Systems PDF

Author: Albert E. Smith

Publisher: Routledge

Published: 2017-11-22

Total Pages: 728

ISBN-13: 1351441825

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This work provides the fundamental information necessary for the development of weed management strategies for all the major US crops using concepts that can be applied worldwide. Weed management systems are provided for cotton, peanut, soybean, wheat, barley, oat, sorghum, rice, fruits, nut crops, and more. The dynamics involved in creating the best management approaches for specific types of crops are explained.

Six Chemicals That Changed Agriculture

Six Chemicals That Changed Agriculture PDF

Author: Robert L Zimdahl

Publisher: Academic Press

Published: 2015-07-23

Total Pages: 216

ISBN-13: 012800617X

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Six Chemicals That Changed Agriculture is a scientific look at how the chemicals used in today's food production were developed, evaluated, and came to be in wide-spread use. From fertilizers to pest management, antibiotics to DNA, chemicals have transformed the way our food is grown, protected, and processed. Agriculture is the world's most important environment interaction, the essential human activity, and an increasingly controversial activity because of its use and presumed misuse of chemistry. The major characteristics of US agriculture for at least the last six decades have been rising productivity, declining number of mid-size farms, increasing farm size, an increasing percentage of farm production on fewer, large farms, increasing dependence of chemical technology and more developmental research being done by the agricultural chemical industry rather than by independent land-grant universities. Another equally important feature of modern agriculture is wide-spread suspicion of its technology by the public. The book will recount examples of this suspicion related to specific chemicals and present the essence of the suspicion and its results. Offers an historical analysis of the discovery and development some aspects of the chemistry of modern agriculture Addresses the advantages, disadvantages, desirable and undesirable results of the use of each of the chosen chemicals and compares and contrasts the real and frequently assumed problems of their use Provides valuable insights into the history and application of these focused chemicals, enabling readers to apply the lessons to new agricultural chemical developments