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Wheat production and utilization: Systems, quality, and the environment
ELSEVIER
Book Reviews PII: SO261-2194(97)00106-3 Plant Ecophysiology by M. N. V. Prasad. John Wiley and Sons Inc, New York
This is a wide ranging book covering virtually all aspects of the interaction of plants with their environment. The book is for environmental biologists and consultants and students of plant sciences and it is the latter category who will find it a very useful source of information. It is as a general reference that readers of pesticide science will tind this book most useful. In part one, natural and abiotic factors, the interaction with light, UVB. temperature, drought and salt are discussed. While in part two. and biotic factors, antrhopogenic allelochemicals, herbicides, air pollutants, carbon dioxide and radio-
nuclides are discussed. The chapters are generally clearly illustrated with diagrams that do not have the desire to be too clever and the tables are clearly presented. The plates are also informative with the exception of those illustrating the vegetation of different regions in the chapter on chilling and freezing. Each chapter is well reference, wtih many recent papers. although the title of the cited papers is not included which is a little annoying. Individually the chapters, although showing slight differences in style, have a reasonably unified structure with many subheadings allowing the reader to ‘dip in’ when using the book as a reference. Within each chapter the approach is detailed, the influence of sun-flecks being discussed in the light chapter for example. Of
the chapters whose subject area I know best, radionuclides and air pollutants, I found significant omissions. For example radioiodine has significant dose consequence following reactor accidents and is responsible for the increase in thyroid cancers in the vicinity of Chernobyl, but there is little in this subject. Ther is also no mention of organic pollutants and only a little on detoxification mechanisms. This latter subject area is obviously very relevant in the context of pesticide usage. Dr Chris Collins Environmental Pathways and Processes Group. ICCE 7: Imperial College at Silwood Park, Ascot, Berkshire SLS 7PY UK mailto:[email protected]
PII: SO261-2194(97)00112-9 Wheat Production and Utilization: Systems, Quality, and the Environmentby Mike J. Gooding and W. Paul
Davies. ISBN O-8.5199- 155-6. CAB International. Oxon, UK, 1997, 355 pp Wheat is one of the first crops to be domesticated and has been very important throughout human history. Shortages of wheat have caused uprisings and revolutions. More wheat is grown than any other crop in the world today and it is only appropriate that a book be devoted to wheat production and utilization. This book could serve as a text at colleges and universities or as a reference for researchers and advisors. The book is written in clear and concise language and contains many figures, diagrams, pictures, and tables. The professional working in this area will find this book useful due to its extensive list of references (nearly 1000). The book also has a very good index. This book has 10 chapters: I) An introduction to the utilization, development, and production of wheat. 2) Grain characters influencing utilization, 3) Genotype effects on grain quality, 4) The crop environment and grain quality: Weather and soils, 5) Crop establishment, 6) Crop nutri-
tion and fertilizer use, 7) Biology and control of diseases, weeds, and pests: Effects on grain yield and quality, 8) Postharvest management of grain, 9) Wheat vegetation as forage, and 10) Ethanol. starch and gluten production. The subject areas of wheat production and utilization are covered well in this book. World wheat production is difficult to review thoroughly since production systems differ across the globe and production practices can differ even in small relatively geographic areas. Wheat utilization can be the subject of a book by itself. Nevertheless, have the authors presented a concise and accurate picture of wheat production and utilization that is not too complex for the beginning student but is complete enough to satisfy the professional. The authors appear very knowledgeable in the subject area of the book. Mike Gooding has written extensively on fertilization of cereals, environmental aspects of cereal production, organic and low input wheat production, and the effects of fungicides and fertilizers on grain quality. Paul Davies has authored articles on pest resistance, integrated farming systems. and low input agriculture.
The strength of the book is that the relationship between cultural practices and wheat covered quality is thoroughly. The utilization of wheat and wheat products in different parts of the world is provided in great detail. An entire chapter and several sections are devoted to fertilization of wheat and grain quality. Grain quality in general is emphasized in several sections in the book. A section is devoted to wheat phasic development. The book has a global outlook and wheat production systems in different areas of the world are described. If the book has any weaknesses. they are weaknesses of omission. The subject areas of water requirements, water stress, and irrigation are only briefly covered. The insect, disease, and weed section includes the major wheat pests, but is not intended as an encyclopedia of every wheat pest found throughout the world. The concepts of thermal units for crop development or the use of crop growth models are not mentioned. The influence of environmental stresses on wheat yield is not covered in detail. Despite some omissions and brief coverage of some subject areas, this book would be an excellent text and
Crop Protection 1998 Volume 17 Number 2
185
Book reviews
useful to wheat professionals. Much of information is applicable the throughout the world, although the emphasis of the book is the UK,
188
Crop Protection
Europe, and the US to a certain extent. The relationship among wheat production, quality and utilization is the strength of the book.
1998 Volume 17 Number 2
Mike Ottman Department of Plant Sciences University of Arizona Tucson, AZ 8.5721, USA
Book Reviews PII: SO261-2194(97)00106-3 Plant Ecophysiology by M. N. V. Prasad. John Wiley and Sons Inc, New York
This is a wide ranging book covering virtually all aspects of the interaction of plants with their environment. The book is for environmental biologists and consultants and students of plant sciences and it is the latter category who will find it a very useful source of information. It is as a general reference that readers of pesticide science will tind this book most useful. In part one, natural and abiotic factors, the interaction with light, UVB. temperature, drought and salt are discussed. While in part two. and biotic factors, antrhopogenic allelochemicals, herbicides, air pollutants, carbon dioxide and radio-
nuclides are discussed. The chapters are generally clearly illustrated with diagrams that do not have the desire to be too clever and the tables are clearly presented. The plates are also informative with the exception of those illustrating the vegetation of different regions in the chapter on chilling and freezing. Each chapter is well reference, wtih many recent papers. although the title of the cited papers is not included which is a little annoying. Individually the chapters, although showing slight differences in style, have a reasonably unified structure with many subheadings allowing the reader to ‘dip in’ when using the book as a reference. Within each chapter the approach is detailed, the influence of sun-flecks being discussed in the light chapter for example. Of
the chapters whose subject area I know best, radionuclides and air pollutants, I found significant omissions. For example radioiodine has significant dose consequence following reactor accidents and is responsible for the increase in thyroid cancers in the vicinity of Chernobyl, but there is little in this subject. Ther is also no mention of organic pollutants and only a little on detoxification mechanisms. This latter subject area is obviously very relevant in the context of pesticide usage. Dr Chris Collins Environmental Pathways and Processes Group. ICCE 7: Imperial College at Silwood Park, Ascot, Berkshire SLS 7PY UK mailto:[email protected]
PII: SO261-2194(97)00112-9 Wheat Production and Utilization: Systems, Quality, and the Environmentby Mike J. Gooding and W. Paul
Davies. ISBN O-8.5199- 155-6. CAB International. Oxon, UK, 1997, 355 pp Wheat is one of the first crops to be domesticated and has been very important throughout human history. Shortages of wheat have caused uprisings and revolutions. More wheat is grown than any other crop in the world today and it is only appropriate that a book be devoted to wheat production and utilization. This book could serve as a text at colleges and universities or as a reference for researchers and advisors. The book is written in clear and concise language and contains many figures, diagrams, pictures, and tables. The professional working in this area will find this book useful due to its extensive list of references (nearly 1000). The book also has a very good index. This book has 10 chapters: I) An introduction to the utilization, development, and production of wheat. 2) Grain characters influencing utilization, 3) Genotype effects on grain quality, 4) The crop environment and grain quality: Weather and soils, 5) Crop establishment, 6) Crop nutri-
tion and fertilizer use, 7) Biology and control of diseases, weeds, and pests: Effects on grain yield and quality, 8) Postharvest management of grain, 9) Wheat vegetation as forage, and 10) Ethanol. starch and gluten production. The subject areas of wheat production and utilization are covered well in this book. World wheat production is difficult to review thoroughly since production systems differ across the globe and production practices can differ even in small relatively geographic areas. Wheat utilization can be the subject of a book by itself. Nevertheless, have the authors presented a concise and accurate picture of wheat production and utilization that is not too complex for the beginning student but is complete enough to satisfy the professional. The authors appear very knowledgeable in the subject area of the book. Mike Gooding has written extensively on fertilization of cereals, environmental aspects of cereal production, organic and low input wheat production, and the effects of fungicides and fertilizers on grain quality. Paul Davies has authored articles on pest resistance, integrated farming systems. and low input agriculture.
The strength of the book is that the relationship between cultural practices and wheat covered quality is thoroughly. The utilization of wheat and wheat products in different parts of the world is provided in great detail. An entire chapter and several sections are devoted to fertilization of wheat and grain quality. Grain quality in general is emphasized in several sections in the book. A section is devoted to wheat phasic development. The book has a global outlook and wheat production systems in different areas of the world are described. If the book has any weaknesses. they are weaknesses of omission. The subject areas of water requirements, water stress, and irrigation are only briefly covered. The insect, disease, and weed section includes the major wheat pests, but is not intended as an encyclopedia of every wheat pest found throughout the world. The concepts of thermal units for crop development or the use of crop growth models are not mentioned. The influence of environmental stresses on wheat yield is not covered in detail. Despite some omissions and brief coverage of some subject areas, this book would be an excellent text and
Crop Protection 1998 Volume 17 Number 2
185
Book reviews
useful to wheat professionals. Much of information is applicable the throughout the world, although the emphasis of the book is the UK,
188
Crop Protection
Europe, and the US to a certain extent. The relationship among wheat production, quality and utilization is the strength of the book.
1998 Volume 17 Number 2
Mike Ottman Department of Plant Sciences University of Arizona Tucson, AZ 8.5721, USA