%0 Book %A National Research Council %T Lost Crops of the Incas: Little-Known Plants of the Andes with Promise for Worldwide Cultivation %@ 978-0-309-04264-2 %D 1989 %U https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/1398/lost-crops-of-the-incas-little-known-plants-of-the %> https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/1398/lost-crops-of-the-incas-little-known-plants-of-the %I The National Academies Press %C Washington, DC %G English %K Agriculture %K Biology and Life Sciences %P 440 %X This fascinating, readable volume is filled with enticing, detailed information about more than 30 different Incan crops that promise to follow the potato's lead and become important contributors to the world's food supply. Some of these overlooked foods offer special advantages for developing nations, such as high nutritional quality and excellent yields. Many are adaptable to areas of the United States. Lost Crops of the Incas includes vivid color photographs of many of the crops and describes the authors' experiences in growing, tasting, and preparing them in different ways. This book is for the gourmet and gourmand alike, as well as gardeners, botanists, farmers, and agricultural specialists in developing countries. %0 Book %A National Research Council %T Vetiver Grass: A Thin Green Line Against Erosion %@ 978-0-309-04269-7 %D 1993 %U https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/2077/vetiver-grass-a-thin-green-line-against-erosion %> https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/2077/vetiver-grass-a-thin-green-line-against-erosion %I The National Academies Press %C Washington, DC %G English %K Agriculture %P 188 %X For developing nations, soil erosion is among the most chronic environmental and economic burdens. Vast amounts of topsoil are washed or blown away from arable land only to accumulate in rivers, reservoirs, harbors, and estuaries, thereby creating a double disaster: a vital resource disappears from where it is desperately needed and is deposited where it is equally unwanted. Despite much rhetoric and effort, little has been done to overcome this problem. Vetiver, a little-known tropical grass, offers one practical and inexpensive way to control erosion on a huge scale in both humid and semi-arid regions. Hedges of this deeply rooted species catch and hold back sediments while the stiff foliage acts as a filter that also slows runoff and keeps moisture on site. This book assesses vetiver's promise and limitations and identifies places where this grass can be deployed without undue environmental risk. %0 Book %A National Research Council %T Microlivestock: Little-Known Small Animals with a Promising Economic Future %@ 978-0-309-04295-6 %D 1991 %U https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/1831/microlivestock-little-known-small-animals-with-a-promising-economic-future %> https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/1831/microlivestock-little-known-small-animals-with-a-promising-economic-future %I The National Academies Press %C Washington, DC %G English %K Agriculture %P 472 %X Microlivestock is a term coined for species that are inherently small as well as for breeds of cattle, sheep, goats, and pigs that are less than about half the size of the most common breeds. These miniature animals are seldom considered in the broad picture of livestock development, but they seem to have a promising future, especially in developing nations or wherever land is scarce. This book raises awareness of the potential of these small species, including microcattle, microsheep, various poultry, rabbits, rodents, deer, antelope, and lizards. It also strives to stimulate their introduction into animal research and economic development programs. %0 Book %A National Research Council %T Sustainable Agriculture and the Environment in the Humid Tropics %@ 978-0-309-04749-4 %D 1993 %U https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/1985/sustainable-agriculture-and-the-environment-in-the-humid-tropics %> https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/1985/sustainable-agriculture-and-the-environment-in-the-humid-tropics %I The National Academies Press %C Washington, DC %G English %K Environment and Environmental Studies %P 720 %X Rainforests are rapidly being cleared in the humid tropics to keep pace with food demands, economic needs, and population growth. Without proper management, these forests and other natural resources will be seriously depleted within the next 50 years. Sustainable Agriculture and the Environment in the Humid Tropics provides critically needed direction for developing strategies that both mitigate land degradation, deforestation, and biological resource losses and help the economic status of tropical countries through promotion of sustainable agricultural practices. The book includes: A practical discussion of 12 major land use options for boosting food production and enhancing local economies while protecting the natural resource base. Recommendations for developing technologies needed for sustainable agriculture. A strategy for changing policies that discourage conserving and managing natural resources and biodiversity. Detailed reports on agriculture and deforestation in seven tropical countries.