Established and Emerging Practices for Soil and Crop Productivity

Avtar Singh Bimbraw

• Publisher: CRC Press
• Year: 2021
• ISBN:
  9781000429701
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Tecnologia e ingegneria
• Subtopic: Agricoltura sostenibile

The book explains the various existing, emerging and environmentally viable technologies for the sustainable and profitable crop productivity. The book also focusses on climate change, hurricanes and tropical storms, natural resources management, crop diversification, crop resource management, cropping systems, farming system, management of land use resources, conservation agriculture, crop residue management, renewable energy, precision agriculture, integrated nutrient management, integrated pest management.
Note: T&F does not sell or distribute the Hardback in India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

1 Importance, Impact And Objectives Of Green Technology

As the name implies green technology is one that has a “green” purpose. By green do not mean the colour, however, Mother Nature is quite green and the long and short term impact an invention has on the environment. Green inventions are eco- friendly inventions that often involve: energy efficiency, recycling, safety and health concerns, renewable resources and more. One of the best known examples of green technology may be the solar cell. A solar cell directly converts the solar energy into electrical energy through the process of photovoltaic. Generating electricity from solar energy means less consumption of fossil fuels, reducing pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. Another simple invention that can be considered green is the re-usable water bottle. Drinking lots of water is healthy. Reducing plastic waste is great for the environment. Hence, trendy reusable water bottles that you can refill yourself are health-promoting, eco-friendly, and green. The word «Green Technology» is relatively new. Having been adopted just over the last couple of decades, Green is the way to go today. In order to understand the term green technology, let us first know the definition of green technology.

DEFINITION OF GREEN TECHNOLOGY

In simple words, it means the technology, which is eco-friendly, developed and used in such a way so that it doesn’t disturb our environment and conserves natural resources. The green technology is being referred to as environmental technology and clean technology. In the nascent stages of its development, the future only promises to bring bigger and better things for this field. It will in fact be a necessity of the future.

The term ‘green technology’ is now becoming quite popular. It appeared just over the last two decades. Green technology means this type of technology, which is environmentally friendly. Such technology was developed and is being used in a way, which does not disturb the environment and does not destroy natural resources. Green technology is also known as ‘environmental technology’ or ‘clean technology’.

Unlike the technological waves in recent decades, Green Technology is almost entirely materials science based. Relying on the availability of alternative sources of energy, the purpose of this technology is to reduce global warming as well as the green house effect.

Its main objective is to find ways to create new technologies in such a way that they do not damage or deplete the planets natural resources. It also expresses less harm to human, animal, and plant health, as well as damage to the world, in general. Going on with the green technology definition, our environment needs immediate recoup from pollution. With the help of green technology, one can reduce pollution and improve the cleanliness as well. Today developed as well as developing countries are turning to green technology to secure the environment from negative impacts. The green technology definition explained here basically gives you an idea about the messing up of the environment due to human intrusion and the important need to slow down and adopting healthier ways towards life. By adopting green technology wisely, the earth can be protected against environmental pollution.

The main purpose of green technology is to slow down global warming and reduce the green house effect. The main idea is the creation of new technologies which do not damage the natural resources. This should result into less harm to people, species and the general health of our planet.

Importance of Green Technology

Using green technology has become imperative today. It is important to stay current with what’s happening around. Today’s technology and conveniences are more focused on making more luxuries available to more people. The ugly side of this is the harm these products or new technologies are doing to our environment. This raises the importance of using green technology all the more.

• » As about using green technology, industries and regulatory bodies are already taking steps in the right direction. But one need not wait for others to come up with all the answers. By using green technology one can make their effort to help the environmental heal. One need not be a scientist to understand all about using green technology. Some easy environmentally friendly solutions are there for everybody to follow. Developing a planned community, making less packaging for frozen foods, using Environmental friendly machines are just a few examples. One can go out and seek products that support green technology.
• » By using green technology, we will march a step ahead in saving the environment and make the earth free from any danger. Destroying environment any further can lead to situations which can be irreversible. As green technology will help to reduce the use of fossil fuel, it is expected that energy production from green technology will be higher than fossil fuel sources of energy like oil, and gas in the future.
• » Using green technology will become not only important but mandatory too in the coming years. With the earths’ energy resources depleting fast, we have to rely on alternative sources of energy. Green technology encourages the concept of cleanliness, freshness as well as promotes new dimensions. The sooner we realize the importance of using green technology, the better it will be for our planet and its environment.
• » It now becomes obvious that our planet starts to suffocate from all the pollution we create. But if there is a will, there is a way to make this problem much smaller. The active use of green technology can help significantly reduce pollution. That is why the developed and some of the developing countries are now turning to this type of technology to help them protect the environment from aggressive impacts. Although the problems with pollution are old enough, green technology is a relatively new idea. It is now becoming more popular because people started to realize that we are really destroying our planet.

Effect of Green Technologies

Green technology, an environmentally friendly technology is developed and used in a way that protects the environment and conserves natural resources. A part of the renewable energy branch of the environmental technology movement, the green technology importance cannot be ignored. Therefore, there is need to pause and reflect on the growing green technology importance and why it is going to be important for humanity.

There are several reasons in respect of green technology importance, perhaps volumes maybe written and spoken on the subject. Whether it is the growing importance of green technology in the industry or at homes, it is obvious that things need to be done fast to clean environment and save energy resources. Going green can only help us come out of the present grim situation. Before things turn for the worst, we should realize the green technology importance to solve this problem.

Important Objectives of Green Technology

The objectives of green technology are many and some are given below:

• » The main objective of green technology is to meet the needs of society in any way without damaging or depleting natural resources on earth. The idea is to meet present needs without making any compromises.
• » Focusing on making products that can be fully reclaimed or re-used.
• » Changing patterns of production and consumption as steps to reduce waste and pollution.
• » It is essential to develop alternative technologies to prevent any further damage to health and the environment. Speeding their implementation can benefit our environment and truly protect the planet.

Explore the objectives of green technology by introducing sustainable living, developing renewable energy and reducing waste.

Ways to Reduce Waste and Promote Green Technology

With the ever rising populations and the subsequent climb in resource demands, the waste production has also increased. So, there is need to reduce waste. As one of the important objective of green technology, waste should be reduced, which is a crucial component of sustainable living. In this way, it can help to promote healthy environment and good habits for the coming generations. One of the basic ways to reduce waste is by reusing commodities and recycling. The waste production adds to emissions of carbon dioxide, methane, leaking dangerous materials into the soil and waterways. In the coming years, trillion pounds of natural resources are feared to get transformed into non productive wastes and gases. So, it has become very essential to take some steps immediately.

Reduce paper waste: Paper wastage can be reduced with the move of online document. Another means to reduce waste is to avoid buy in bulk, which lessens the use of packaging materials.

Food wastage: Organic waste keeps piling up, leading to costly methane emissions. Food waste can be re-introduced into the environment through composting, which can easily be carried out at home or with community composting.

Avoid buying materials in excess means more than requirement. It should be based on non-hazardous or less hazardous items. In general, addition of waste to landfills is practised. In order to curb this, the waste materials should be reused. Reuse not only saves natural resources, but also lessens our dependency on them. Recycling is another process to reduce waste. It primarily involves three primary processes; collection and processing, manufacturing. Purchase recycled products and promotes the goals of green technology

Green Sustainable Living

In simple words, sustainable living communities mean living a lifestyle that uses to reduce the depletion of the natural resource. Followers of sustainable living make efforts to shrink their carbon footprint by making changes in their lifestyle, like the way they use the transport, how they eat and the energy use in their homes. There is no shortage of ideas and tips for sustainable living and make the environment happier. To live a simpler, more sustainable life, just follow the following simple ideas for green sustainable living:

Recycle

Perhaps you already know about this are already recycling. But look around you and you may find a lot more that can be recycled. Reuse and recycle regularly.

Use a reusable bag

If one is casual, it is amazing to see how on ends up with piles and piles of plastic bags around them. Plastic bags are difficult to recycle and extremely toxic to our environment. Get a tote bag whenever you go shopping.

Eat sustainable

Cook from scratch and avoid preserved or pre cooked food from the market. If you eat more vegetarian diet, you’ll achieve the goals of green technology a lot faster by buying sustainable living products.

Drive less

Keeping in view environment, there are some trips, which are completely avoidable. Walk or use bicycle whenever possible and avoid becoming too reliant on the automobile. You will be doing yourself as well as the environment a lot good.

Make less waste

Avoid wastage wherever you can. Buy less, eat less, and spend less. The impulse decisions and impulsive purchases build only more wastage around us. In order to promote sustainable living communities around you, get out of this habit fast and buy only what you really need.

Feature of Sustainable Living Communities

Sustainable communities generally strive to minimize waste, reduce consumption and preserve open space. Ideally, they don’t use resources faster than they can be replenished. Sustainable communities don’t produce waste faster than it can be assimilated back into the environment. Sustainable communities are designing the neighbourhood to encourage walking or bicycling. Less deriving means less gas and reduced emissions. Many eco-villages also incorporate work space into homes or encourage telecommuting. They also might zone part of the development for commercial use, essentially making the community a self contained environment where residents don’t even have to leave for shopping or entertainment. This design sometimes is called a live—work-play lifestyle.

Using green building techniques is another staple of sustainable communities. For ex. Architects design buildings to take advantages of the sun’s lighting and heating capabilities. They install energy-efficient appliances. They try to use local sources of materials as much as possible to cut back on the environmental costs of transport. They build with durable, non-toxic materials that have either been recycled or sustainably harvested. Houses made of straw, which essentially use bales of straw as the structural building blocks; cob houses, which are a mix of straw, clay and sand or earth bag homes, which are exactly what they sound like, homes made out of bags of dirt.

Along with green building techniques, sustainable communities rely on green gardening methods. They landscape with native, drought-tolerant plants and raise them organically to reduce water and keep pesticides and herbicides out of the environment. Some settlements, like Serenbe, also maintain sizable organic vegetable gardens to provide a local food source. Serenbe is a progressive community connected to nature on the edge of Atlanta. A neighbourhood full of fresh food, fresh air and focused on wellbeing. This community is set among acres of preserved forests and meadows with miles of nature trails that connect homes and restaurants with arts and businesses. Serenbe’s architectural planning sets a new standard for community living.

Another way sustainable communities reduce ...