Textbooks

The Art and Science of Teaching Agriculture: Four Keys to Dynamic Learning by M. Susie Whittington, Rick R. Rudd, Jack Elliot (CC BY-NC).

This is a 240-page methods of teaching book. Specifically, it is a collection of thoughts, best practices, strategies, and techniques for planning, delivering, and assessing teaching and learning. This resource is assembled from among the best teaching professors in agricultural communication, education, and leadership in America. The authors offer the opportunity to build confidence in planning, delivering, and assessing the depths of the variables inherent in learning for secondary and postsecondary educators in both formal and nonformal educational environments.

Canadian System of Soil Classification by dsaurette (CC BY-NC).

This revised publication replaces The Canadian System of Soil Classification (second edition) published in 1987. The changes incorporated in this current publication are based on the work of the Soil Classification Working Group formerly of the Expert Committee on Soil Survey, and continued by the Land Resource Division of the former Centre for Land and Biological Resources Research, Ottawa, Ont. (1stEdition)-(2nd Edition)

Composting Toolkit by Kerri Sapsford.

This toolkit has been crafted by the Applied Research Department through the Sustainability Led Integrated Center of Excellence at Saskatchewan Polytechnic Prince Albert, Saskatchewan and funded through the Colleges and Institutes of Canada (CICAN). Through this toolkit we hope to promote the use of on-site composting at sites where composting services are not available. As Composting can reduce greenhouse gas emissions, divert waste from the landfill and utilize a beneficial nutrient resource that would otherwise go to waste it only makes sense to compost as much as possible. The benefits also expand to those who interact with your site as they become aware of nature-based solutions that will regenerate our land and economy.

Crop Improvement  by Walter Suza (Editor); Kendall Lamkey (Editor); Asheesh Singh; Teshale Mamo; Arti Singh; Jessica Barb; Shui-Zhang Fei; and Anthony A. Mahama (CC BY-NC).

This book covers basic principles in the genetic improvement of crop plants. Emphasis is on methods of cultivar development in self-pollinating, cross-pollinating and asexually propagating crops. Relevant examples of crop improvement research in Africa are utilized to cover factors affecting cultivar release, multiplication, and distribution of high-quality seed.

History and Science of Cultivated Plants by Sushma Naithani (CC BY-NC).

This textbook narrates how humans transitioned from foragers to farmers and have arrived at present-day industrial agriculture-based civilization. It entails myths, historical accounts, and scientific concepts to describe how human efforts have shaped and produced easier to grow, larger, tastier, and more nutritious fruits, vegetables, and grains from wild plants. Using examples of various economically and socially important crops central to human civilization, the book describes the origin of crop plants, the evolution of agricultural practices, fundamental concepts of natural selection vs. domestication, experimental and methodical plant breeding, and plant biotechnology.