Slash-And-Burn Rice Systems in the Hills of Northern Lao Pdr: Description, Challenges, and Opportunities

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Slash-And-Burn Rice Systems in the Hills of Northern Lao Pdr: Description, Challenges, and Opportunities SLASH-AND-BURN RICE SYSTEMS IN THE HILLS OF NORTHERN LAO PDR: DESCRIPTION, CHALLENGES, AND OPPORTUNITIES W. RODER 2001 IRRI INTERNATIONAL RICE RESEARCH INSTITUTE The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) was established in 1960 by the Ford and Rockefeller Foundations with the help and approval of the Government of the Philippines. Today IRRI is one of the 16 nonprofit in- ternational research centers supported by the Consultative Group on Inter- national Agricultural Research (CGIAR). The CGIAR is sponsored by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (World Bank). the United Na- tions Development Programme (UNDP). and the United Nations Environ- ment Programme (UNEP). Its membership comprises donor countries. international and regional organizations, and private foundations. As listed in its most recent Corporate Report. IRRI receives support. through the COIAR, from donors such as UNDP. World Bank. European Union. Asian Development Bank. International Fund for Agricultural Development (WAD). Rockefeller Foundation. and the international aid agencies of the following governments: Australia. Belgium. Brazil. Canada. People’s Republic of China. Denmark. France. Germany, India. Indonesia. Islamic Republic of Iran. Japan, Republic of Korea. Mexico, The Nether- lands. Norway. Peru, Philippines. Spain. Sweden. Switzerland. Thailand. United Kingdom. and United States. The responsibility for this publication rests with the International Rice Research Institute. Copyright International Rice Research Institute 2000 Mailing address: DAPO Box 7777. Metro Manila. Philippines Phone: (63-2) 845-0563, 844-3351 to 53 Fax: (63-2) 891-1292. 845-0606 Email: [email protected] URL: http://www.cgiar.org.irri Riceweb: http://wwwsiceweb.org Riceworld: http://wwwsiceworld.org Courier address: Suite 1099. Pacific Bank Building 6776 Ayala Avenue, Makati Metro Manila. Philippines Tel. (63-2) 891-1236. 891-1174.891-1258, 891-1303 Suggested citation: W Roden 2001. Slash-and-Bum Rice Systems in the Hills of Northern Lao PDR: Description. Challenges, and Opportunities. Los Baños (Philip- pines): International Rice Research institute. 201 p. Cover photo: The effects of slash-and-burn agriculture are readily evident to air travelers between Vientiane and Luang Prabang. Lao PDR (Gene Hettel). Page layout: George R. Reyes ISBN 971-22-0153-8 ISSN 0117-8180 Contents Foreword v Acknowledgments vi introduction 1 The uplands of Lao PDR 3 Existing slash-and-burn practices and problems 9 and diversity in rice varieties Research methodology 23 Participatory research methodologies 23 Exploiting heterogeneity 23 Measurements for soil movements 23 Minimizing plot-to-plot interactions 24 Vegetation measurements for weed, fallow 24 vegetation, or improved fallow Variation in parameters measured 24 Soil and soil fertility 19 Weed management and fallow vegetation 79 Weed and weed management during the rice crop 79 Fallow vegetation 79 Fallow improvement/management 117 Introduction and evaluation of potential species 117 Establishment 118 Effects on rice yield 118 Residue management 119 Alternative land use 167 Future directions 195 References 199 Foreword Over the past decade, the Lao-IRRI Rice Research and Training Project (LIRRTP) has been the principal source of capacity building and technological developments in the rice sector in Lao PDR. From a very low base in 1990, the project has helped develop a functional national rice research system involving more than 120 government officials and technicians. Research has been conducted in irrigated, rainfed lowland, and upland ecosystems. This publication focuses on efforts in the uplands. Despite significant progress in the uplands, several challenges remain. For example, research has to build on previous component technology research and identify technologies that move away from slash-and- burn shifting cultivation to more stable and more sustainable inte- grated production systems. Thus, whole-system considerations (e.g., markets and infrastructure) and agroforestry will be important elements. This document brings together much of the previous upland work completed in the LIRRTR We hope that this will form the basis for enhanced efficiency. William G Padolina Deputy Director General for Partnerships v Acknowledgments Working in the Lao upland environment was a tremendously interest- ing and rewarding experience. It not only provided me with an excellent chance to widen my professional expertise in tropical agriculture but also gave me ample opportunity to gain exposure to disciplines outside agronomy, such as socioeconomics and anthropol- ogy. This work was made possible through the institutional support of IRRI, the financial support of SDC, and the strong commitment and continuous support of the Lao Ministry of Agriculture and the provin- cial agriculture governments. The provincial agriculture service in Luang Prabang was especially important as the upland component of the Lao-IRRI Project was implemented under its auspices. The support by the team leader of the Lao-IRRI project. John Schiller, is acknowledged. The friendship and undiminished support by the national director of the Lao-IRRJ Project. Viengsavanh Manivong, in spite of my sometimes unconventional needs and requests, ensured the stability and continuity of the research activi- ties. I owe special thanks to Suvit Pushpavesa, who knew all there was to know about rice and was there whenever advice was needed. Thanks are due to W. Leacock, who introduced me to research methodologies used in social sciences. Of the many colleagues with whom I had the opportunity to work and interact, I would especially like to mention Houmpheng Soukhaphonh, Somphet Phengchanh, Khouanheuane Vannalath, Boonchanh Chathapadith, Soulasith Maniphone, Boonthanh Keobonalapha, and Khamdok Songyikhangsuthor from Luang Prabang Agriculture Service, Somsamut Phongsavath from the Agriculture Service of Oudomxay Province, and Bouakham Phouaravanh from the National Agriculture Research Service. Most importantly, I have to thank the Lao upland farmers who worked with us and were always ready to share their knowledge and to answer our questions. vi Introduction Slash-and-bum agriculture is considered to be development efforts concentrated on lowland one of the oldest land-use systems (Spencer rice production systems, whereas the upland 1966). Although the practice has long disap- population has often been by-passed. Further- peared in temperate regions, it is still common in more, the wide diversity of biophysical and tropical and subtropical areas and is said to be socioeconomic environments provides a major practiced by at least 300 million people, involving challenge for the research and development up to 30% of the global exploitable soils (Warner process. 1991).Although production systems vary, most An in-depth understanding of the existing slash-and-bum farmers depend on perennials to production system is required to formulate suppress weeds and to restore soil fertility during recommendations for changes. Although the the fallow period. It is generally agreed that number of publications on slash-and-bum slash-and-burn systems are sustainable with long production systems generated over the past two fallows when the population densities are low. decades is considerable, quantitative data on soil, Traditional systems have low productivity per water, plant, and other biophysical factors of the unit area, but give high returns to labor, with low systems remain limited. It must also be empha- energy requirements. sized that long-term solutions to the problems In most countries, slash-and-bum agriculture faced by Lao slash-and-bum farmers cannot be has regional importance only, but for Lao PDR it found by focusing on their production system in is a major land-use practice involving more than isolation. The problem can only be solved by a 150,000 households or 25% of the rural popula- holistic approach that takes into consideration the tion (Lao PDR 1999). If all the fallow land is entire economy and social fabric of the country included, shifting cultivation may use upto 80% and its neighbors. Interdependencies and link- of the soils used for agriculture. Low population ages in the national economy, especially employ- densities, low incomes, and low access to inputs ment opportunities, market opportunities, access in the past made slash-and-burn agriculture the to social institutions, and rules regulating off-site best land-use option for the rural population in effects, need to be recognized and exploited to the hilly regions of the country. Today, increasing optimize benefits for the households that now population pressure, Increasing degradation of depend on slash-and-burn agriculture. the resource base, global awareness of off site In line with government priorities, the Lao- effects, and an increasing interdependence IRRI Project, in collaboration with the Lao between lowland and hill farmers have changed National Agriculture Service and the provincial the situation and demand a new approach. It is agriculture services, carried out a comprehensive thus not surprising that the government has given research program focusing on high priority to transforming this perceived Characterizing the production system and harmful system to other agricultural systems. environments Information on the production system and Collecting and characterizing traditional improved technologies available for extension are upland
Recommended publications
  • Lao People's Democratic Republic: Responding to Rice Price Inflation
    Munich Personal RePEc Archive Lao People’s Democratic Republic: responding to rice price inflation Loening, Josef L. World Bank 15 August 2011 Online at https://mpra.ub.uni-muenchen.de/33443/ MPRA Paper No. 33443, posted 16 Sep 2011 10:14 UTC POLICY BRIEF REPORT NO. 62276-LA Lao People’s Democratic Republic DraftResponding to Rice Price Inflation Report No. 62276-LA Lao People’s Democratic Republic Responding to Rice Price Inflation Policy Brief August 15, 2011 Social, Environmental, and Rural Sustainable Development Unit Sustainable Development Department East Asia and Pacific Region _____________________________________________________ This volume is a product of the staff of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development/The World Bank. The findings, interpretations, and conclusions expressed in this paper do not necessarily reflect the views of the Executive Directors of The World Bank or the governments they represent. The World Bank does not guarantee the accuracy of the data included in this work. The boundaries, colors, denominations, and other information shown on any map in this work do not imply any judgment on the part of The World Bank concerning the legal status of any territory or the endorsement or acceptance of such boundaries. The material in this publication is copyrighted. Copying and/or transmitting portions or all of this work without permission may be a violation of applicable law. The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development/The World Bank encourages dissemination of its work and will normally grant permission to reproduce portions of the work promptly. For permission to photocopy or reprint any part of this work, please send a request with complete information to the Copyright Clearance Center, Inc., 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923, USA, telephone 978- 750-8400, fax 978-750-4470, http://www.copyright.com/.
    [Show full text]
  • Annexes to RICE Proposal April, 2016
    Annexes to RICE proposal April, 2016 Annex 1. Budget summary ....................................................................................................................... 3 Annex 2. Partnership strategy .................................................................................................................. 4 Annex 3. Capacity development ............................................................................................................ 18 Annex 4. Gender .................................................................................................................................... 22 Annex 5. Youth strategy ........................................................................................................................ 26 Annex 6. Results-based management .................................................................................................... 28 Annex 7. Linkages with other CRPs and site integration ......................................................................... 35 Annex 8. RICE staffing ............................................................................................................................ 63 8. 1 Program Planning and Management Team ................................................................................. 63 8.2 Flagship project 1 ........................................................................................................................ 73 8.3 Flagship project 2 .......................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Soil Fertility Management for Organic Rice Production in the Lao PDR
    CORE Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems: 21(4); 253–260 DOI:Metadata, 10.1079/RAF2006161 citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk Provided by RERO DOC Digital Library Soil fertility management for organic rice production in the Lao PDR W. Roder1,*, S. Schu¨rmann2, P. Chittanavanh3, K. Sipaseuth3, and M. Fernandez4 1CIP/CFC, PO Box 670, Thimphu, Bhutan. 2Swiss College of Agriculture, Zollikofen, Bern, Switzerland. 3Project for the Promotion of Organic Farming and Marketing in Lao PDR, Vientiane, Lao PDR. 4Project Promotion of Organic Rice from Lao PDR, Vientiane, Lao PDR. *Corresponding author: [email protected] Accepted 23 March 2006 Research Paper Abstract Rice is the most important agricultural commodity of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR), produced largely using traditional methods with limited inputs of fertilizers and other chemicals. The country has a wide diversity in rice production systems and rice varieties, with over 3000 different varieties recorded. The rich diversity and the production environment and methods are favorable for organic rice production. Investigations were carried out to describe soil fertility conditions, management practices, opportunities and problems associated with organic production methods for rice. Soils used for rice production are mostly of low fertility, with low organic matter and N-availability. In spite of this, virtually no fertilizer inputs are used for upland rice production. Inorganic fertilizer inputs for lowland rice production have increased rapidly over the past decade, but are still below 20 kg ha-1. The most important nutrient sources are rice straw and manure from buffalo and cattle. Chromolaena odorata plays an important role in nutrient cycling in upland rice systems and is sometimes added to lowland fields.
    [Show full text]
  • Constraints to Rice Production Systems in Laos
    Constraints to Rice Production Systems in Laos J.M. Schiller1*, B. Linquist1, K. Douangsila2, P. Inthapanya2, B. Douang Boupha2, S. Inthavong3 and P. Sengxua2 Abstract In 1999, total rice production in Laos was more than 2.1 million tonnes, enough to make the nation self-sufficient in rice. Over the past 2 decades, total production has increased by about 100%, with most of the increase occurring in the rainfed lowlands where production jumped from 705 000 t in 1980 to 1 502 000 t in 1999. Even though the dry-season irrigated environment has increased production by almost nine times in the past decade (from 41 000 t in 1990 to 354 000 t in 1999) and further small-scale irrigation schemes are planned to achieve a total dry-season irrigated area of about 180 000 ha by 2005, the wet-season lowland environment will remain the most important rice-producing environment for the foreseeable future. Higher yields and reduced year-to-year variability in production can be expected with further intensification of production systems in the lowlands. However, further improvements in production will depend on higher levels of inputs and continued alleviation of some production constraints. The uplands will become less important for rice production as alternative, more sustainable technologies are developed to replace the current ‘slash-and-burn’ and shifting cultivation practices. This paper summarizes the known main abiotic and biotic production constraints in each of Laos’s rice-producing environ- ments: wet-season lowlands, dry-season irrigated, and rainfed uplands, but not those socioeconomic constraints that can also have significant impact on farmer attitudes and production.
    [Show full text]
  • Rice: Feeding the Billions 14
    The culture of rice Artist: Supriyo Das, India Rice: feeding 14 the billions Coordinating lead author: Bas Bouman Lead authors: Randolph Barker, Elizabeth Humphreys, and To Phuc Tuong Contributing authors: Gary Atlin, John Bennett, David Dawe, Klaus Dittert, Achim Dobermann, Thierry Facon, Nao Fujimoto, Raj Gupta, Stephan Haefele, Yasukazu Hosen, Abdel Ismail, David Johnson, Sarah Johnson, Shabaz Khan, Lin Shan, Ilyas Masih, Yutaka Matsuno, Sushil Pandey, Shaobing Peng, Thruppayathangudi Mutukumarisami Thiyagarajan, and Reiner Wassman. Overview Because rice is critical for food security in so many of the poorest countries, investments in the rice sector should be designed to alleviate poverty and meet the food demands of still growing—and increasingly urbanized—populations. In all rice environments vital ecosystem services— such as biodiversity, groundwater recharge, and flow regulation—in addition to food pro- duction should be explicitly recognized and protected. Rice may be relatively benign to the environment compared with other crops: more methane emission but less nitrous oxide, little to no nitrate leaching, and little herbicide use. The food security of many poor consumers depends on the productive capacity of irrigated areas. Increasing water scarcity is expected to further shift rice production to more water-abundant delta areas and to lead to crop diversification and more aerobic soil conditions in rice fields in water-short areas. Investments in these areas should support the adoption of water-saving technologies and the improvement of irrigation supply systems, while sustaining the resource base of the rice fields. There is no single solution for all circumstances, and investments need to be selective and specifically targeted to the different rice environments.
    [Show full text]
  • 11684727 02.Pdf
    PART II COUNTRY REPORTS COUNTRY REPORT Summaries of the Country Reports ASEAN Countries Brunei Darussalam Cambodia Indonesia Laos Malaysia Myanmar Philippines Singapore Thailand Vietnam +3 Countries China Japan Korea Summary of Country Report: Brunei Darussalam 1. Production A limited quantity of rice (about 200 tons or about 0.6% of total consumption) is produced by small farmers in the interior region. The output is usually kept for their own consumption. Many schemes were attempted in the past, to increase domestic rice production, including the importation of farmer to cultivate rice in Brunei D. and investing in the production of rice in other countries. These alternatives had proved to be less efficient than import. 2. Imports Almost all the rice consumed in Brunei Darussalam is imported. Most of rice imported is the high quality fragrant rice from Thailand. However, there are some diversification from this traditional source. The import of rice is conducted through the Government-to-Government (G-to-G) arrangement, especially, with Thailand. Other sources of supply include Singapore and Vietnam. The import is controlled and managed by the State Store under the Department of Information Technology and State Store, Ministry of Finance. 3. Consumption Brunei Darussalam has 350,000 population and most of the people are in the urban. The per capita income is about US$ 24,000 in the year 2000. The per capita consumption of rice is about 94.8 kg in 1998 and 108.6 kg in 1999. The total consumption of rice is about 36,000 tons in the year. 4. Reserve Policies The import of rice is controlled and regulated by the State Store.
    [Show full text]
  • Contract Farming and Organic Rice Production in Laos – a Transformation Analysis
    Södertörns högskola | Institutionen för Nationalekonomi Magisteruppsats 15 hp | Ekonomi | Höstterminen 2011 Contract farming and organic rice production in Laos – a transformation analysis Published: January 2009 Prepared by: Av: Gustaf Erikson Handledare: Thomas Marmefelt Executive Summary As in many least developed countries the farmers in Laos are heavily dependent on subsistence based agriculture production for their livelihood. A key for increased welfare for the rural population in Laos is to increase their profits of small scale farmers and generate a higher income per capita. One possible way to increase the profits and income for smallholder farmers may be to convert in to organic rice production for the export market, since the international market for organic rice is growing, consumers are prepared to pay a premium prise for organic products and conditions for organic rice production are favourable in Laos. Organic rice farming has grown in Laos during the last decade as greater volumes of organic rice are produced and exported. Organic rice is mainly produced by smallholders in donor projects or by contract farmers supplying contract farming companies. In this thesis I try to determine the causes behind this structural transformation by incorporating evolutionary economic theory (Schumpeter, 1911; Dahmén, 1950 and Marmefelt, 1998) which focuses on entrepreneurial innovations and creditors as the basis for changes in the economy. By performing a Dahménian transformation analysis of the transition from conventional- to organic rice production within the development block around rice production in Laos, I try to determine the transformation pressure causing the transformation to take place. Emphasis is in particular given to the role of contract farming in this process.
    [Show full text]
  • RICE Phase II Annexes
    RICE annexes plus compendium Page 1 RICE annexes plus compendium Page 2 Annexes, Companion document, and support letters to RICE proposal July, 2016 Annexes to RICE proposal ....................................................................................................................... 5 Annex 1. Budget summary ....................................................................................................................... 5 Annex 2. Partnership strategy .................................................................................................................. 6 Annex 3. Capacity development ............................................................................................................ 20 Annex 4. Gender .................................................................................................................................... 24 Annex 5. Youth strategy ........................................................................................................................ 28 Annex 6. Results-based management and ME&L ................................................................................... 30 Annex 7. Linkages with other CRPs and site integration ......................................................................... 39 Annex 8. RICE staffing ............................................................................................................................ 67 8. 1 Program Planning and Management Team ................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Agrarian Transition in Lowland Southern Laos: Implications for Rural Livelihoods
    Agrarian Transition in Lowland Southern Laos: Implications for Rural Livelihoods Vongpaphane Manivong BSc (Economics) MPhil (Agricultural Economics) A thesis submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at The University of Queensland in 2014 School of Agriculture and Food Sciences Abstract Despite being a low-income, agriculture-based country with a subsistence orientation, Laos is in the early stages of a major economic transformation whereby rural households have been experiencing rapid change in their farming and livelihood systems. Some households have begun to engage in semi-commercial farming while others have adopted labour-oriented or migration- oriented livelihood strategies. This study explores livelihood strategies of rural households in lowland rice-based farming systems in Southern Laos in relation to government policies for agricultural development and the agrarian transition occurring in Laos and the region. The analytical framework used for this study draws on farming systems economics, agrarian systems analysis, and rural livelihoods analysis. Data were obtained from six villages in the lowlands of Champasak Province in Southern Laos through key informant interviews, village group discussions, household surveys, and household case studies. Survey and case study data were supplemented with project and historical agronomic trial results in order to construct model budgets for various input scenarios of rice production. To allow for the production and market risks facing farmers, the budgeting analysis was supplemented by the techniques of sensitivity analysis, threshold analysis, and risk analysis. The study shows that Lao farmers in areas such as the lowlands of Champasak are caught up in, and contributing to, a much larger regional process of agrarian transition.
    [Show full text]
  • From Subsistence to Commercial Rice Production in Laos
    CHAPTER 5 From Subsistence to Commercial Rice Production in Laos Vongpaphane Manivong and Rob Cramb INTRODUCTION The rice sector in Laos is in a “sticky situation” in several senses. First, Laos is considered the centre of origin of glutinous or sticky rice (Muto et al. 2016) and this type of rice still accounts for around 90% of produc- tion (Schiller et al. 2006; Mullen et al. 2019). Second, of the four coun- tries considered in this volume, Laos has suffered the most from variability in rice production due to the high incidence of droughts and floods (Schiller et al. 2001, 2006). Third, this variability has made it difficult to achieve a reliable rice surplus at the national level, hindering investment in the processing capacity needed to develop a viable export industry. Fourth, the continued strong preference for growing glutinous varieties for domes- tic consumption has limited export growth to niche markets within the region where glutinous rice is consumed. Finally, the pursuit of market V. Manivong (*) Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Vientiane, Laos R. Cramb School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia e-mail: [email protected] © The Author(s) 2020 103 R. Cramb (ed.), White Gold: The Commercialisation of Rice Farming in the Lower Mekong Basin, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-0998-8_5 104 V. MANIVONG AND R. CRAMB liberalisation within a socialist political regime has created a certain “stickiness” in policymaking institutions—a feature shared with Vietnam (Nguyen et al. 2017). All of this means that rice farming in Laos is the least commercialised within the Lower Mekong.
    [Show full text]
  • Nutrient Management in Rainfed Lowland Rice in the Lao
    The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) was established in 1960 by the Ford and Rockefeller Foundations with the help and approval of the Govern- ment of the Philippines. Today IRRI is one of 16 nonprofit international research centers supported by the Consultative Group on International Agricul- tural Research (CGIAR). The CGIAR is cosponsored by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (World Bank), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Its membership comprises donor countries, international and regional organizations, and private foundations. As listed in its most recent Corporate Report, IRRI receives support, through the CGIAR, from a number of donors including UNDP, World Bank, European Union, Asian Development Bank, and Rockefeller Foundation, and the international aid agencies of the following governments: Australia, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, People’s Republic of China, Denmark, France, Germany, India, Islamic Republic of Iran, Japan, Republic of Korea, The Netherlands, Norway, Philippines, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, United Kingdom, and United States. The responsibility for this publication rests with the International Rice Research Institute. Copyright International Rice Research Institute 2001 Mailing address: DAPO Box 7777, Metro Manila, Philippines Phone: (63-2) 845-0563, 844-3351 to 53 Fax: (63-2) 891-1292, 845-0606 Email: [email protected] Home page: www.irri.org Riceweb: www.riceweb.org Riceworld: www.riceworld.org Courier address: Suite 1009, Pacific Bank Building 6776 Ayala Avenue, Makati City, Philippines Tel. (63-2) 891-1236, 891-1174, 891-1258, 891-1303 Suggested citation: Linquist B, Sengxua P.
    [Show full text]
  • Sustainable Development of Rice and Water Resources in Mainland
    Tuyet L. Cosslett · Patrick D. Cosslett Sustainable Development of Rice and Water Resources in Mainland Southeast Asia and Mekong River Basin Sustainable Development of Rice and Water Resources in Mainland Southeast Asia and Mekong River Basin Tuyet L. Cosslett • Patrick D. Cosslett Sustainable Development of Rice and Water Resources in Mainland Southeast Asia and Mekong River Basin Tuyet L. Cosslett Patrick D. Cosslett Ashburn, Virginia Ashburn, Virginia USA USA ISBN 978-981-10-5612-3 ISBN 978-981-10-5613-0 (eBook) DOI 10.1007/978-981-10-5613-0 Library of Congress Control Number: 2017947905 © Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2018 This work is subject to copyright. All rights are reserved by the Publisher, whether the whole or part of the material is concerned, specifically the rights of translation, reprinting, reuse of illustrations, recitation, broadcasting, reproduction on microfilms or in any other physical way, and transmission or information storage and retrieval, electronic adaptation, computer software, or by similar or dissimilar methodology now known or hereafter developed. The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, service marks, etc. in this publication does not imply, even in the absence of a specific statement, that such names are exempt from the relevant protective laws and regulations and therefore free for general use. The publisher, the authors and the editors are safe to assume that the advice and information in this book are believed to be true and accurate at the date of publication. Neither the publisher nor the authors or the editors give a warranty, express or implied, with respect to the material contained herein or for any errors or omissions that may have been made.
    [Show full text]