Fundamentals of Horticulture

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In the Indian economy, where almost half of an average household's expenditure goes toward food and where half of the labour force is engaged in agriculture, one cannot simply wish away the centrality of agriculture. India's agriculture is responsible for feeding a large and growing population that numbers 1.25 billion today.

Horticulture is the branch of agriculture that deals with the art, science, technology, and business of growing plants. It includes the cultivation of medicinal plants, fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, herbs, flowers, and non-food crops such as grass and ornamental trees and plants. It also includes plant conservation, landscape restoration, landscape and garden design, construction and maintenance.

Horticultural crops are valuable and therefore important for improving the economic status of the farmers since they get more returns per unit area as compared to the agronomic crops. These crops are especially beneficial to small and marginal farmers. Commercial cultivation of fruits, vegetables, flowers, plantation and spices medicinal and aromatic crops has tremendous scope since these crops are in great demand in domestic and international markets and provides opportunities for employment in urban and rural sectors. This will help in reducing the socio-economic problems in rural areas.

This book is divided into two sections, first dealing with economic importance and classification of horticultural crops and their nutritive value, fruits and vegetable zones of India, nursery management practices-soil and climate, vegetable garden-nutrition, kitchen garden and other types of gardens, principles, planning and layout management of orchards, planting systems and planting densities, nursery technique and their management, principles and methods of pruning and training of fruits crops, types and use of bio- regulators in horticulture crops, water-management, weed-management, fertility management in horticultural crops, bearing habits, factors influencing the fruitlessness, rejuvenation of old orchards and principles of organic farming. The second section deals with fruit and vegetable production technology of mango, guava, papaya, grape, aonla, brinjal, capsicum, chilli, tomato and potato.

This text book is a vital suppliment for UG and PG students for developing, analyzing, systematizing, and disseminating improved horticultural practices.

Dr. Pushpendra Pratap Singh was born on 15 February, 1696 in Sultanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India.Dr. Singh did his B.Sc. in Agriculture from North Eastern Hill University. Shillong and M.Sc. (Horticulture) from School of Agricultural Sciences and Rural Development. Medziphema, Nagaland. Dr. Singh did his Ph.D. from Narendra Dev University of Agriculture and Technology. Faizabad and is presently serving as a Senior Scientist (Vegetable Science) at ICAR-Central Institute for Arid Horticulture, Bikaner. He has more than 16 years of teaching and research experience. To his credit he has 35 research publications in journals of national and international repute. Dr. Singh was the PI of the All India Coordinated Research Project on Grapes from 2009-13. Moreover, Dr. Singh is a member of several professional bodies and societies and serves as the reviewer of several national and international journals.

Dr. Inder Singh Naruka was born on 3rd March, 1972 at Tonk Dist., Rajasthan, India. Dr. Naruka did B.Sc. Agriculture (Hon's), M.Sc. (Horticultural Sciences) and Ph.D. (Horticulture) from Rajasthan Agricultural University, Bikaner, Rajasthan. Later, he served as Scientist (Horticulture) at the College of Horticulture, Mandsaur, JNKVV, Jabalpur, M.P. In 2014, he was appointed as the Deputy Director of Research (Agril.) at the Directorate of Research Services, RVSKVV, Gwalior (M.P.) besides he is also handling the All India Coordinated Research Project on Fruits (Grapes) as a Principal Investigator. Dr. Naruka has more than 16 years of experience in teaching, research and extension activities. He has more than 50 research publications to his credit and serves as the member of several professional bodies and societies. Dr. Naruka was also elected as the Fellow of The Indian Society of Seed Spices, Ajmer.

In the Indian economy, where almost half of an average household's expenditure goes toward food and where half of the labour force is engaged in agriculture, one cannot simply wish away the centrality of agriculture. India's agriculture is responsible for feeding a large and growing population that numbers 1.25 billion today.

Horticulture is the branch of agriculture that deals with the art, science, technology, and business of growing plants. It includes the cultivation of medicinal plants, fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, herbs, flowers, and non-food crops such as grass and ornamental trees and plants. It also includes plant conservation, landscape restoration, landscape and garden design, construction and maintenance.

Horticultural crops are valuable and therefore important for improving the economic status of the farmers since they get more returns per unit area as compared to the agronomic crops. These crops are especially beneficial to small and marginal farmers. Commercial cultivation of fruits, vegetables, flowers, plantation and spices medicinal and aromatic crops has tremendous scope since these crops are in great demand in domestic and international markets and provides opportunities for employment in urban and rural sectors. This will help in reducing the socio-economic problems in rural areas.