The Chestnut Handbook: Crop and Forest Management

From Mediterranean Europe to Chile and from China to Australia, chestnut cultivation surface has greatly increased globally over the last several decades. The crop provides solid revenue to growers, is resilient to climate change and the fruits are a calorie-dense, carbohydrate-rich nut, the production of which improves soil and sequesters carbon. However, there is a great lack and a great need for technical information on management of old and new chestnut plantations.

The Chestnut Handbook shares achievements in chestnut development and cultivation including information on sustainable planning and management of chestnut production from nursery to plantation, entomology, pathology, and ecosystem services. Cultivation techniques of Chinese, Japanese, and European chestnut species including hybrids are described containing information on over 550 local and commercial cultivars. Beautiful original handmade drawings and technical sheets facilitate accessibility and comprehension of information.

FEATURES:

• Offers practical, easy-to-follow, technical solutions for chestnut farming and forestry, provides ideas for present and future plantations and management

• Contains more than 300 figures published in full color featuring original handmade drawings

• Provides information about cultural practices, nursery techniques and ecosystem services

• Includes a reference list of over 550 local and commercial cultivars of Chinese, Japanese, and European chestnut species and their hybrids

• Presents important information on both major and minor pests and diseases as well as pest diseases and physiological disorders.

With the collaboration of more than 30 researchers from internationally renowned institutes, professionals and nurserymen this book serves as a technical reference and valuable resource for agronomists, forest experts, farmers, researchers and students of agricultural and forestry sciences.

Gabriele Loris Beccaro is associate professor of General Arboriculture at the Department of Agricultural, Forestry and Food Sciences of the University of Torino (Italy).

Alberto Alma is full professor of Entomology at the Department of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences, University of Torino.

Giancarlo Bounous is currently Liaison Leader, Subnetwork on Chestnut, within the framework of the FAO/CIHEAM Inter-regional Cooperative Research Network on Nuts.

José Gomes-Laranjo is associate professor of Plant Physiology at the University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (Portugal).