Principles and Practices of Protected Horticulture

This book presents a comprehensive and practice-oriented account of Protected Cultivation, addressing its principles, technologies, and applications with special emphasis on Indian conditions while maintaining a global perspective. Structured into ten well-defined units, the book systematically guides readers from the fundamentals of protected horticulture to advanced digital and smart farming interventions.

The initial units discuss the importance, scope, and potential of protected cultivation in the context of global food security, urban and peri-urban agriculture, and India growing demand for high-quality vegetables. Subsequent sections provide detailed insights into protected structures, environmental control, growing media, and nursery technologies such as plug-tray raising and vegetable grafting.

A major strength of the book lies in its crop-specific production technologies, covering key solanaceous and cucurbitaceous vegetables under greenhouse conditions. Dedicated units on water, nutrient, and soil management, including drip irrigation, fertigation, and plastic mulching, ensure practical relevance. The book further integrates seed production, plant protection, pollination, GAP, organic practices, and sustainability within protected systems.

Advanced chapters highlight the role of protected cultivation in vegetable improvement, smart agriculture, sensors, and digital technologies, followed by post-harvest quality retention, value addition, and agri-tourism linkages. The book concludes with a comprehensive glossary, making it a valuable reference for undergraduate and postgraduate students, researchers, extension professionals, entrepreneurs, and policy planners involved in modern horticulture and protected farming systems.