Smart Horticulture Production : Integrating Advanced Technologies

This new volume provides a comprehensive exploration of the intersection of technological advancement and agricultural practices, introducing the concept of smart horticulture production as a guiding principle that promises efficiency, precision, and environmental stewardship.

The volume begins with an overview of the foundational concepts of smart horticulture and then ventures into the realm of sensor technologies and data analytics, unravelling the intricacies of monitoring and managing horticultural systems with unprecedented precision. Through discussions on automation, robotics, and artificial intelligence, the book highlights how technology is revolutionizing every aspect of horticultural production, from planting and irrigation to pest management and harvesting. The chapters also emphasize sustainability and resilience in the face of evolving environmental challenges. In chapters dedicated to climate-smart practices, resource optimization, and organic cultivation methods, the book explores how smart horticulture serves as a bulwark against climate change and resource depletion while fostering biodiversity and ecosystem health.

Rajni Rajan, PhD, is a Subject Matter Specialist (Climate Change) at the Bankers Institute of Rural Development, India. Her research focuses on fruit breeding, biotechnology, tissue culture, abiotic stress management, and mutation breeding in fruit crops. She has published research papers, book chapters, and popular articles in journals and magazines and serves on the editorial boards of multiple reputable publications. She has also published two patents and was awarded one design patent by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India.

Duniya Ram Singh, PhD, serves as the Vice Chancellor of Bihar Agricultural University, India. Prior to this, he was Vice Chancellor at Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture and Technology, where he spearheaded its accreditation as the first NAAC-accredited state agricultural university in the country. Additionally, he has served as the Vice Chancellor in charge of Chhatrapati Shahu Ji Maharaj University and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture and Technology, India. Other roles include Director of the ICAR-National Research Centre for Orchids in Sikkim; Senior Scientist at the ICAR-Central Island Agricultural Research Institute, Port Blair; among others. A prolific scholar, Dr. Singh has published 250 research papers, authored 19 books, many bulletins, and eight policy papers. His work has earned him 32 awards from national and international bodies. Dr. Singh initiated the planting of 60,000 plantlets and promoted noni as a major crop in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, alongside coconut and areca nut. He also developed a standardized tissue culture protocol for dragon fruits and introduced three new orchid varieties.