Preface Horticulture is gaining importance as it gives more return per unit area and also gives nutritious food to human being thereby improves quality of life and enhances the aesthetic beauty in nature. Considering the recent trends in exams, all these examination are mostly based on objective type questions and students always look for study material that is ready to use and easy to grasp. Keeping in view, each topic is briefly explained in point wise so that students can easily grasp the concepts and the emphasis is given to the most important topic. Though many books of horticulture are available in the markets, most of these books are written in highly elaborative manner which is time consuming for the students who are preparing for competitive exams. All the chapters in the book had been properly covered according to their families and relative importance. I express my sincere thanks to my friend Rahul Singh Rajput for encouraging me to write this book. I hope that this book will be a useful reference material for the teachers, practitioners and students searching their careers in ICAR institutions, State Agricultural/Horticulture Universities and for competitions like ARS/SRF/JRF/NET along with entrance examinations for B.Sc, M.Sc and Ph.D Degree in Horticulture. I will always welcome any comments and suggestions for improvements of this book.

The Total Horticulture production of the country is estimated to be an impressive level of 314.87 Million Tonnes during 2018–19. Production of fruits is estimated to be about 97.38 million tonnes during 2018–2019. Production of vegetables is estimated to be about 187.36 million tonnes during 2018–2019. Production of spices is estimated to be about 8.61 million tonnes during 2018–2019. Plantation crops are another potential sector with lot of opportunities for employment generation, foreign exchange earnings and overall supporting livelihood sustenance of mankind at large. In short and sweet horticulture supplies quality food for health and mind, more calories per unit area, develops better resources and yields higher returns per unit area. It also enhances land value and creates better purchasing power for those who are engaged in this industry. Therefore, horticulture is important for health, wealth, hygiene and happiness. Similar to forest trees these horticultural trees will maintain the ecosphere. They help in transforming the micro climate. It provides shelter to birds, reptiles and other micro organisms and add to the geo–ecological diversity on the land.

The Indian subcontinent is bestowed with a great variety of climate and soil conditions. Broadly the country can be divided into Tropical, subtropical and temperate regions. Within each broad category there are differences due to rainfall, humidity, altitude etc. Considering these aspects six different horticultural zones have been identified so that appropriate choice of the crops can be made and development is planned. They are; Temperate: Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, North Uttarakhand, Sikkim and part of Arunachal Pradesh. N.W. Subtropical: Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Central Uttar Pradesh and North M.P. N.E. Subtropical: Bihar, Jharkhand, Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur. Central tropical: South Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Orissa and West Bengal. Southern tropical: Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. Coastal tropical humid: Konkan, Goa, Kerala, Western Ghats, Eastern Ghats in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Orissa.

It is the technology of intensive production system. In which modern, less environmental dependent and capital–intensive but with a capacity to improve productivity and farmer income. Use of plastics, protected cultivation, precision farming, high density planting (HDP), integrated nutrient management (INM), integrated pest management (IPM), mechanization etc., are important facets of hi-tech horticulture. There are many practices which helps to enhance horticulture production:

I. Classification of fruit crops 1. Based on botanical relationship

Bearing: Bearing is connotation of flowering and fruiting. Bearing habit: The position of f lower bud with respect to vegetative growth of the plant after the cessation of juvenility. Different fruit plants have different habits. Depending upon position of fruit bud, fruit trees may be categorized as under: Shoot flowering: Terminal flowering: Banana, Pineapple, Mango, Litchi, Avocado Lateral flowering: Coconut, Papaya, Guava, Orange, Ber, Passion fruit, Bread fruit Stem /Branch bearing: It also known as caulifluorous bearing habit. In this habit, flower and fruit appear directly from the main stem or branch. Example: Jackfruit, Cocoa, Durian, Spur bearing: It is a shot stubby shoot of more than one year age which bears fruit bud in many fruit plants. Example: Apple, Pear, Peach, Plum, Cherry, Grape, Apricot etc

Nursery Definition: It is a small area or place where seeds are sown for getting baby plant to transplant in the main field. These baby plants are known as seedlings. Generally, growing rootstock in fruit plants and small seeded vegetables like tomato, brinjal, onion, cole–crops etc are needed to raising nursery and further transplanting. There are two types of nursery; Temporary nursery: This nursery is raised by soil in open condition. Permanent nursery: This nursery is raised permanently walled and often provided with overhead covering against rain or frost.

Greenhouse It is constructed by plastic, polythene, and fibreglass material having temperature control and ample light availability needed for propagating plants by seed, cutting and grafting. Types of greenhouse 1. Based on shape and style: The commonly followed types of greenhouse based on shape are lean–to, even span, uneven span, ridge and furrow, saw tooth and quonset greenhouse. Lean–to type greenhouse: It is limited to single or double–row plant benches with a total width of 7–12 feet. It is typically facing south side. It should face the best direction for adequate sun exposure. This design makes the best use of sunlight and minimizes the requirement of roof supports. It has the disadvantages: limited space, limited light, limited ventilation and temperature control.

Planning Generally 10% of the total area is left aside for building, roads, paths, tube-well, channels etc. Windbreak is very important aspect of orchard planning. Windbreak plants are planted in North–Wset direction. The market should be vicinity of orcharding site. It reduces transportation. The site of orchard should not be a wind or flood prone area. The soil should be neutral in reaction (pH 7). As per climate adaptability, fruit plants have been classified into three groups; tropical, sub–tropical and temperate types.

Training Training is related to shape and size of the plant. In this process, removal of part of the plant to develop a proper shape. It develops strong frame work of tree, balance between vegetative and reproductive growth and facilitate interception of sunrays to each and every part of trees. Methods of training Central leader system Main stem of tree is allowed to grow continuously. First branch is allowed to grow 45–50 cm height from ground level and other branches are allowed to grow on main stem at a distance of 15–20 cm. The tree attained Robust shape It is not suitable for high altitude and hot arid areas.

Propagation Definition: Multiplication of plant is termed as propagation. Types of propagation There are mainly two types of propagation Sexual propagation Asexual propagation

Nutrient Definition: Those elements are required for plant metabolism in more or less quantity, is known as nutrients. Plants have 30 types of elements but 17 elements out of 30 are essential for plant growth and development. These elements are called Essential nutrients. Criteria of essentiality of plant nutrients theory: It is given by Arnon and Stout (1939). This theory stated that plant can not be completed their life cycle without the deficiency or complete absence of a single nutrient among the essential nutrients Low of minimum: It is given by Justus Von Leibing (1840). According to this low, the growth of the plants is limited by the plant ntruient present in smaller quantity, all other being in adequate amounts. This has been re–stated as Barrel concept. Allen and Arnon (1955) laid out following criteria for categorising nutrients essentiality to plants: Complete or partial lack of the element in question must make normal plant growth impossible Deficiency symptoms must be reversibly by the addition of the elements in question The element must play specific role in the plant metabolic symptom

Soil fertility Soil serves as a source of nutrient required for the growth and development of plant. This characteristic of soil is called soil fertility. Management practices Improved organic matter and soil moisture in soil, favours the growth of micro-organism beneficial for maintaining fertility of the soil. Manures It is an organic waste material of plant and animal origin. It is used improvement of soil fertility. There are major 2 types of manure Bulky organic manures Concentrated organic manures

Water Water constitutes about 35–95% of the different portion of the plants. The leaves of the plant contain 35–95% water, Roots 60–90% and Fleshy fruit contain 70–90% water. Water is one of the most important inputs essential for the production of crops. Plants need it continuously during their life and in huge quantities. It profoundly influences photosynthesis, respiration, absorption, translocation and utilization of mineral nutrients etc. Soil needs the application of water to: Remove stress condition. Release nutrients in the soil solution for absorption by plants. Preparation of land for raising crops. To maintain the temperature and humidity of the soil micro–climate and the activity of soil microbes at optimum level.

Weed Definition: “Weed is an unwanted plant growing where it is not desired.” – Jethro Tull Commonly noticed weed species in fruit orchard: There are more than 30,000 species of weeds distributed world over, out of which 18,000 are noxious and cause serious losses. Around 250 species are causing serious economic losses. Monocot weeds (Narrow leaf/Grasses): Cyprus, Cynodon, Poagrass, Rye grass, Quackgrass etc. Dicot weeds (Broad leaf weeds): Dandelion, Chenopodium spp., Parthenium, Solanum, Euphrobia spp., Ground ivy etc

Plant growth Definition: The quantitative increase in plant body such as increase in the length of stem and root, the number of leaves etc., is referred to as plant growth. Plant development Definition: The qualitative changes such as germination of seed, formation of leaves, flowers and fruits, falling of leaves and fruits is referred as developement. Phytohormones Definition: These are the organic substance or hormones produced by plants which in low concentrations regulate plant physiological process. It is synthesized in one part of plant and translocated to other parts. These are endogenous substance means naturally occurring in the plant.

Mulching Definition: It is the practice of covering the soil with loose extraneous matter is known as mulching. Types of mulching There are two types of mulching: Organic mulching In–organic mulching Organic mulching: In this mulching the open soil is put under loose cover of straw, hay, crop residue, leaves, saw dust etc. In–organic mulching: In this mulching the open soil is put under plastic, film, metal foil, sand, stone etc.

Biofertilizers Definition: Biofertilizers are defined as preparations containing living cells or latent cells of efficient strains of micro–organisms that help crop plant’s uptake of nutrient by their interaction in the rhizosphere when applied through seed or soil. They accelerate certain microbial process in the soil which augments the extent of availability of nutrient in a form easily assimilated by plants. Types of biofertilizers There are some types of biofertilizers: Nitrogen fixing biofertilizers Phosphorus solubilizing biofertilizers Phosphorus mobilizing biuofertilizers Biofertilizers for micro–nutrients Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria

MANGO (Mangifera indica, Anacardiaceae; 2n=40, Origin; Indo-Burma) India contributes 56% of total mango production in the world Highest productivity in the world– Venezuela Pollination: House fly (Musca domestica) The flower is hermaphroditic with male and female flowers in the same flower panicle. Inflorescence-Panicle Hybridization work was started by Burns and Prayag in 1911 at Pune in MH. Caging technique of breeding was used in Mango by Dr. R. N. Singh. In mango, only 0.1% flower develops fruit to maturity. The optimum temperature range for its growth and development is 24°C to 27°C. It can tolerate up to 48°C during fruit development with regular irrigations, which improve fruit size, quality and maturity. For flower bud differentiation, suitable temp is13°C–19°C. Mangoes are highly susceptible to low temperature injury/Chilling injury.

Botanical name: Lycopersicon esculatum Family: Solaceae Origin: Peru/Mexico CN: 24 India is the second largest producer of tomato in the world after China followed by Turkey, USA and Italy. Highest producing state:Orrisa > Andhra pradesh > KN Highest productivity: KN > MH > Assam Tomato is universally treated as ‘Protective food’. The total sugar content is 2.5% in ripe fruit. Vitamin-C: 16–65mg/100g of fruit weight. The total amino acid is 100–350mg/100g of fruit weight. Processed product of tomato like puree and paste have great demand in export. Tomato is a herbaceous, annual to perennial plant.

Botanical name: Papavera somnifera Family: Papaveraceae Origin: Europe Useful part: Fruit/Capsule Chemical content: Morphine, Narcotine, Codine Flowering time: 95–115 days after sowing Capsule maturity: 15–20 days after flowering Uses: It is also called “God of sleep”. It is used in Painkillar, hypotonic effect and cure to leukaemia It is a licence crop and grow in Aari One aari equals to 100 m2 Seed rate: For broadcasting: 7–8 Kg/ha For line sowing: 4–5 Kg/ha Thinning is important cultural practices.

Those plants which are completed their life cycle in a season or a year, is called annuals. Thre are many types of annuals. On the basis of seasons: Rainy annuals: Balsam, Cock’s comb, Amaranths, Gaillardia, Torenia, Gompherena etc. Summer annuals: Zinnia, Kochia, Tithonia, Sunflower, Cosmos, Coreopsis. Winter annuals: Remaining annuals.

Fruit and vegetable processing was 1st started in organized manner in 1857 Canning of fruit and vegetable started in 1927 Needham (1729) 1st time explained: cause of spoilage of stored food Nicholus Appert (1804) 1st preserved the food in glass containers Cooking of food by means of preserve started by Papin in 1861 In India, 1st fruit and vegetable processing industry was established in 1935 at Mumbai In 1950, CFTRI was established at Mysore FPO: Food Product Order was passed by Govt of India in 1955 1st fruit preservation and Canning Institute was established in 1949 at Lucknow

IARI–Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi. NDRI–National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal. IVRI–Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar. CIFE–Central Institute on Fisheries Education, Mumbai.