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Horticulture has emerged as one of the potential agricultural enterprises in accelerating the growth of economy in India. It offers not only a wide range of options to the farmers for crop diversification, but also provides ample scope for sustaining large number of agro-industries which generate huge employment opportunities. Horticulture has been evolving in form of horticulture industry in our country owing to its significant role in nutritional security, poverty alleviation and employment generation.

German Prof. Peter Laurenberg conceived first the word horticulture. The term “Horticulture” is known in written form first in seventeenth century in a book entitled “New World of Words” by Phillips.

Zantedeschia aethiopica (L.) Spreng. (syn. Calla aethiopica L.) (Araceae): Eng.- Arum Lily; Hindi – Iram sousan [NI]. A rhizomatous perennial, suitably planted in moist and shaddy situations and under green house conditions.

Youngia tenuifolia (Willd.) Babc. & Stebb. (Asteraceae): Ladakhi– Neu [W]. A perennial herb of high altitude cold arid areas.

Xanthium strumarium L. (Asteraceae): Eng.- Common Cocklebur; Kash.- Tcheere [W]. An annual herb usually inhabiting disturbed soils. Leaves simple, alternate. Flower heads are borne in leaf axils and have disc florets only.

Waldhemia glabra (Decne.) Regel. (Asteraceae): Eng.- Smooth Ground Daisy [W] A tufted mat forming, aromatic high altitude plant of drier areas of Kashmir Himalaya at 4000-5000 m altitudes. Leaves wedge shaped and bluntly 3-5 lobed, occur in rosettes. Flower heads solitary on stems, pink to purple ray florets, disc florets yellow. Whole plant used for rheumatism.

Vaccaria hispanica (Mill.) Rauschert. (Syn. Saponaria vaccaria L.) (Caryophyllaceae): Eng.- Cow Soapwort/ Cow Basil [W]. Annual herb,as weed of orchards.Plant has blue-grey, waxy herbage and pale pink flowers. Used traditionally to relieve body swellings.

Ulmus parvifolia Jacq. (Ulmaceae): Eng. – Chinese Elm; Ladakhi Shampoo Tree / Yumbuk [W]. A small to medium deciduous tree growing upto 12 m tall, across the region as a temperate woody element. Leaves leathery, toothed and lustrous green. Trunk has a handsome, flaking bark of mottled greys with tans and reds. Also used as a landscape tree. In Ladakh the bark of the plant used as shampoo to promote hair growth.

Tagetes erecta L. (syn. Tagetes patula L.) (Asteraceae): Eng.- French Marigold; Hindi- Genda / Gule jafre; Kash.- Jaffre / Bata poshe [NI]. A herbaceous annual, naturalized in N W Himalayas and grown for border as well as bedding plant. Both double and single forms are cultivated. Double forms are golden yellow and carnation like

Sagittaria sagittifolia L. (Alismataceae):Eng.- Old World Arrow Head; Hindi- Chotakut; Kash.- Kyou [W]. Perennial herb inhabiting shallow water ponds, swampy rice fields. Leaves arrow shaped. Flowers have small sepals and three white petals, numerous purple stamens.Tubers edible (Figs. S 1, 2).

Rabdosia rugosa (Wallich ex Benth.) Hara (Lamiaceae): [W]. An erect branched leafy shrub or under-shrub growing as high altitude shrub above 2000 m altitudes on alpine slopes.Leaves ovate, wrinkled, hairy, coarsely toothed, conspicuously grey-woolly beneath, in contrast to green wrinkled upper surface. Flowers tiny, fragrant, white, spotted with purple. Shrub is of great significance for honey bee colonies.

Quercus baloot Griffith (Fagaceae): Eng.- Holy Oak; Kash.- Jamal Gota/ Baloote Kashmir [W/UC]. A small rounded evergreen tree. Leaves are coriaceous, oblong-ovate to lance shaped, entire or with spiny -toothed margins. Acorns oblong-ovoid to nearly rounded, solitary or in groups of 2 or 3. Grows as a hard wood element of forests. Also grown as ornamental.

Paeonia emodi Royle. (Paeoniaceae): Eng.- Himalayan Paeony; HindiUdsalap; Kash.- Mamekh [W]. A shurby perennial, found in W. Himalayas from Kashmir to Kumoan at 2400- 3300 m altitudes. Flowers yellowish white with a bunch of orange-yellow stamens.

Ocimum basilicum L. (Lamiaceae): Eng.- Sweet Basil; Hindi- Ban tulsi; Kash.-Baber [RC]. A cultivated aromatic herb grown for its seed. Flowers showy, light blue, fragrant. Leaves used for flavouring purposes. Seeds used for preparing refreshing drinks/ sharbats.

Nandina domestica Thunb. (Berberidaceae): Eng.- Chinese Sacred Bamboo [NI]. An evergreen or semi-evergreen ornamental shrub with upright shoots. Leaves mostly bi-to tripinnate, rich green purple on fall. Flowers star shaped, white with large yellow anthers, in erect panicles followed by long lasting, spherical bright red fruit.

Magnolia aquilfolium (Pursh.) Nutt. cv. Orange Flame (Magnoliaceae) [NI]. An open suckering erect shrub. Leaves ovate to elliptic, spinytoothed, leaflets dark-green changing in colors during seasons. Flowers are yellow borne in densely clustered racemes in late March to mid April.

Laburnum anagyroides Med. (Fabaceae): Eng.- Golden Rain Tree [NI]. An upright, small sized ornamental tree with hairy, grey-green young shoots. Leaves dark- green above and grey-green beneath, having 3-elliptic-obovate leaflets. In late April to early May, produces bright yellow flowers in dense racemes

Kerria japonica var. pleniflora Witte. (Rosaceae): Eng.- Jew’s Mallow / Japanese Rose [NI]. A deciduous ornamental shrub with vigorous and upright green shoots; alternate, ovate, pointed, sharply toothed, bright green leaves; produces very attractive, solitary, pompon like, double yellow flowers in April.

Jaeschkea oligosperma Knobl. (Gentianaceae): Ladakhi- Tikta [W]. Annual herb, along scrubby alpine slopes of Ladakh. Leaves lanceolate, blunt. Flowers bluish to reddish purple. The plant is consumed raw as blood purifier.

Iberis amara L. (Brassicaceae): Eng.- Candy Tuft [NI]. Half hardy annual ornamental herb. Leaves light green, lanceolate. Flowers borne in corymbs of light fragrant flowers, ranging in colour from white through pink to red purple.

Halerpestes tricuspis (Maxim.) Hand maz. (Ranunculaceae): LadakhiChitaka [W] Annual herb of alpine zone of above 3500 m altitudes. Whole plant used as stomachic and for gastrointestinal problems.

Gagea lutea (L) Ker Gawl (syn. Gagea elegans Wall ex G Don.): (Liliaceae): Kash.- Koker neeje [W]. A bulbous perennial herb inhabiting open subalpine slopes and forming groups. Leaves narrowly lanceolate. Basal leaf single, angular flat, exceeds the inflorescence, lanceolate linear, longitudinally furrowed at base. Flowers solitary on long pedicles, tepals yellow.

Fagopyrum acutatum (Lehm.) Mansf. ex Hammer (syn. Fagopyrum cymosum (Trev.) Meissn (Polygonaceae): Eng.- Medicinal Buckwheat / Perennial Buckwheat; Hindi – Kutu; Kash.- Tsok Hakh [RC]. A tall branched, puberulous annual growing wild in Drasss, Kargil, Gurez areas at 2800 to 3300 m amsl. Leaves tri-angular; perianth white. Grains acutely 3- cornered.

Echeveria derenbergii DC (Crussulaceae): Eng.- Painted Lady [NI]. A succulent house plant and green house perennial grown for its succulent coloured leaves which are arranged in rosettes. The orange coloured flowers appear in July on raised stem branches

Dactylis glomerata L (syn. Bromus glomeratus (L.) Scop. (Poaceae): Eng.- Orchard Grass; Kash.- Dramun [W]. Perennial bunch grass,usually in dense shaded forest areas. A very important pasture and hay grass of temperate grasslands. Culms glabrous, erect. Inflorescences are erect panicles bearing spikelets in dense one sided clusters.

Cajanus cajan ( L ) Millsp. (Fabaceae): Eng.- Pigeon Pea / Cajan Pea; Hindi – Arhar; Kash.- Lokut Chana [RC]. An annual erect herb, stem woody, leaves trifoliate. Flowers yellowish diffuse red, borne in axillary racemes. Pods flattish with fawn brown coloured seeds having light yellow cotyledons. The pulse has been lately introduced and is under marginal cultivation.

Barbarea vulgaris var. taurica (DC) Hook. f. & Anders. (syn. Barbarea vulgaris R. Br.) (Brassicaceae): [W]. A herb of damp soils inhabiting water bodies. Flowers yellow. Leaves used for healing of frost bites.

Abelia grandifolia Villarreal (Caprifoliaceae): Eng.- Glossy Abelia; Kash.– Abeel [NI]. A vigorous, arching, medium sized semi-evergreen shrub commonly grown in gardens for hedging. Leaves ovate, short petioled, entire, dark glossy-green. Flowers born in axillary cymes and terminal panicles, slightly fragrant, produced over a long period from June to October; sepals 2-5; corolla funnel form, white tinged pale- pink.

Water required for irrigation of cropped land is being degraded in terms of quantity and quality due to fast increasing demand for its use. Furthermore, the soil quality and crop productivity is linked to the quality of the water available for irrigation. In general, evaluation of irrigation water quality should focus on salt content, sodium concentration, the occurrence of nutrients and trace elements, alkalinity, acidity, and hardness of the water.

Geographic location of India is in Northern hemisphers and located between 80 4' & 370 6' N latitude and 640 7' & 970 25' E longitude. Extent of area is 329 M Ha or 329 x 104 Sq.Km or 3.29 MSq.Km. The physiography of India can be broadly grouped into triangular plateau, mountains, Indo-gangetic plains and islands. India is divided into twenty agro ecological regions and sixty five agro ecological sub regions as per NBSS and LUP. Agro ecological regions( AER) is referred to identification and demarcation of land units having comparable landform, soils, bioclimatic conditions and the length of growing period (LGP).

Soil pollution is defined as presence of xenobiotics (e.g. chemical compounds, radioactive elements) that alters the soil properties viz., both chemical, physical and biological properties of soil. Soil pollution, including heavy metals, may be of natural origin, like volcanic eruptions, atmospheric lightning, animal excrements or ore leaching. Nevertheless, human activity and mostly chemical industry, mining and metallurgy, as well as municipal waste management and traffic emissions are the main source of environmental pollution.

Soil is a dynamic, vital living natural resource. Soil health is the condition of the soil and its potential to sustain biological functions, maintain environmental quality, and promote plant and animal health. It is qualitative trait of soil. Healthy soil is the foundation for profitable, productive, and environment friendly agricultural systems.

The word “Manure” is originated from the French word “Manoeuvrer” which refers to “work with soil”. The word Manure is also originate from Latin word “Manu” (hand) and operate (to work). Manures are the substances which are organic in nature, capable of supplying plant nutrients in available form, bulky in nature having low analytical value and having no definite composition and most of them are obtained from animal and plant waste products. Formerly, the word in use was “Dung ”in English (at present fertilizer).

Soil fertility is defined as the quality that enables the soil to provide proper nutrient compounds in proper amounts and in proper balance for the growth of specified plants. Soil fertility is also defined as the ability of soil to supply adequately the nutrients normally taken from the soil by plants.

The soils which owe characteristics that they cannot be economically used for the cultivation of crops without adopting proper reclamation measures are known as problematic soils. Different kinds of problematic soils viz., Physical, chemical and biological problematic soils exists and pose problems of crop production.

Soil degradation is defined as a decrement in the soil health status resulting in a diminished capacity of the ecosystem to provide goods and services for its beneficiaries. Degraded soils have a deteriorated health status such, that they do not provide the normal goods and services of the particular soil in its ecosystem. Soil degradation is the physical, chemical and biological decline in soil quality.

Study of living organisms in soil is referred to as soil biology (Greek word bios= life, logos = study). The soil is teeming with millions of living organisms which make it a living and a dynamic system.

Soil organic matter is any material produced originally by living organisms (plant or animal) that is returned to the soil and goes through the decomposition process. At any given time, it consists of a range of materials from the intact original tissues of plants and animals to the substantially decomposed mixture of materials known as humus. Soil organic matter (SOM) is the organic component of soil, consisting of three primary parts including plant residues and living soil organisms, decomposing (active) organic matter, and stable organic matter (humus). Most soil organic matter originates from plant tissue.

Soil minerals are naturally formed inorganic compounds with definite chemical composition and characteristic geometric (crystalline) form. They are classified as primary and secondary minerals, silicates and non-silicates minerals, and crystalline and non-crystalline minerals. Primary minerals have not been significantly altered chemically since deposition or crystallization from molten magma and are usually found in the sand and coarse silt fractions. Secondary minerals form as a result of the alteration of primary minerals by weathering and are found in the clay and fine silt fractions.

Soil Chemistry is the study of chemical composition of soil in relation to crop needs. It deals with the chemical constitution of the soil, the chemical properties and the chemical reactions in soils. Traditional soil chemistry focuses on chemical and biochemical reactions in soils that influence nutrient availability for plant growth, and potential environmental consequences associated with inorganic and organic fertilization. Soil chemistry has increasingly focused on soil genesis and the environment over the past few decades.

Soil physics is the study of soil’s physical properties and processes. Soil physics deals with the dynamics of physical soil components and their phases as solid, liquids, and gases. Physical properties of soil include texture, structure, density, porosity, consistency, temperature, colour and water content. The physical properties depend on the amount, size, shape and arrangement and mineral composition of its particles , kind and amount of organic matter and the volume and form of its pores and the way they are occupied by water, air at a particular time.

Soil genesis, or pedogenesis, is the combined effect of physical, chemical, biological and anthropogenic processes working on soil parent material (rocks & minerals). Soil is said to be formed when organic matter has accumulated and colloids are washed downward, leaving deposits of clay, humus, iron oxide, carbonate, and gypsum, producing a distinct layers. These constituents are moved from one level to another by water and animal activity.

Soil is the most fundamental resource to fulfill basic requirements of food, fiber and shelter of human race. Although soil is perceived as something of insignificant value and it is considered as dirt but humans cannot survive without soil. Soil forms
basis for all terrestrial life. Soil provides a wide range of ecosystem services (Table 1) that make humankind to survive and progress.

Aim : To determine the Magnesium in plant sample.

Aim : To determine the Calcium in plant sample.

6.25 HNO3 (for 2 ltr) : Take 181 ml of conc HNO3 and diluted to 2 ltr in a volumetric flask.

Take 5 ml/2.5 ml aliquot in a 25 ml volumetric flask.

100 ppm ‘P’ : By dissolving oven dry KH2 PO4 salt. Take 0.4393 gm of KH2 PO4 and volume to 1 ltr that gives 100 ppm ‘P’.

Digestion Mixure : This is a mixture of two salt. That is potassium sulfate and cupper sulfate with 9:1 ratio (90 g Potassium sulfate + 10 g Copper sulphate).

Take 1 g phenolpathalin powder in a 100 ml volumetric flask. Then add volume up to 100 ml by ethanol (Ethyl alcohol).