eChapters

Genesis of Soil

World’s geography is very widely diversified in relief showing various features like mountains and hills covered with snow and trees, glaciers, higher altitudes to plain to lowest valleys, forests to barren lands, fertile fields to waste lands, plateaus, deltas, swamps, lowlands, deserts etc. Temperature varies from arctic cold to scorching hot of equator, Rainfall from aridity to per humidity. All these situations and conditions under different sets of combinations generate and develop numerous types of soil from a single type of parent material. Therefore, many types of soils may develop at a smaller area.

Physical, chemical and biological weathering processes disintegrate and decompose various rocks and minerals to make asymmetrical soil parent material. This parent material is converted in to the soil profile by soil forming processes in the presence of soil forming factors. Soil genesis is defined as mode of formation of the soil from the parent material due to the action of soil forming factors and processes. Parent material, Factors of soil formation and Processes of soil formation, are three main part of soil genesis. These are described here:

1. Parent Material,

2. Classification of parent material,

3. Factors of soil formation,

4. Processes of soil formation,

5. Types of soil forming processes.

Physical Properties of Soil

Physical properties of soil have many important roles in the crop production. The basic requirements for germination, seedling emergence and root development are adequate moisture and aeration, optimum temperature and absence of mechanical hindrance. After germination the further development of plant is also governed by physical conditions of soil. Soil texture, soil structure, soil density, soil consistence, soil water, soil air, soil temperature and soil colour are main physical properties of soils also affecting mechanical behaviour of soils. These are described here.

1. Soil Texture

The weathering divides larger particles of rocks and minerals in to the smaller ones. This process goes continuously. Thus, particles of different sizes ranging from large fragments of rocks to the very fine clay minerals are found in soil. However, for texture particles less than 2mm diameter is considered. The relative amount of these particles indicates the soil type also. Such as sandy soils contain more amounts of coarse particles i.e., sand and clayey soils are rich in fine particles. The rock and mineral particles having diameter less than 2.0 mm and come between specifies size are called as soil separates. International society of soil science (ISSS) and United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) systems are Generally, followed to classify the soil separates. This classification is given in table 3.1.

Vulnerability of Soils

Soil vulnerability, Soil degradation, soil vulnerability index

Water and wind erosion, depletion of soil organic matter, loss of plant nutrients, salinity, alkalinity, acidity, pollution and contamination, compaction, sealing, crusting, water-logging, aridity, lowering of water table, over grazing, deforestation, landslide, loss and change in soil biodiversity, Abandoned mines etc.

Soil vulnerability, Soil Degradation, Soil Vulnerability Index

The terms vulnerable and vulnerability are now bites of every one and used for everything. Vulnerable means to the possibility of attack or harm by any mean. Human beings are vulnerable to Covid-19, computers are vulnerable to virus, softwares are vulnerable to hackers and attackers to control system, environment is vulnerable to pollution. Vulnerabilities refer to the lack of ability to resist the effects of the aggressive environment. Soils are vulnerable to numerous threats like water and wind erosion, depletion of soil organic matter, loss of plant nutrients, salinity, alkalinity, acidity, pollution and contamination, compaction, sealing, crusting, water-logging, aridity, lowering of water table, over grazing, deforestation, landslide, loss and change in soil biodiversity etc. However, this book will describe some of the most pertinent vulnerabilities for soils.

In the earlier chapter the major soil vulnerability namely, water and wind erosion, depletion of soil organic matter, loss of plant nutrients, salinity, alkalinity, acidity, pollution and contamination, compaction, sealing, crusting, water-logging, aridity, landslide and abandoned mines were described. In this chapter two more parts, Importance of remote sensing (RS) and geographical information system (GIS) in soils and Watershed management are also included after seeing their importance in agriculture and soils. Restoration means that by various actions or processes to return something to its original owner, site, place, or condition. In this context our aim is to restore our mother soil from various vulnerabilities by different actions and processes to its natural and original condition up to the maximum possible extent. Management is defined as the scientific methods to attain targeted production through planning, organising, training and fixing targets for employees. Therefore, after the restoration, soils should be managed according to scientific method of action by scientifically selected and trained staff to perform the assigned responsibilities, effectively, efficiently and rapidly within stipulated period. On these guidelines restoration and management of vulnerabled soils is described here,

1.1. Background

Once this beautiful planet conceived human civilization with the glory of motherhood, the birds kept on twittering in an ecstasy of joy and freedom; the ripples of pristine rivers, blue and giggling, offered shelter to silvery fishes and pink Amazon Lilies! But human greed has defeated its own needs. So, what had been a means to survive now has turned into tools to triumph, rather, a weapon to destroy her own creation. By this time, we have transformed fertile lands into a barren Arizona, deep forests into a nasty slums and blue rivers into a filthy stream, called Yamuna.

The advent of the Anthropocene, implies that an unprecedented era of human impact on the natural environment, is now so large that the Earth has entered a new geological epoch; it is leaving the Holocene, the environment within which human societies themselves have developed (Gornish and dos Santos, 2016; Reynolds, 2021). Climate change is a prominent sign of human- driven changes to the global environment. There is every reason to be alarmed about anthropogenic climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss, all of which have been accelerating in recent decades and do pose “existential crisis” (Díaz et al., 2020; Abhilash et al., 2021). Sixth Assessment Report of Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released on February 28, 2022, paints a troubling picture as limiting global warming to 1.5oC (a global target in the Paris Climate Agreement) is not safe for all. If warming exceeds 1.5oC, even temporarily, much more severe, often irreversible effects of climate change will occur, land and ocean temperature change, sea level rise and ocean acidification, loss of Arctic Sea ice and ice sheets, stronger storms, longer heatwaves and droughts, abrupt precipitation mainly intensity and seasonal distribution, thawing permafrost and more (IPCC, 2013). On the basis of the Sixth Assessment UN Secretary-General António Guterres said “The alarm bells are deafening, and the evidence is irrefutable: greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel burning and deforestation are choking our planet and putting billions of people at immediate risk.” According to the United Nations (2015), there are still 836 million people in the world living in extreme poverty (less than USD,1.25/ day). And according to the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), at least 70% of the very poor live in rural areas, most of them depending partly or completely on agriculture for their livelihoods. It is estimated that 500 million smallholder farms in the developing world are supporting almost 2 billion people, and in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa these small farms produce about 80 percent of the food consumed (IFAD, 2011). The rural poor often depend partly on forests for their livelihoods (World Bank, 2002). It is estimated that between 660 and 820 million people (workers and their families) depend totally or partly on fisheries, aquaculture and related industries as a source of income and support (HLPE, 2014).

This chapter is an extensive survey of all past studies relevant to the field of investigation which gives a knowledge of what others have found out in the related f ield of study. In any scientific investigation or research a comprehensive presentation of review of literature is a statutory requirement. Its main functions are to develop a better understanding of the problem to be investigated, delineate a new area of study and avoid unnecessary duplication, decide on the tools and techniques to be adopted including developing some new ones, also to relate the present study with the previous ones by finding out the areas of agreement and disagreement.

The review of literature of the present study is based on the major concepts related to the f ield of investigation. As direct references on all the item are not in abundance, certain specific references along with some indirect references have been incorporated in this chapter for the purpose of meaningful use.

Review of literature has been organized with a view to provide hard evidences as to clinically justify the reasons, logic, and contemplation leading to heuristically infer the different echelons of resilience issues.This is also catered to isolate the apparently less attempted genre of resilience study and analysis. Climate change, uncertainty, decline of soil organic carbon, fatigued genes on land, loss of biodiversity and fragile ecology of society have only been some of myriad of factors causing the loss of resilience, from ecology and from society as well.

3.1 Conceptual Framework

Aconceptual framework is an analytical tool that is used to get a comprehensive understanding of the study. It embodies the specific direction by which the research will have to be undertaken. It is generally constructed to provide the researcher the element ofattainable and researchable problems and ideas supported by methodology, design, prospective analysis and empirical conclusion. The conceptual framework is often called as the research paradigm.

The subject matter of the present research is Resilience and productivity of agriculture in different social-ecology: the farmers’ perception, status and interpretation. It is expected that the terminologies and concepts used to frame up the topic need to undergo brief explanation for the better understanding of its meaning.

Resilience: Resilience is about anticipating, planning and reducing disaster risk to effectively protect persons, communities and countries, their livelihoods, health, cultural heritage, socio-economic assets and ecosystems. The ideas of ‘bounce back’, ‘spring forward’ and ‘build back better’ are often used in the context of resilience.

Productivity: Productivity is commonly defined as a ratio between the output volume and the volume of inputs. It measures how efficiently production inputs, are being used in an economy to produce a given level of output.

Agriculture: The word agriculture derives from the Latin ager (field) and colo (cultivate) signifying, when combined, the Latin agricultura: field or land tillage. But the word has come to subsume a very wide spectrum of activities that are integral to agriculture and have their own descriptive terms, such as cultivation, domestication, horticulture, arboriculture, and vegeculture, as well as forms of livestock management such as mixed crop-livestock farming, pastoralism, and transhumance. The Oxford English Dictionary (1971) defines agriculture as “The science and art of cultivating the soil, including the allied pursuits of gathering in the crops and rearing livestock; tillage, husbandry, farming.”

In any social science research, it is hardly possible to conceptualize and perceive the data and interpret the data more accurately until and unless a clear understanding of the characteristics in the area and attitude or the behavior of people is at commend of the interpreter who intends to unveil an understanding of the implication and behavioral complexes of the individual who live in the area under reference and form a representative part of the larger community. The socio-demographic background of the local people in a rural setting has been critically administered in this section. A research setting is a surrounding in which input and elements of research are contextually imbibed, interactive and mutually contributive to the system performance. Research setting is immensely important in the sense because it is characterizing and influencing the interplays of different factors and components. Besides the investigators must also have the basic knowledge about the socio demographic background of the people so as to have an easy understanding of their knowledge, attitude and behavior.

Research setting refers to the detail information of an area where the study has been conducted. The study area, generally comprises of a particular geographical area viz. a state, district, block, or gram panchayat area selected according to the convenience of the investigator who possess adequate knowledge regarding the location, communication facility etc. of the locality so that he/she can easily approach each and every corner of the area for data collection. Here. in this study the data collection was done mostly over telephone based on the interview schedule due to Covid-19 pandemic situation.

5.1 Locale of Research

Based on the All-India assessment report regarding Climate Vulnerability Assessment for Adaptation Planning in India Using a Common Framework which identifies the most vulnerable states and districts in India with respect to current climate risk and the main drivers of vulnerability, the present study has been conducted in two relatively highly vulnerable states of India namely West Bengal (Vulnerability Indices:0.592) and Jharkhand (Vulnerability Indices: 0.674). It specifically comes under Agro-climatic zone III (Lower Gangetic plain region) and Agro-climatic zone VII (Eastern plateau and hilly region) respectively.

On the basis of Vulnerability Indices (Vis) different district of West Bengal classified into three categories i.e. relatively high vulnerability (0.59-0.69), moderate vulnerability (0.49 -0.59), and relatively low vulnerability (0.38- 0.49). Two districts, Malda (VIs:0.690) and Jalpaiguri (VIs:0.627) from highly vulnerable and three district Murshidabad (VIs:0.524), Dakshin Dinajpur (VIs:0.523) and Burdwan (VIs:0.497) from moderate vulnerable category were selected purposively for the present study. For satisfying the purposes three agroclimatic zones of the West Bengal, viz. Terai Zone (Jalpaigudi), Old Alluvial Zone (Murshidabad and Dakshin Dinajpur) and New Alluvial Zone (Burdwan) districts were taken into account for the assessment. Twenty respondents of two Villages from each Block i.e., Alipurduar-I of Jalpaigudi, Hilli and Gangarampur of Dakshin Dinajpur, Old Malda of Murshidabad and Barabani of East Burdwan were purposively picked for the research study.

6.1. Data Interpretation and Visualization of West Bengal

Any kind of production management system or decision-making process is being organised in social ecology. No variable cannot behave discrete or free without having any kind of influence as well as impact from the vary operating ecosystem. That is how it is imperative to know and visualize the basic features in terms of its distributive characters. The distribution of features in variables through this networking and interactions ultimately contribute to a holistic visualization of social ecologization under study.

Table 6.1.1 represents the distribution of variables in terms of range i.e. maximum and minimum values, mean, standard deviation and coefficient of variation for Terai Zone, Old Alluvial Zone and New Alluvial Zone of West Bengal.

The average age (x1) of the respondent stands at 49.02. It denotes that so far as responsibility of agriculture and age base livelihood runs at the population so far as the respondent under study is peaks are at the hands of farmers approaching or passing through old ages. On the contrary the absence of young population or withdrawal of young age farmers from agriculture have got a serious implecation near and far. The cv value runs at 25.78 per cent to indicate that the distribution of variable is highly consistant.

The average of functional education (x2) of the respondent stands at 8.20.The variable education charecterization the social ecology speaks that the most of the respondents are having mid level school education.So, this has got spil over effect on the function and operation of other variables i.e. precisely the perception variables.The cv value stands at 43.69 per cent that’s good enough to infer that the distribution of the variable is highly consistent.

7.1 Summary

Never ever in the annals of human civilization, the importance of ecological resilience has become so important and imperative as we are perceiving now. Both the need and greed of food economics have driven the resource bases of our ecosystem, to a dilapidated and fragile status. By 2050 the world’s population will touch close to 9.5 billion and we have to scale up our food production 60% more then what it is right now. In India by 2040, we have to cross 450 million tons of our targeted food production to keep rhythm with population growth. By 2035 we are going to cross the population of China. Understanding the cascade of risks for climate change, as well as the vulnerabilities to these risks, is key to frame ways to adapt. Reducing vulnerabilities is key to reducing the net impacts on food security and nutrition and also to reducing long-term effects. Increasing resilience of food security in the face of climate change calls for multiple interventions, from social protection to agricultural practices and risk management..

When population pressure is soaring up, the need to produce more food from less and less available land and water, the issues of ecological resilience are coming up more swashbuckling and humongous. The aftermath of green revolution has contributed to achievement in food security on one hand, the other hand water has been contaminated and depleted, soil has been eroded with a sharp decline of organic carbon. We are losing 15 tons of topsoil per hectare per year and inviting a disruptive agro-ecosystem, the syndrome of which are quite vivid and prominent.

There is no terminal of any kind of research, rather they presence a static snap of the gamut of ecological dynamics and functions.

The following scopes for future research

• To construct modelling on resilience, beyond agriculture like livestock f ishery, forestry.

• To create new Algorithm of prediction in ecological behaviour and dynamics

• Gender and economic factors in resilience study and analysis

• Ecological resilience in different agro climatic zones covering coastal ecosystem, Himalayan ecosystem red lateritic ecosystem etc

• Policy research in ensuring and intriguing ecological resilience as well as social resilience on the common platform of production behaviour

• Importance of ecological resilience in the perspective of climate change and global warming

Introduction
Crop production is weather dependent and almost every crop has been affected by the changing climate. The favourable weather may result bumper production sometimes or even complete destruction of crop may take place under severe weather aberrations. The number of events of sudden aberrations is increasing in a cropping period with the gradual climate change in the recent past. It has been recorded too severe in case of perennial crops. Ready to harvest crops have several times been completely destroyed due to thunderstorm or cyclone in coastal regions or even in main land. Thus, Indian agriculture is being impacted by the climatic changes, and its affect is very much visible now (Aggarwal, 2008). Horticulture sector is not escaped from its’ ill affect and new challenges are coming for production (Singh et al., 2021). The role of adaptation strategy has now been felt crucial (Babu et al., 2021; Banerjee et al., 2022) and importance of agro advisory not only protects the crops from such types of risks but also provide guidance to farmers about the right time for activities in crop husbandry (Adak et al., 2018). Issuance for improving water productivity in water limited areas (Adak and Babu, 2024), micronutrient management for nutrient richness and enhanced yield (Adak et al., 2023; Shukla et al., 2020), rejuvenating unproductive orchards (Shukla et al., 2021; Mishra et al., 2007), disease (Misra et al., 2013; Shukla et al., 2015, 2019, 2020, 2021a,b; 2022; Kumari et al., 2021) and insect pest (Gundappa et al., 2016; 2018) management are becoming very crucial and essential for the benefit of growers.

Introduction
World population is increasing and currently stands at 8.2 Billion as on 2025. Food security of population of any country is becoming a challenging task and the entire population depends on the available national resources. The importance of scientific community in securing foods for everybody was felt necessary and it was expressed that there is a huge herculean task to ensure food for everybody. Farming community and fruit growers across the globe were engaged in serious efforts to produce fruits of good quality. The necessity to develop advanced technologies for nutritious foods was thus given national importance not only for food security but also of nutritional security. The sincere scientific efforts to develop recent innovative technologies to support fruit production even at harsh soils and environmental conditions are praiseworthy. Farmers, stakeholders, policy planners and technology developers have been devoted to achieve the target of Sustainable Developmental Goals. The target of United Nation’s 2030 to eradicate poverty and eradication of malnutrition should be achieved sustainably. People across nations are working devotedly to achieve the target. However, climatic changes have been significantlyaffecting the food production to food security across nations. Decadal information suggested the adverse impact of climates on the fruit production. Recent changes in weather extremisms had also affect harshly on the food production to supply chain. Thus, the role of scientific community to coup up the environmental hazards and to sustain fruit production becomes a reality. In this context, agroadvisory services plays significant role to support farming community and fruit growers to adopt time bound managemental practices. The ultimate aim of these services is to improve the orchard soil and tree health condition, enhance factor productivity vis-à-vis profitability and precise use of available natural resources. Quantification of variability in environmental indicators, soil and tree interactions were felt necessary for formulating effective policy plan (Malhotra, 2017). Adak et al. (2022) advocated for foliage spraying of 1 per cent zinc sulphate on mango cv. Dashehari to enhance yield and nutrient richness in fruit pulp.

Introduction
Mango (Mangiferaindica L) known as “the king of fruits” and “Apple of the Tropics” is most popular fruit in the tropics and sub-tropics. It moved from India to different countries and has gained popularity around the world. It has long been associated with the Indian culture and religious functions. Among different states, Uttar Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh constitute 23.64 per cent and 22.99 per cent share in the total mango, respectively, in the country. In 2023, Mango production had a total export volume of 78.56 billion MT. India is the biggest mango producer with a total production volume of 25 million MT of mangoes during the year. The top 10 mango producers in 2023 include India (25 million MT), China (3.8 million MT), Indonesia (3.6 million MT), Pakistan (2.7 million MT), Mexico (2.4 million MT), Brazil (2.1 million tons), Malawi (1.7 million MT), Thailand (1.6 million MT), Bangladesh (1.5 million MT) and Vietnam (1.4 million MT). As regards world-wide mango exports, Mexico is the biggest mango exporter with total exports worth $576.36 million in 2023. It was noted that Mexico’s mango exports increased by 5.09% from the previous year. The top 10 mango exporting countries in 2023 include the following:

The low productivity in guava because of traditional planting distance (6-7 m apart) with no canopy management practices. Guava under traditional and high density planting system, though it gives high yield during initial stage but as the tree advances in age light interception and aeration decreases inside the canopy due to shading and overcrowding, resulting low yields and poor quality. In order to develop efficient canopy architecture for HDP and traditional planting system, the ICAR-CISH has standardized training system and canopy management with objective to have sustained high yield and quality of guava.
Guava bears flower on current shoots produced on mature wood laterally or terminally. In general flowers are produced in the leaf axils in 1 or 2-3 in cluster. The crop load depend on number of new shoots, hence more new shoots resulting more fruiting surface area.
High Density Planting System
Accommodation of more plants per unit area is known as high density planting system. Since guava respond well to pruning and fruiting starts 40-50 days after pruning and more new shoots emerged on which more flowers and fruits appears, thus yield increased. For successful HDP suitable canopy shape and its management is prerequisite. Guava is usually planted 6-7 m distance accommodating 277 to 204 plants per hectare the yield vary 35-80 kg/tree with yield per hectare 15-12 t/ha. In traditional planting density usually fruiting takes place on high on the tree.

Introduction
Mangoes (Mangifera Indica L.), often referred to as the “king of fruits,” are celebrated for their rich flavour, nutritional value, and versatility in culinary applications (Swaroop et al., 2018). Globally, mangoes hold a significant economic and cultural position. Mangoes are grown in over 90 countries, with India, China, and Thailand being leading producers. They contribute
significantly to the agricultural economies of these and other tropical and subtropical regions (Makarabbi, 2023). Mangoes are a major export commodity for many countries, generating substantial foreign exchange. For instance, India’s mango exports account for a sizable share of the global mango market, valued at millions of dollars annually. In many developing countries, mango farming supports millions of smallholder farmers, providing employment and a source of income (Thakor, 2019). Mangoes are enjoyed in numerous forms— fresh, dried, as juices, pickles, and chutneys. They are also a key ingredient in various traditional dishes and desserts across different cultures. Mangoes play a central role in several cultural festivals and rituals, symbolizing prosperityand good fortune in countries like India and the Philippines. Mangoes are rich in essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, including vitamins A and C, folate, and fiber. Their consumption is associated with various health benefits, such as improved immunity, digestive health, and skin care (Yahia et al., 2023). While mangoes offer significant benefits, their cultivation faces several challenges, primarily due to pest infestations that can severely impact both yield and fruit quality. Effective management of these pests is crucial to ensure sustainable mango production (Singh and Baradevanal, 2021).

Among subtropical fruit crops mango, guava, bael and aonla are among the most important ones. The productivity of these crops is affected by many factors, among which diseases have their own economic significance. The crops use to suffer from a large number of diseases, however, economically important diseases having significance in agro-advisory are mentioned below.
Mango Wilt and Decline
The mango wilt disease caused by Ceratocystis fimbriata is one of the most devastating diseases (Shukla et al., 2015, 2018b, 2020; Shukla, 2020). Association of Berkeleomyces basicola and Lasidiplodia theobromae in wilt, decline and branch drying has also been observed. Symptoms: Ceratocystis infection on the trees causes dark staining of the affected wood, exudation of gum, leaf drying and ultimately death of the tree (Al Adawi et al., 2003; Shukla et al., 2018b). Later symptoms include vascular discolouration beneath the gummosis (Masood et al., 2008; Shukla et al., 2018b). The symptoms may appear in the form of sudden wilt, decline or branch drying and accordingly the whole tree or branch may die within a period of a fortnight to six months of appearance of first symptom.

Standard Operating Protocol for Export of Banana
Banana is one of the important fruit grown in India, as far as its export is concerned it is very limited which is below 1%. For export market it should be harvested at 85% maturity or the bunch is ready to harvest in 80-82 days after shooting initiation. Bunches are to be harvested carefully with two people. One person cut the hand and another person put the bunch onto the padding shoulder. Bunches should be slant cut with sickle shaped sharp knife free from any contamination. For export purpose banana fingers should be square, lie close together, hard, clean and free from any infestation and mucilaginous thread of pulp should be 4-5 cm in length. Skin should not be separated from pulp and no brown spot under the skin. De-handing must be done with sharp chisel type de-handing tool, by leaving maximum crown attached to the hand. The crown should be cut evenly; otherwise its outer finger may be detached. Other way to De-handing by using the nylon thread. It is easy method and it allows maximum crown attach with the land with minimum latex flow. The hands should be carefully paced in clean water which has alum 1 gm litre-1 or sodium hypochlorite (200 ppm) as surfactant for removing the latex and killing the micro-organism after that fruit must be packed in 20-25 kg capacity crates having foam in bottom and in between hands also. The most effective control of post harvest diseases and control of ripening of banana is treating the hands with 1.0% CISH METWASH an organic formulation for 30-60 seconds after that it should be carefully removed from this organic formulation and keep it in front of high speed fan for drying.

Introduction
Management of abiotic stresses in fruit orchards are essential and key issue for sustaining productivity. Worldwide fruit consumption has increased significantly because of the new recognitions of its broad relevance for health, nutrition and livelihood (Lansky and Newman, 2007). Fruits like pomegranate, grapes, dragon fruit, mango and sapota are being grown in tropical humid to dry as well as arid and semi-arid climates of India, especially in states like Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Gujarat. Significant cultivars such as Bhagwa of pomegranate, Hapus, Kesar, Langra, Banganpalli, Totapuri of mango and Kallipati, Cricket ball of Sapota are being dominantly grown in these areas. Area under pomegranate was 2.62 lakh ha in 2018-19, producing 30.04 lakh MT at a productivity of 11.58  ha-1 with an export of 80.5 thousand MT during 2019-20 (Maity et al., 2020). The estimated area under grapes, mango, pomegranate and sapota in India is 0.14, 2.29, 0.26, 0.08 million ha, respectively whereas production estimates are reported to be 31.25, 204. 44, 23.15 and 10.03 million MT, respectively (NHB 2019-20 2nd estimate). Besides area of dragon fruit in India is rapidly expanding due to its high nutritional content, antioxidant properties, and market opportunities, covering around 20 thousand ha with annual production of 0.3 million MT. Despite the fact that >15 species of Hylocereus have been reported; only 3 to 4 are under cultivation. Among these, white flesh (H. undatus) occupied more than half of the area. However, the current premium pricing and consumer demand for pink flesh may shift cultivation to H. polyrhizus. Furthermore, species with yellow peel and white flesh (H. megalanthus) is now being cultivated. In this context, the issuances of agro-advisory services to farmers are essential for adopting time bound management protocols (Adak et al.,2018a). The importance of this scientific management is significantly linked with the fruit business both in domestic market and foreign export. Therefore, it is of great importance for advisory, training, farmers-scientific interaction and other human resource management programmes to sensitize and develop trained man power sufficiently which contributes to the horticultural growth and development. In this backdrop, fruit orchards and their scientific management is discussed in this chapter with special reference to abiotic and biotic stress management in Pune region of Maharashtra.