Focusing on organic farming, this book presents peer-reviewed contributions from leading international academics and researchers in the field of organic agriculture, plant ecosystems, sustainable horticulture and related areas of biodiversity science. It includes case studies and reviews on organic agriculture, horticulture and pest management, use of microorganisms, composting, crop rotation, organic milk and meat production, as well as ecological issues. This unique book addresses a wide array of topics from all continents, making it a valuable reference resource for students, researchers and agriculturists who are concerned with biodiversity, agroecology and sustainable development of agricultural resources.
Horticulture is fast emerging as a major commercial venture, because of higher remuneration per unit area and the realization that consumption of fruits and vegetables is essential for health and nutrition. In the last one decade, export potential of horticultural crops has significantly increased attracting even multinationals into floriculture, processing and value added products. Since the horticultural produce especially fruits and vegetables are consumed afresh, consumers expect residue-free produce. In modern society where consumers are becoming increasingly health conscious and envioronmentally aware, a major market for organic foods has developed. The organic sector, in particular, has sprung back into life to become one of the most dynamic sectors in the international food market. The present book is an attempt which comprehensively deals with both principles and practices. It is divided into two parts. The first part deals with the principles of organic farming covering aspects such as enrichment of soil with organic matter, cropping systems, bio-fertilizers, weed management and pest management. The second part of the book deals with package of practice for organic farming in fruits, vegetables, ornamentals, medicinal, aromatic, plantation, spice and tuber crops. Three aspects, namely - nutrient management, weed management and pest management are dealt with separately for each crop. An entire chapter is devoted for sources of critical inputs used for organic farming which would be very much useful to the organic farmers to procure the same. This book is a practical guide to practicing organic farmers of horticulture crops. Further, it is a useful reference to policy makers, research workers and students. The material can also be used for teaching undergraduate and post-graduate courses.
Stakeholders show a growing interest for organic food and farming (OF&F), which becomes a societal component. Rather than questioning whether OF&F outperforms conventional agriculture or not, the main question addressed in this book is how, and in what conditions, OF&F may be considered as a prototype towards sustainable agricultures. The book gathers 25 papers introduced in a first chapter. The first section investigates OF&F production processes and its capacity to benefit from the systems functioning to achieve higher self-sufficiency. The second one proposes an overview of organic performances providing commodities and public goods. The third one focuses on organics development pathways within agri-food systems and territories. As well as a strong theoretical component, this book provides an overview of the new challenges for research and development. It questions the benefits as well as knowledge gaps with a particular emphasis on bottlenecks and lock-in effects at various levels.
For one or two semester courses in Horticulture, Horticultural Science, or Plant Science. This comprehensive introduction to the emerging discipline of sustainable horticulture provides students with the foundations of horticultural science that underlie all forms of horticulture--from conventional through sustainable to organic. The practice of sustainable horticulture is designed to preserve agricultural resources and to prevent environmental damage to the farm and offsite land, water, and air. Production, profits, and incentives must remain at optimal levels, and the system must function in the context of socioeconomic realities. This text leads students through these practices and production, and provides the necessary information to support a more sustainable and environmentally-friendly horticulture.
This book has been designed as an introductory manual which serves to acquaint readers with the prospects offered by organic farming in horticulture. Elaborating upon its content based upon extensive market research and analysis of organic farming the book makes an assessment of the factors which are critical to the success of organic horticulture, especially as newer techniques of horticulture farming, based on the latest scientific procedures are being introduced. In addition, the book incorporates practices which are surrounding the field, taking care to ensure that critical perspectives are included which offer insight into the advantages, challenges for sustainable horticultural practice.
Horticulture Is Fast Emerging As A Major Commercial Venture, Because Of Higher Remuneration Per Unit Area And The Realization That Consumption Of Fruits And Vegetables Is Essential For Health And Nutrition. In The Last One Decade, Export Potential Of Hort
This timely two-volume compendium, Sustainable Horticulture, addresses the most important topics facing horticulture around the world today. The volumes cover a wide range of topical issues and trends in sustainable horticulture today: Volume 1: Diversity, Production, and Crop Improvements, and Volume 2: Food, Health, and Nutrition. Global food demand is expected to be double by 2050, while at the same time the production environment and natural resources are continually shrinking and deteriorating due to many complex factors. Horticulture, a major sector of agriculture, is vital to enhancing crop production and productivity in parity with agricultural crops to meet the emerging food demand. Implementing sustainable models of crop production is really an enormous endeavor. Promising technologies and management options are needed to increase productivity to meet the growing food demand despite deteriorating production environments.
Sustainable Horticulture, Volume 1: Diversity, Production, and Crop Improvements is part of a two-volume compendium that addresses the most important topics facing horticulture around the world today. Volume 1, on Diversity, Production, and Crop Improvement, outlines the contemporary trends in sustainable horticulture research, covering such topics as crop diversity, species variability and conservation strategies, production technology, tree architecture management, plant propagation and nutrition management, organic farming, and new dynamics in breeding and marketing of horticulture crops. Sections include: Genetic Resources & Biodiversity Conservation Production & Marketing of Horticulture Crops Crop Improvement & Biotechnology Together with Volume 2: Food, Health, and Nutrition, this two-volume compendium presents an abundance of new research on sustainable horticulture that will be valuable for a broad audience, including students of horticulture, faculty and instructors, scientists, agriculturists, government and nongovernment organizations, and other industry professionals.
