With growers now facing increasingly stringent regulations designed to minimize nutrient losses to the environment, this guide outlines a fresh take on fertilization best practices for the industry. Nutrient management is critical to successful vegetable production. Given the high value and exacting market standards for size, appearance, and postharvest quality for vegetable crops, fertilizer management practices have focused on optimizing production across a wide range of field conditions. While effective in producing good crops, these practices are not necessarily reflective of input costs or environmental protection. Drawing on 25 years of industry experience, the author outlines the principles of nutrient management that are broadly applicable across crops and production regions. Growers, PCAs, and fertilizer industry professionals will find a practical understanding of crop nutrient requirements, soil nutrient availability, the value and limitations of soil and plant nutrient monitoring, and environmental protection in these pages.

Microirrigation for Crop Production: Design, Operation, and Management, Second Edition, Volume Thirteen is the latest release in this go-to foundational resource for the basics of engineering and the science of the design and operation of micoirrigation systems. This new edition includes novel methods for measurement and estimation of evapotranspiration, resource-efficient microirrigation design and operation, advanced irrigation scheduling methods and tools, novel methods and technology of microirrigation automation, monitoring and control, updates in crop salinity tolerance and leaching practices, variable rate irrigation, updates on the use of biological effluents and chemicals and pesticides to include safety and regulatory concerns.The revised book will provide an understanding on the basic science needed to comprehend systems design, operation, management, maintenance, monitoring and performance evaluation. - Presents a detailed explanation and examples of systems design, operation, and management specific to the latest types of microirrigation systems, as well as sample irrigation schedules - Assesses the proper use of irrigation technology and its effects to increase efficiency and crop productivity - Includes illustrations of design options and charts of systems typologies

Fully updated with new content and full-colour figures, the second edition of this successful book reflects developments and growth in our knowledge of carrots and related crops worldwide. It covers the scientific basis of their biology and production, with updated technical crop management content. This new edition is divided into three sections: the first considers the crops' importance and main features; the second focuses on carrot, from genetic diversity and breeding to cropping systems, pest and disease management, quality, postharvest and valorization; and the third presents the main aspects of 13 other cultivated Apiaceae. Containing a dedicated chapter on root-quality plus new chapters on organic production and consumer expectations, this book also: - Highlights both unique and shared characteristics among cultivated Apiaceae species. - Describes the links between scientific principles and cropping systems. - Explores the relationship between crop management and product quality. An invaluable resource for all those involved in carrot and related vegetable production, this is essential reading for producers, and horticulture, plant science and food science students, as well as researchers in these areas.

"Molecular Environmental Soil Science at the Interfaces in the Earth's Critical Zone" presents contributions from the 1st International Symposium of Molecular Environmental Soil Science at the Interfaces in the Earth's Critical Zone held in Hangzhou, China. It introduces new ideas, findings, methods, and experience on above new and emerging subject areas. A broad range of topics are covered: the role of mineral colloids in carbon turnover and sequestration and the impact on climate change, biogeochemical interfacial reactions and dynamics of vital and toxic elements, ecotoxicology of anthropogenic organics, environmental nanoparticles and their impacts, and ecosystem health. The book will be a valuable reference for researchers in soil chemistry, environmental chemistry, mineralogy, microbiology, ecology, ecotoxicology, and physics. Jianming Xu is a Professor at the Institute of Soil and Water Resources and Environmental Science, Zhejiang University, China. Pan Ming Huang is a Professor at the Department of Soil Science, University of Saskatchewan, Canada.

The fourth edition of Postharvest Techology for Horticultural Crops has been converted into a series of ten books, each covering a separate area of postharvest technology. This, book 1 in the series, covers the basics of preharvest factors that can affect the quality of the produce headed to the packinghouse and sets the foundation for the rest of the series. Also covered in depth are hand- and mechanical-harvesting methods, as well as preparation for the packinghouse from the field through the sorting line. There is extensive information about food safety during this process, as well as worker safety both in the field and at the plant. The book concludes with information about a variety of packaging methods.

Recent researches on resource conserving techniques have provided exciting opportunities for improving input-use-efficiency, productivity and sustainability. These techniques include: zero tillage, minimum tillage, rotary tillage, bed planting, surface seeding, laser land leveling, pressurized irrigation systems, system of rice intensification, aerobic rice, soil solarization, residue management, site-specific nutrient management, crop diversification, precision farming emplo-ying use of modern tools and procedures etc. Adoption of these techniques is the need of the hour as a method of 'low-input agriculture' to reduce costs and achieve sustainability in Indian agriculture. This book provides the most updated and comprehensive information on resource conserving techniques for improving crop productivity. The text is divided into 9 sections: (i) Concept and approaches, (ii) Cropping systems and diversification, (iii) Soil use and management, (iv) Improving nutrient use efficiency, (v) Water-saving techniques, (vi) Weed dynamics and herbicide use, (vii) Energy conservation and farm machinery, (viii) Modern tools and approaches, (ix) On-farm testing and evaluation. In each section, there are chapters on specific topics, contributed by eminent scientists, who made notable research contributions in their field of specialization. The chapters have been thoroughly edited and presented in an easily understandable manner.

This book is a review of the recent literature on the key scientific and technical subjects of fertilization management in vegetable crops. In the last decades, research on fertilization management in vegetables was aimed at producing economical yields with reduced fertilizer inputs by the development and implementation of cropping systems, nutrient management approaches and crop varieties. Examples of the interventions in cropping systems included adequate crop rotations, inter-cropping, double cropping, and other strategies for a better soil organic matter management; nutrient management approaches included modelling, Decision Support Systems, crop nutritional status testing and precision agriculture technologies; amelioration of crop varieties has been directed toward higher nutrient/fertilizer use efficiency.

The book carries information on fundamentals of vegetables, fruits, ornamental plants, spices, medicinal and aromatic plants and post-harvest technology. There are 15 chapters elaborating horticultural crops, apomoxis, polyembryony, ideal soils, climate, water requirements, pests, diseases and nematode management, biological control of biotic stresses, biotechnology of spices and mechanization of orchards. Introductory chapter deals in nut shell all about the book. The most recent information is provided along with a detailed list of references for further reading. A separate chapter on 'Glossary of Horticultural Terms' adds much value to the book as a ready reckoner to understand key words generally referred to in the science of horticulture. Eight appendices are attached narrating released varieties/hybrids in horticultural crops, research infrastructure in horticulture in India and abroad together with important web sites in all aspects of horticulture.