Organic Production of Vegetable Crops

Organic vegetable farming involves the use of biological resources and avoiding the use of synthetic substances for maintaining soil productivity and ecological balance, thereby minimizing wastage and environmental pollution. This new book provides a comprehensive introduction and covers a wide range of topics on successful production of organic vegetable crops.

The book introduces the concepts, importance, and scope of organic farming, highlighting best practices and the do’s and don’ts. It then goes on to cover crucial topics on organic vegetable production, including methods for enhancing soil fertility, green manuring, role of biofertilizers, composting methods, agricultural waste, coir composting, biodynamic vegetable farming, botanical and biocontrol agents, and much more. The book also explores important subjects in organic farming such as the potential of zero-budget natural farming, nonconventional vermicomposting in organic farming, biodynamic vegetable farming, plant disease management, and processing and quality control for organic foods. In addition, the book discusses the export opportunities and challenges faced in organic farming.

Mahesh Kumar Rana, PhD, is a retired professor who had a brilliant academic career. He served as Professor in the Department of Vegetable Science at CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, and as Lecturer on Agriculture at the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), Ajmer, Rajasthan, India. He is specialized in the field of abiotic stress, vegetable physiology, and postharvest technology and processing of fruits and vegetables. Dr. Rana has a broad experience of 34 years in the field of teaching at CCS Haryana Agricultural University, and as a teacher, he has taught more than 20 different courses to students of undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctorate degrees; delivered lectures in training programs; and given talks on radio as well as on television on topics related to vegetable science. A prolific writer, he has published 120 book chapters, 25 research reviews, 95 research papers, 40 research abstracts, and 113 scientific articles in sundry books, journals, and magazines of scientific repute. He also has written 18 books, 15 teaching manuals, two technical bulletins on spices, and edited three symposia abstracts, two symposia proceedings, two issues of the Haryana Journal of Horticultural Sciences, and one compendium. He served as an Executive Councilor and Editor of the Haryana Journal of Horticultural Sciences and as a joint secretary of the national symposium organized by the Horticultural Society of Haryana. He has also worked as paper reviewer for several national societies. Dr. Rana is a life member of 11 professional bodies and societies and has been an examiner at different universities. He has guided 15 MSc and three PhD students.