Agriculture & Allied Sciences

Protected Cultivation
Structural Design, Crop Management Modeling,and Automation

Editors: Mahesh Chand Singh, PhD
K. K. Sharma, PhD

Protected Cultivation

Published. Available now.
Pub Date: February 2024
Hardback Price: see ordering info
Hard ISBN: 9781774914168
E-Book ISBN: 9781003402596
Pages: 480 w.index
Binding Type: Hardback / eBook
Notes: 14 color, 54 b/w illustrations

Safeguarding crop plants from the harmful effects of climate change, from environmentally toxic agricultural chemicals, and from crop pests and crop diseases, protected cultivation is the need of the hour for improving crop growth conditions. This new volume addresses this need by presenting valuable research on the components of protected cultivation, including climate control, modeling, automation, and economics.

The volume offers comprehensive coverage of the many aspects of protected crop cultivation, including

  • selecting site-specific appropriate protected structures
  • design, construction, and suitability of structures
  • adoption of improved crop cultivation techniques (shifting from conventional to modern soilless cultivation approaches)
  • cropping sequence of vegetable crops
  • irrigation and fertigation automation
  • climate monitoring and management
  • insect-pests and diseases of common occurrence and their management (including biological control under protected cultivation, selection, and optimization of insect-proof screens for greenhouses)
  • modeling greenhouse micro-climate/environment (such as ventilation rate)
  • economic analysis of protected cultivation
The important information presented in this volume will be valuable for farming professionals, faculty and students in agricultural science, agricultural researchers and engineers, as well as for those involved in horticulture and floriculture.

CONTENTS:
Preface

Introduction

1. Protected Cultivation: Technology, Constraints, and Its Global Status
K. K. Sharma, Shilpi Chawla, and Mahesh Chand Singh

2. Classification and Suitability of Protected Structures
Jagreeti Gupta, Deepa Sharma, and Aanchal Chauhan

3. Design and Construction of Greenhouse Structures
Sakharam Kale, Navnath Indore, Prerna Nath, Pankaj Kannaujia, and R. K. Singh

4. Soilless Cultivation Techniques in Protected Structures
Arti Verma

5. Greenhouse Utilization for Vegetable Cultivation
Chaudhari Ganesh Vasudeo, Pratapsingh Suresh Khapte, Gopal Ramdas Mahajan, Mathala Juliet Gupta, R. Ramesh, and A. R. Desai

6. Effect of Greenhouse Microclimate on Crop Performance
Alpana Joshi, Akansha Saxena, and Subrata K. Das

7. Irrigation and Fertigation Systems for Protected Cultivation
Dilip Singh Kachwaya, Harish Chandra Raturi, Anupreet Singh Tiwana and Mohd Tufail

8. Recent Advances in Management of Diseases and Pests of Common Occurrence under Protected Cultivation
Shideh Mojerlou

9. Insect-Pests and Diseases in Greenhouse Cultivation and Their Biological Control
Anjani Khulbe and Poonam Batra

10. Conventional and Recent Approaches of Integrated Pest Management in Greenhouse Cultivation
Sunaullah Bhat and Sandeep Kumar

11. Geometric and Aerodynamic Characterization of Insect-Proof Screens Used in Greenhouses: Aerodynamic Models
A. López-Martínez, F. D. Molina-Aiz, D. L. Valera, and H. Fatnassi

12. Ventilation Models in Greenhouses
F. D. Molina-Aiz, D. L. Valera, A. López-Martínez, and H. Fatnassi

13. Greenhouse Climate Control for Flower Regulation in Ornamental Crops
Rishu Sharma, Poonam Kumari and Homraj Sahare

14. Smart Farming Technologies for Protected Cultivation
Vishnu Prasad, Abrar Yousuf, Hasan Mirzakhaninafchi, Anurag Sathpati, and Aekesh Kumar

15. Economic Feasibility, Status, and Future Prospects of Protected Cultivation
S. M. Vanitha and S. C. Ravi

Index


About the Authors / Editors:
Editors: Mahesh Chand Singh, PhD
Scientist, Department of Soil and Water Engineering, Punjab Agricultural University, Punjab, India

Mahesh Chand Singh, PhD, is working as a Scientist in the Department of Soil and Water Engineering, Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana, Punjab, India. Before joining PAU Ludhiana, he was a Scientist at the Dr. Yashwant Singh Parmar University of Horticulture & Forestry, Solan, Himachal Pradesh, India, in the Department of Soil Science and Water Management. Prior to that, he has also worked with national and international agencies and research platforms, including the International Rice Research Institute, Philippines, under an International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) funded research project as a research associate. He is also working as co-principal investigator in four different research projects related to irrigation and drainage systems, remote sensing and GIS applications and protected cultivation. Dr. Singh has published more than 35 research papers in internationally reputed journals as well as several book chapters and popular articles and one practical manual. He is the recipient of several awards, including Best Scientist Award and PAU Gold Medal for Doctoral Research for his research achievements. He developed soilless media cultivation practices for seedless cucumber (Parthenocarpic). He is a life member of the Indian Society of Agricultural Engineers, India.

K. K. Sharma, PhD
Plant Pathologist, Dr DR Bhumbla Regional Research Station, Ballowal Saunkhri, Punjab, India

K. K. Sharma, PhD, is a Plant Pathologist at the Dr. D.R. Bhumbla Regional Research Station of Punjab Agricultural University, Ballowal Saunkhri, Tehsil Balachaur of district Saheed Bhagat Singh Nagar, Punjab, India. Previously, he was Assistant Professor (plant pathology) at the Doon P.G. College of Agricultural Science and Technology, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India. He has been engaged for more than 10 years in research (both academic and corporate sectors) and has four years of teaching. He was also involved in the transfer of technology through different extension activities. He has published more than 20 research papers in national and international journals of repute as well as practical e-manuals, book chapters, and popular articles. In addition to teaching and research, he is also engaged in various agriculture extension activities, such as agro-advisory services and transfer of technology through farmers’ trainings and field days. He is a recipient of young scientist awards and best poster awards for his research contributions by reputed societies.




Follow us for the latest from Apple Academic Press:
Copyright © 2025 Apple Academic Press Inc. All Rights Reserved.