PROTECTED

HORTICULTURE FOR SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTION

PROTECTED

HORTICULTURE FOR SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTION

Dr. U. Kumar

Managing Director, Agrobios (India)

Jodhpur

Dharm Singh

M.Sc. Ag., Ph.D., FASA (USA), M.H.Sc. (London)

Managing Director

Indian Medicinal Plants Marketing Federation, New Delhi

AGROBIOS (INDIA)

Published by:

AGROBIOS (INDIA)

Agro House, Behind Nasrani Cinema

Chopasani Road, Jodhpur 342 002

Phone: 91-0291-2642319, Fax: 2643993

E. mail: agrobios@sify.com

© All Rights Reserved (2013)

All rights reserved. No part of the book or part thereof, including the title of the book, be

reprinted in any form or language without the written permission of the author and the

publishers. The copyists shall be prosecuted.

ISBN (13): 978-81-7754-468-8

Published by: Dr. Updesh Purohit for Agrobios (India), Jodhpur

Lase Typesetting: Yashee Computers, Jodhpur

Cover Design: Reena

Printed by: Babloo Offset

PREFACE

Crop protection is the branch of controlled environmental horticulture

concerned with protecting crops from pests, weeds, disease and theft. Crop

Protection provides growers with a wide range of technologies to improve

sustainable agriculture for a growing world. Crop protection includes the

protection of the horticultural crop from insect and nematode pests, diseases,

quarantine; and growing the horticultural crops under protected greenhouse

environment. Protected horticulture concept increases the availability of high

quality and safe horticultural produce by developing improved crop management

practices (e.g. organic farming, IPM and good farming practices) for sustainable

and environmentally friendly horticultural crops production systems and by

promoting neglected and high value horticultural crops as possible diversification

options, according with their economic interest of nutritive value, and to make

the best use of available germplasm and bio-diversity within distinct agro-

ecological zones. Global reduction of chemical deposition into the environment is

necessary. In protected horticulture, different strategies with biodegradable

products are used to control pathogens.

Protected horticulture is defined as agricultural activities taking place under

cover. It may be done under shadow houses (a cover reducing light intensity and

partly stopping insects. A variant to this are the shadow roofs, just the roofs

without walls, under plastic tunnels: micro and macro tunnels with a plastic

cover that stops heavy rains and sharp sunlight or under greenhouses with

plastic and glass covers. We need extensive development in this type of

technology in India.

It is essential to promotes sustainable intensification of horticultural crop

production under protected environment. This approach requires the integration

and harmonization of all appropriate crop production policies and practices aimed

at increasing crop productivity in a sustainable manner, thereby meeting key

millennium development goals aimed at reducing hunger and preserving the

natural resources and environment for future use. The focus should be given to

develop and strengthen the effective and strategic decisions that increase crop

production using an ecosystem approach. Policies and technologies appropriate

are needed in India to reduce negative impact of pesticides and conservation and

sustainable use of plant genetic resources with strong linkages between

conservation, plant breeding and seed sector development.

The Protected Horticulture Industry should be strictly regulated in the same

ways like any other industry is regulated, with conditions for approval on land

management, waste management, water recirculation and waste water

management strategies, general waste disposal, chemical usage and storage and

correct understanding for each chemical used.

The book protected horticulture encompasses the chapters like Crop

Protection System of Horticultural Crops, Hi-tech Horticulture: An

Introduction. Hot Box for Germination, Nursery Production Techniques for

Micro-lines and Microcuttings, Automatic Water Filling and Planting System,

Greenhouse Technology for Protected Horticulture, Greenhouse Production,

Plasticulture for Protected Horticulture, Hydroponics for Protected Horticulture,

Environmental Control, Frost/Freeze Protection for Horticultural Crops,

Protected Horticulture for Postharvest Technology, Protected Horticulture and

Organic Production, Production of Greenhouse Orchids, Roses,

Chrysanthemums, Gladiolus, Lilies, Gerbera, Anthurium and Strawberry.

The book will provide detailed knowledge of protected horticulture to

teachers, students and farmers. We are thankful to Dr. S. S. Purohit for helping

us in preparing the book. We shall welcome suggestions for the improvement of

the text.

Authors

CONTENTS

1 CROP PROTECTION SYSTEM OF HORTICULTURAL CROPS....................................................1

Objectives .......................................................................................................... 2 Pesticides and Crop Protection.......................................................................... 3 Damage to Crops by Freezing Temperatures................................................... 3 Protecting Water Quality for Horticultural Crops .......................................... 5 Application of Wetting Agent in Crop Production.......................................... 5

Assessment of Toxicity................................................................................... 5 Improving Substrates ..................................................................................... 5

Risk versus Hazard............................................................................................ 6 Alternative Crop Protection Solutions ............................................................. 7

The Growing Problem .................................................................................... 7 Physical and Cultural Practices ..................................................................... 7 Biological Processes ........................................................................................ 7 Natural Enemies and Biological Control ...................................................... 8 Genetic Control .............................................................................................. 9

Conclusion ....................................................................................................... 10

2 HI-TECH HORTICULTURE: AN INTRODUCTION ...........................................................11

Markets for Horticultural Biotech.................................................................. 12 How to Make Horticulture as Hi-tech Horticulture...................................... 14

Role of Biotechnology in High-tech Horticulture ...................................... 14 Genetic Resources......................................................................................... 15 Molecular Genetic Characterization of New Floricultural

Germplasm ................................................................................................... 16 Tissue Culture............................................................................................... 17 Present Scenario of Plant Tissue Culture in India...................................... 17 Potential of Tissue Culture in India ............................................................ 18 Postharvest Handling, Storage and Processing .......................................... 19 Integrated Production Systems (IPSs)......................................................... 20

Economic and Market Aspects..................................................................... 20 Role of Public and Private Agencies ............................................................ 21 Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) ............................................................. 21 Extension Plan .............................................................................................. 21 Quality Control Mechanism........................................................................ 22 Need for Education Reform ......................................................................... 22 Future Research and Development.............................................................. 24

3 HOT BOX FOR GERMINATION.........................................28

Starting Plants from Seeds.............................................................................. 28 Hot Box for Germination................................................................................ 31

4 NURSERY PRODUCTION TECHNIQUES FOR MICROLINES AND MICROCUTTINGS.............................36

Principle ........................................................................................................... 36 Successive Steps in the Rooting Process......................................................... 37 Micropropagation through Organogenesis .................................................... 38

Morphology of a Microcutting .................................................................... 41 Choice of a Rooting Method ........................................................................ 41 Advantages of Micropropagated Plants ...................................................... 42 Care and Handling of Micropropagated Plants.......................................... 43 Process of Micropropagation ....................................................................... 44

Example: Quick Propagation of Potato........................................................... 44 Acclimation of Rooted Microcuttings.......................................................... 47

5 AUTOMATIC WATER FILLING AND PLANTING SYSTEM ............................................................49

Types of Irrigation Systems............................................................................ 49 Micro-Irrigation ........................................................................................... 49 Drip Irrigation .............................................................................................. 50 Overhead Irrigation System ........................................................................ 50 Pulse Irrigation............................................................................................. 50 Capillary Mat System.................................................................................. 50 Microsprayers and Stakes............................................................................ 51 Spaghetti Tube System ................................................................................ 51

Micro- and Drip-Irrigation ............................................................................. 51 Irrigation System Components ................................................................... 51 Components.................................................................................................. 53 Advantages of Drip Irrigation ..................................................................... 54 Disadvantages of Drip Irrigation................................................................. 54

6 GREENHOUSE TECHNOLOGY FOR PROTECTED HORTICULTURE...........................................56

Introduction..................................................................................................... 56 Advantage of Greenhouse............................................................................... 56 Types of Greenhouses ..................................................................................... 57

Classification of Greenhouses...................................................................... 58 Greenhouse Type based on Utility .............................................................. 60 Greenhouse Type based on Construction.................................................... 61 Greenhouse Type based on Covering Materials ......................................... 62 Rigid Panel Greenhouses ............................................................................. 63

Glass Greenhouses .......................................................................................... 63 Film Plastic Greenhouses ................................................................................ 65

Role ............................................................................................................... 65 Types of Film Plastic..................................................................................... 65 Quonset-Style Greenhouse.......................................................................... 69 Gutter-Connected Greenhouse .................................................................... 69 Greenhouse with Double-Layer Covering .................................................. 70

Rigid-Panel Greenhouses................................................................................ 72 Polyvinyl Chloride ....................................................................................... 72 Fiberglass-Reinforced Plastic ....................................................................... 72 Acrylic and Polycarbonate........................................................................... 74

Greenhouse Construction: Related Aspects ................................................... 74 Location......................................................................................................... 75

Framework for Various Types of Greenhouse............................................... 80 Types of Greenhouse Covering Materials................................................... 87

Covering Materials for Greenhouse ............................................................... 88 Fiberglass ...................................................................................................... 89 Poly Film....................................................................................................... 91

Heating and Cooling of Greenhouse .............................................................. 92 Sensing Temperatures.................................................................................. 93 Sources of Heat............................................................................................. 94 Methods of Distributing Heat in Greenhouse ............................................ 95 Conservation of Heat Energy in Greenhouses ........................................... 95 Insulation of Greenhouse Roofs .................................................................. 96

Ventilation and Air-Movement Equipment for Greenhouses ...................... 96 The Principle of Ventilation and Air-Movement........................................ 97 Air in the Greenhouse.................................................................................. 99

Carbon Dioxide Generation Equipment in Greenhouse................................ 99 Importance of Carbon Dioxide in Greenhouse ........................................... 99

Greenhouse Benches ..................................................................................... 100 Materials used for Greenhouse Benches ................................................... 100 Greenhouse Benches for Cut-Flowers ....................................................... 100 Greenhouse Benches Pot-Plant.................................................................. 102

Arrangement of the Benches ..................................................................... 103 Greenhouse Walks ..................................................................................... 104

Working Room.............................................................................................. 104 Conveyors...................................................................................................... 105 Cloth Houses ................................................................................................. 105 Lath Houses ................................................................................................... 105 Bulb Storage .................................................................................................. 106 General Storage ............................................................................................. 107 Boilers for the Greenhouse Heating System ............................................... 107

Operation of the Boiler .............................................................................. 107 Draft System .............................................................................................. 108 Operation of the Boiler .............................................................................. 108

Emergency Heating Equipment for Greenhouse ......................................... 108 Emergency, Standby Power ....................................................................... 109 Figuring the Heat Requirement of the Greenhouse ................................. 109 Location of Heating Lines.......................................................................... 110 Arrangement and Placement of Heating Lines ........................................ 110 Steam Traps ................................................................................................ 111 Control of Heating-Line ............................................................................ 111 Special Heat Requirements for Greenhouse ............................................. 111 Providing Steam for Treatment of Soil and Equipment........................... 111 Lower Down Temperatures in the Greenhouse ........................................ 112 Design of the Fan and Pad Cooling System.............................................. 113 Cool Storage ............................................................................................... 114

Other Essential Equipments for Greenhouse............................................... 114 Equipment for the Control of Light........................................................... 114 Kinds of Screening Materials..................................................................... 115 Photoperiod for Flowering ......................................................................... 115 Shading for the Control of Photoperiod.................................................... 115 Electric Light Equipment............................................................................ 116 Fluorescent Light ........................................................................................ 116 Electric Lights for Photoperiod Control..................................................... 116 Intermittent Light ...................................................................................... 116 Problems with Fluorescent Lights.............................................................. 117

Equipment for Moisture Control in Greenhouse ........................................ 117 How to Reduce Moisture in the Greenhouse ............................................ 117 Water-Distribution Systems for Pot Plants in Greenhouse..................... 119 Capillary Irrigation System....................................................................... 119 Water-Distribution Systems for Cut-Flower Crops................................. 119

Equipment for Regulation of Irrigation ....................................................... 120 Equipment for Handling Fertilizer ............................................................... 120

Application of Fertilizer in Liquid Forms .................................................. 121 Proportions for Uniform Supply of Fertilizers ......................................... 121 Selection of Fertilizer Proportioner ........................................................... 121

Protected Horticulture For SustainableProduction

Publisher : Agrobios Publishers ISBN : 9788177544688 Author : A Kumar And DSingh

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