Protected Cultivation of Ornamental Plants

With the increase demand of flowers, floriculture has become one of the important commercial trades in Indian Agriculture. Therefore, commercial floriculture has emerged as high–tech activity taking place under controlled environment inside greenhouses. Indian floriculture is now viewed as a high growth industry. The liberization of industrial and trade policies paved the way for development of export oriented floriculture. Floral industry is a highly dynamic industry. Products, varieties, the origin of production, production technologies, markets and retailing systems are all undergoing continuous change and challenging the adaptive capacity of the factors involved. In a slowly but steadily growing world market new developing country exporters are increasing market share at the expense of existing producers. These producers try to remain ahead by increasing productivity and through diversification and innovation. This book will make people aware of the potential of ornamental plants from all angles and to explore the possibilities to develop new vistas for floriculture based industries.The book is written with 21 independent chapters. Almost all the commercially important ornamental plants cultivated under protected condition in different parts of the world have found a place in this publication. In an introductory chapter on protected cultivation of horticultural crops including ornamental plants has been made to provide useful and complete information on scenario of domestic and international flower trade. Seven interesting chapters on Climate Change, Biodiversity and Conservation of Ornamental Plants, Physiology and Biochemistry of Ornamental Crops, Protected Structures and Tools, Growing Media and its Use on Ornamental Crops, IPM on Orchids and Raising of Flower Nursery under Protected Structures are discussed in useful way. Protected cultivation of rose, orchids, gerbera, chrysanthemum, carnation, bulbous ornamentals, indoor plants, anthurium, cacti and succulents, seasonal annuals, herbaceous perennials and medicinal plants are enumerated in detail. Chapter on Nutrient and Water Management of Ornamental Crops under Protected Cultivation adds value to the book. It may be humbly claimed that this is the first most comprehensive book of its kind on Protected Cultivation of Ornamental Plants. The book will be useful to teachers, students, scientists, nurserymen, landscape designers, planners, amateur and professional gardeners, florists and above all progressive flower growers.