Alice Kurian – författare

Commercial crops are of paramount importance to the economies and export trades of numerous developing and developed countries, as they are cultivated on a plantation scale. Crops with a long history of cultivation and significant research and development support have made remarkable strides in technological advancements. It is essential to periodically assess newly acquired knowledge in crop production and to evaluate traditional practices. The book Commercial Crops Technology brings together scattered information and provides the latest technological advancements in nine crops grown on a plantation scale. The book is organized into ten chapters, with an introductory chapter and one dedicated to each of the nine commercial crops (Areca Nut, Cashew, Cocoa, Coconut, Coffee, Oil palm, Palmyra, Rubber, and Tea). The chapters have been designed to reflect the rapid progress and challenges in the field of sustainable crop production, and product diversification has been given due importance in light of globalization and free trade.The introductory chapter offers an overview of the current scenario of plantation crop production, including its importance, geographical distribution, soils, growing methods, integrated nutrient management, crop protection strategies, cropping and farming systems, management of drought, organic farming, clean development mechanisms, implications of intellectual property rights, and strategies and recommendations. The individual chapters on crops provide updated information on crop improvement, biotechnology, crop production and management, crop protection, and post-harvest handling, with an emphasis on integrated nutrient and pest management, organic crop production, and value addition, as well as basic information on origin, distribution, production trends, botany, and research and development institutions. The future outlook on these crops will aid in developing achievable programs and projects. The bibliography facilitates further reading. This publication will be useful to farmers, estate managers, extension workers, technologists, policy makers, researchers, and students who are associated with commercial crops.

Medicinal plant cultivation has gained momentum in recent years due to the resurgence of interest in herbal medicines, which has created a need for authoritative information on the cultivation and utilization of these valuable plants. The book Medicinal Plants provides comprehensive information on the current status of medicinal plants, including their phytochemistry, quality control, and good agricultural and manufacturing practices. Additionally, the book includes details on commercially grown medicinal plants and those that are important in trade, as well as information on botany, crop improvement, crop protection, crop production, post-harvest handling, chemical composition, and chemical analyses of these crops. The book is a systematic compilation of available information on 65 promising medicinal species and is a valuable resource for farmers, academicians, students, and related industries. This documented information also serves to highlight major research gaps and formulate appropriate research strategies in these crops.

In recent years, there has been a resurgence of interest in medicinal plants, which has led to an increased demand for reliable information on their cultivation and utilization. The book Medicinal Plants provides comprehensive information on the current status of medicinal plants, their phytochemistry, quality control, good agricultural practices, and good manufacturing practices in medicinal plants. The book also covers commercially grown medicinal plants and those that are important in trade. In addition, the book provides information on botany, crop improvement, crop protection, crop production, post-harvest handling, chemical composition, chemical analyses, and uses of commercially grown crops. This systematic compilation of information on 65 promising medicinal species is aimed at farmers, academicians, students, and related user industries. The book serves as a valuable resource for providing specific information on the cultivation and utilization of these crops. Furthermore, it helps to identify major research gaps and formulate appropriate research strategies in these crops.